Mosta’s James Brincat (right) battles for the ball with Mauricio Britto. Photo: Darrin Zammit LupiŻebbuġ Rangers 1
Monti 81 pen;
Mosta 3
Babangida 47; Zammit 76; Fortune 79;
Only the three points mattered for Mosta and Żebbuġ Rangers in their fight against relegation.
Mosta had failed to win any of their last seven matches while Żebbuġ were coming from two defeats in a row that saw them slip second bottom.
The return of Nigerian winger Haruna Babangida could not have come at a better time as he put in a man-of-the-match performance to inspire his team to a fine victory as the Blues netted three goals in the space of 32 second-half minutes to distance themselves from the lower spots.
On the other hand, Żebbuġ were lacklustre for much of the match, bar a short spell in the first half. They tried to mount a late rally but their confused reaction only produced a series of speculative shots before cutting the deficit towards the end.
The game was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of former Malta national coach Terenzio Polverini and former Malta FA president Judge Maurice Caruana Curran who passed away last week.
Peter Smith rang the changes after his side’s 3-1 upset to Qormi. However, two of the five alterations in Mosta’s formation were enforced upon Smith by the suspension of Dyson Falzan and Gary Roberts. The Englishman roped in Babangida, Adrian Borg, Ian Zammit, Karl Pulo and Udo Fortune in the starting XI.
Żebbuġ’s initial formation showed two changes with Miguel Ciantar preferred to Thomas Paris and Luke Montebello taking the place of Lee Galea.
Past the first quarter, Ciantar delivered a cross from the right towards Rashid Yussuff who headed the ball goalwards and forced a fine save from Omar Borg.
Seven minutes later, it was Mosta’s turn to put some pressure on the opposing rearguard as Babangida did well to slip the ball towards Fortune who evaded the offside trap but shot over the bar.
Mosta prevailed in the opening stages after the restart with Zammit floating a free-kick into the path of Babangida who hit a crisp first-time volley that flashed into the low corner.
The goal was a clear lift for the Mosta who doubled their lead on 76 minutes in rather ‘fortuitous’ circumstances.
Żebbuġ goalkeeper Emanuel Bartolo flapped as he tried to clear substitute James Brincat’s cross-shot from the left. Zammit was on hand to head the ball home despite David Reano’s desperate attempted clearance.
Alfonso Greco introduced Paris and Mauricio Britto in his bid to redress the balance but that change inevitably left the Yellows exposed to Mosta’s swift raids.
On 79 minutes, Mosta profited from the gaps in the Żebbuġ defence. Bartolo rushed from his line to punch clear the ball but it landed at the feet of Fortune, who evaded the onrushing goalkeeper before depositing the ball into an empty net.
Żebbuġ managed to pull one back on 81 minutes when Jacob Borg was felled into the box by Karl Pulo.
As the Mosta defender was given his marching orders, Carlo Monti smash the spot kick high into the roof of the net... but that was too little too late for Żebbuġ Rangers.
Żebbuġ Rangers
E. Bartolo-4.5, M. Muchardi-5 (64 M. Britto-5), Y. Camilleri-5, R. Yussuff-5, J. Borg-6.5, C. Monti-6, D. Reano-6, M. Bartolo-5, L. Montebello-5, P. Barbetti-5, M. Ciantar-5 (63 T. Paris-5).
Mosta
O. Borg-6, M. Dawood (32 J. Brincat-6), I. Zammit-6.5, U. Fortune-6, K. Pulo, A. Borg-6, H. Babangida-7 (84 Y. Ossok), K. Magro-6, T. Farrugia-6, O. Koli-5.5, R. Grech-6.
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow cards: Magro, Monti, Reano, Paris, Pulo.
Red card: Pulo (M) 82.
BOV player of the match: Haruna Babangida (Mosta).