Mosta 3
Zammit 35; Diogo 70; Ekani 83;
Qormi 1
Mazzetti Latini 79;
Ian Zammit and Diogo left an indelible mark on their first start for Mosta as the Blues’ attacking duo yesterday scored on their debut to help their team grab a much-needed victory over Qormi.
Zammit and Diogo, who joined the Blues last week, gave an added dimension to the Mosta attack as playing alongside the impressive Matteus they created all sorts of problems to the Qormi defence.
In the end, Mosta eased home to a merited victory that ended a poor run of results for them – just one point from their last four matches.
Qormi continued with their poor run of results as they have now gone nine matches without a win to remain in ninth place on 17 points.
Apart from Zammit and Diogo, Mosta coach Peter Smith also gave a start to two other new signings, defender Yannick Ossok and midfielder Gary Roberts.
Serbian midfielder Nemanja Milovanovic was serving a ban while wing-back Manolito Micallef is still injured.
Qormi had to do without suspended defender Duncan Pisani yesterday.
Pisani was replaced by Emerson Vella. Clifford Gauci was handed a start in midfield after joining the club earlier this month while Joseph Chetcuti and Ryan Micallef were both handed a recall as Pietro Viggiani, Carmelo Farrugia and Alessio Cassar were among the subs.
Qormi made the brighter start and on 13 minutes Frank Temile forced his way into the Mosta box but blasted his effort wide.
Seven minutes later Diogo came close when he moved past his marker and hit a curling drive that flew just wide of the upright.
Chances remained few and far between but on the half hour Alfred Effiong should have put Qormi ahead when he was put clear by Temile. Effiong, however, fired wide with only Omar Borg to beat.
The Yellow-Blacks paid dearly for that miss as five minutes later Mosta struck.
Diogo’s through-ball released Zammit who chipped his shot over the keeper to put the Blues ahead.
Qormi almost levelled when from a Temile corner Effiong’s volley was cleared off the line by Ossok.
A minute later, Zoran Levnaic met Temile’s cross but his header finished just over.
Seven minutes into the second half, the woodwork denied Mosta a second goal when they were awarded a free-kick from just outside the area and Matteus’s inswinger came off the bar.
Matteus had another excellent opportunity on 57 minutes when he ran into space but his grounder was kept out by the alert Farrugia.
Qormi were clearly struggling to create any scoring opportunities with Effiong and Temile too isolated upfront.
And on 70 minutes their hopes looked all over when Matteus outmuscled Mauricio Mazzetti Latini before sending a low cross into the path of Diogo who had no problems in tucking the ball into the net.
Qormi refused to lie down though and 11 minutes from time they pulled a goal back when Mazzetti Latini hit home from a free-kick.
But Mosta were quick to respond and on 83 minutes they made sure of the points with a Rodriguez Ekani goal.
Mosta
O. Borg-6, R. Ekani-6.5, Y. Ossok-7, M. Brincat-6, D. Falzon-6, R. Grech-6, K. Magro-6.5 (90 J. Brincat), G. Roberts-6.5, I. Zammit-7, Matteus-7.5 (80 K. Pulo), Diogo-7 (87 Z. Brincat).
Qormi
M. Farrugia-5, B. Bondin-5 (82 P. Viggiani), M. Mazzetti Latini-6, J. Chetcuti-5 (65 A. Cassar-5), A. Effiong-5, C. Gauci-6, F. Temile-5, R. Micallef-5, E. Vella-5, Z. Levnaic-6, J. Bondin-5.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: Chetcuti, Matteus, Falzon, Borg, B. Bondin.
BOV player of the match: Diogo (Mosta).