Mosta 4
Mitev 37; Bello-Osagie 47 og; Aboulezz 52; Zongo 80;
Qormi 2
Spiteri 22; Thackray 60;

Mosta’s season is fast gaining momentum.

After back-to-defeats to title contenders Hibs and champions Valletta in their opening two games had raised questions about Mosta’s decision to overhaul their squad in the summer, their outlay on a host of high-profile and experienced players is being vindicated as the Blues yesterday upstaged Qormi to stretch their winning run to three games.

Early days these may be and it’s clear that this revamped Mosta side still have work to do to become a well-oiled unit and attain the consistency needed to challenge for a top-four position but the indications are encouraging.

Their clash with Qormi was a tricky fixture as the latter were coming from an improved performance in a 2-1 win over Sliema Wanderers but Mosta’s collection of attacking talents proved too much for Stephen Azzopardi’s team.

Even without Daniel Bogdanovic, injured, Mosta could still field a fearsome attack comprising Obinna Obiefule, Ousseni Zongo and Danail Mitev.

Once they got in their stride, these three players proved unstoppable with Mitev again taking centre-stage with another masterful performance.

Qormi battled hard but they were not as compact as in their win over Sliema while their key players, the likes of goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia and Abubakar Bello-Osagie, were below their best. Given their limited resources, Qormi need their big players to perform if they are to break into the top six this season.

That target certainly looks within Mosta’s reach although the Blues still need to improve their defending as they again conceded two soft goals yesterday.

Left-back Matthew Gauci was restored to Qormi’s starting XI, replacing Alessio Cassar. Otherwise, coach Stephen Azzopardi selected the same personnel that brought Qormi a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Sliema in their previous outing.

The strategy was also the same as Vincenzo Pisani was the lone forward in Qormi’s 4-1-4-1 formation with Abubakar Bello-Osagie, Gaetan Spiteri and Joseph Chetcuti occupying the three advanced midfield roles.

For Mosta, Ryan Grech, back from suspension, deputised for the injured Bogdanovic in the only alteration from the team that trounced Ħamrun 4-1 last Monday.

Luxembourg referee Frank Bourgnon had to deal with a penalty appeal on seven minutes after Qormi’s Pisani went down in the box as he tried to connect with a cross but the man in black saw nothing wrong.

Mitev’s fulminating drive from the distance was high and, at the other end, Luke Dimech saved Mosta from a potentially dangerous situation when nudging the ball away from the advancing Bello-Osagie.

Qormi broke the stalemate midway into the first half. Gaetan Spiteri’s twists and turns in the box unhinged the Mosta defence as the on-loan forward swept past Bryan Agius and Dimech before hitting a scrambled shot that took a deflection before rolling into the net.

Four minutes later, Qormi breathed a sigh of relief when Mitev produced a curling cross-cum-shot from a right-wing free-kick which bypassed a thicket of players before flashing wide of the far post.

Mosta did stage a reaction after falling behind but they seemed to reliant on Mitev’s services to unsettle the Qormi defence.

Bello-Osagie headed wide from Gauci’s cross but, eight minutes from half-time, Mosta hauled themselves back on level terms.

It was Mitev who undid Qormi as the former Sliema winger beat Farrugia with a glancing header from a cross by Bryan Agius. As the ball flew towards goal, Obiefule dived forward to try and apply the final touch but TV replays suggested that he didn’t make contact with the ball.

The brisk movement of Mosta’s front trio of Mitev, Obiefule and Zongo was causing consternation among the Qormi defenders.

Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper, fumbled another free-kick by Mitev and Carlos Campagnoli headed over from the Bulgarian’s set-piece.

On 47 minutes, Mosta snatched the lead when Bello-Osagie committed an own goal after diverting Mitev’s corner into his own net.

Mosta’s second goal heaped the pressure on the stuttering Qormi. Their fragile confidence was laid bare when Obiefule strode clear on the right before hitting a low centre. Farrugia looked well-positioned to clear the danger but his tame intervention kept the ball in the goalmouth and Aboulezz poked home.

Qormi resuscitated their hopes on the hour mark when Kris Thackray profited from some hesitant defending by Mosta to beat Justin Haber from close range.

Thackray’s goal lifted Qormi. Midway into the second half, Gauci’s set-piece cross fell into the path of Bello-Osagie who created space for a shot but in came Ferdinando Apap to block the Nigerian’s effort.

Mitev remained Mosta’s most effective player. The Bulgarian guided a through-ball to Steve Bezzina but the former Valletta left-back skied his shot.

The Blues didn’t have wait long for their efforts to reap the desired rewards, as on 80 minutes Obiefule pulled clear on the right before serving Zongo to score from close range.

Mosta
J. Haber-5, M. Micallef-5, R. Grech-6 (81 J. Bajada), B. Agius-6.5 (70 S. Bezzina), L. Dimech-6.5, F. Apap-6, O. Obiefule-7.5, F. Aboulezz-6.5, C. Campagnoli-6, O. Zongo-6.5 (89 S. Chiemeka), D. Mitev-8.5.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-5, K. Thackray-6.5, R. Sammut-6.5, M. Bartolo-5, V. Pisani-6, J. Chetcuti-5 (59 L. Grech-5), A. Bello-Osagie-5 (82 L. Sciberras), M. Gauci-6, E. Bilbao-5 (72 S. Sirito), G. Spiteri-6.5, J. Bondin-5.

Referee: Frank Bourgnon (Luxembourg).

Yellow card: R. Grech.

BOV player of the match: Danail Mitev (Mosta).

Attendance: 821.

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