Mosta 2
Fortune 88; Roberts 90;
Gżira United 0
Feelings of joy and relief gripped the Mosta players last night as the Blues prolonged their sojourn in the elite division following a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Division One hopefuls Gżira United in a relegation-promotion play-off.
In keeping with the complicated nature of their season, Mosta had made it difficult for themselves as Ian Zammit’s penalty was stopped by Anthony Curmi but the Blues finally breached the Maroons’ resistance with two late goals.
With extra-time looming, substitute Udo Fortune broke the deadlock with a fine header and another foreigner, English midfielder Gary Roberts (who reportedly rejoined Mosta this week), sealed their mission in stoppage time.
In the early stages Ryan Dalli, playing off striker John Nwoba for Gżira, tried his luck with a free-kick but his drive went high.
Veteran Jamie Pace, yesterday deployed in the heart of the Maroons’ defence, provided a reminder of his shooting prowess as his scorcher grazed the bar.
Gżira appealed for a penalty when Dalli, their liveliest player, went down under the challenge of Ryan Grech but referee Philip Farrugia saw nothing wrong.
There was another scare for Mosta when Nwoba bore down on goal through the middle only to lift his shot over.
As the first half moved on, Mosta began to assert themselves. Zammit went close but his well-flighted effort flew just wide.
The Blues were left to rue their luck and Ekani’s poor finish eight minutes from half-time. Roberts advanced through the middle before releasing Zammit whose grounder came off the base of the post. The loose ball rolled to Ekani who hit wide from close in.
Reprieved, the Maroons created a chance of their own but Dalli’s strike was turned away by Borg.
From the corner, taken by Yannis Tonna, the ball reached Pace whose header was hooked away by Ekani.
On the brink of half-time, Mosta were again denied by the woodwork as Adrian Borg’s backheader, from Dyson Falzon’s free-kick, crashed against the crossbar.
The Blues infused more urgency into their game when the second half got under way. Ekani fired wide from an angle.
The game became stretched. Babangida, latching on to Roberts’s through-ball, raced clear but his cross-cum-shot found no takers.
Curmi then did well to fist away Zammit’s curling cross from a corner, but Gżira looked to have suffered a blow when Farrugia was upended by Aquilina in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Gżira’s despair turned into joy as Curmi effected a smart save to keep out Zammit’ spot-kick.
The Gżira no.1 again took centre-stage with a superb save on Zammit’s header from Ekani’s cross.
There was little of note thereafter with Gzira seemingly content to contain Mosta’s pressure.
A thunderbolt from Roberts was marginally high but, two minutes from time, Mosta struck. Ekani was the provider as his cross from the right was met by Fortune who beat Curmi with a downward header that went in via the post.
In stoppage time, Mosta sealed their win, Roberts slotting home after getting on the end of Babangida’s pass as the Blues broke on the counter.
Mosta
O. Borg, T. Farrugia, I. Zammit, R. Ekani, G. Roberts, H. Babangida, M. Brincat, D. Falzon, A. Borg (63 U. Fortune), R. Grech (75 K. Magro), K. Frendo (90 K. Pulo).
Gżira United
A. Curmi, D. Scerri, D. Vukovic (90 M, Caribotti), G. Aquilina, J.P. Scerri, M. Avila Perez, J. Pace, J. Mifsud, J. Nwoba, R. Dalli, Y. Tonna.
Referee: Philip Farrugia.