Mosta’s Pedrinho (left) finding his way blocked by the Mosta rearguard. Photo: Chris Sant FournierMosta’s Pedrinho (left) finding his way blocked by the Mosta rearguard. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Naxxar Lions 1
Vella 90;
Mosta 1
Bueno 56;

Terence Vella was Naxxar’s hero yesterday as the striker, signed on loan from Birkirkara, rose off the bench to hit a last-gasp equaliser in the derby against Mosta.

Leading through Daniel Mariano Bueno’s goal early in the second half, Mosta looked set to make it four wins on the run but Vella’s goal earned Naxxar a deserved point.

These two rivals had headed into the first-round duel on the back of contrasting results as Mosta were on maximum points while the Lions had picked up only one from their opening three games.

But past form usually counts for nothing in derbies and so it proved as there was little between the two teams in a fiercely-contested clash.

Naxxar were more than a match for Mosta who ultimately paid the price for dropping back as the Lions intensified their pressure.

Pedrinho, making his bow for Mosta, was handed roaming duties behind the front duo of Bojan Kaljevic and Bueno.

Naxxar duo Angus Buhagiar and Pablo Doffo were only certified fit to start on the bench while midfielder David Fenech was ruled out with injury. Coach Winston Muscat handed a first-team recall to Gilmar, Mattia Del Negro and Ryan Gilmour Cassar. Gilmar played off Pape Gueye with Nigerian Uchenna Mbachy Emenike on the right in a 4-3-3 approach.

Eight minutes into the game, Lions goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi saved a header from Kaljevic following Mano Micallef’s cross.

The Montenegrin striker should have done better than lifting the ball over the bar from point blank after pouncing on a loose ball inside the box following Pedrinho’s right-wing corner.

Naxxar appealed for a penalty when Emenike, accelerating into the box following a diagonal run on the left, ended on the turf after being challenged by Kurt Magro but their faint protests were waved away by referee Alan Mario Sant.

This came on 14 minutes. Moments later, Gilmar spotted Omar Borg out of position but his chip from outside the box was high.

The Mosta goalkeeper was alert as he sprinted off the line to intercept Gilmar who was running menacingly towards goal. That proved to be Borg’s last intervention as injury curtailed his participation. He was replaced by Kyle Gerada.

Close to the half-hour mark, Gerada made his first save, stopping a central header from Gueye who had risen to meet Emenike’s cross.

The game remained generally dull with Naxxar showing the better ideas after Mosta had made the brighter start.

Five minutes from half-time, David Alejandro Reano’s cross from a left-wing free-kick was headed goalwards by Gilmar but Gerada was alert to the danger.

Mosta’s best chance came on the cusp of half-time. Their three forwards combined as Pedrinho lofted the ball towards Kaljevic who sent a teasing cross into the six-yard box but Bueno’s close-range flick drew a smart save from Azzopardi.

There was little in the way of creative football at the start of the second half as the two teams struggled to hit their stride.

But, 11 minutes after the restart, Mosta struck. Their strikers again proved their worth as Kaljevic appeared to intercept a short clearance before threading an excellent through-pass to Bueno who glided past Azzopardi and drilled the ball home.

Naxxar might have equalised midway into the second half. Gilmar lofted the ball towards the far post from a free-kick and Reano’s low cross sparked a goalmouth melee with the Mosta defence blocking shots from Andrew Scicluna and Del Negro.

Micallef rifled wide from the distance as the Blues now sought to hurt their opponents on the counter.

Muscat threw on Doffo for Reano and switched to three at the back as Naxxar hunted an equaliser.

Kaljevic should have killed off Naxxar but his shot from close distance grazed the side-wrigging after the towering striker had sidestepped two defenders in the box.

Four minutes from time, Emenike charged into the box from the left only to hit wide.

As the game drifted into stoppage time, Naxxar levelled matters.

Emenike’s cross sparked a melee and substitute Terence Vella powered through before firing home at the near post.

The dramatic finale increased the tension in the stands as the Naxxar faithful, silent for most of the second half, raised the volume after Vella’s salvo while the erstwhile boisterous Mosta fans fell quiet.

After the match, there were some minor skirmishes outside the stadium but no major incidents were reported.

Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-6.5, V. Bellia-6, R.G. Cassar-6, Gilmar-7, M. Del Negro-7, I. Edet-6.5, U.M. Emenike-6.5, D. Falzon-5.5 (60 T. Vella-6), P. Gueye-5, D. Reano-6 (76 P. Doffo), A. Scicluna-6.

Mosta
O. Borg-6 (26 K. Gerada-6.5), T. Farrugia-6, M. Micallef-6, R. Grech-6, D. Bueno-7 (83 K. Zammit), Pedrinho-6.5 (61 R. Ekani), N. Milovanovic-6, B. Kaljevic-7.5, D. Falzon-6, K. Magro-7, A. Borg-6.5.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Gueye; Kaljevic; Bellia.

BOV player of the match: Bojan Kaljevic (Mosta).

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