Floriana 1
Bonnici 5;
Mosta 2
J. Brincat 83; Fidelis 87;
Mosta scored two goals in the final seven minutes to come from behind and overcome Floriana in a drab early-season clash.
It was a match that offered very little for much of the opening 75 minutes.
Floriana looked to have made the better start when Steve Bonnici put them ahead very early in the match but they failed to make their superiority count and add to their advantage, leaving the seemingly confused Mosta still in the match.
However, the introduction of James Brincat proved an inspiration for Mosta and coach Ivan Zammit who saw the young midfielder cap a lively appearance with a stunning equaliser seven minutes from time.
Mosta insisted in attack and went on to grab victory when Saviour Fidelis pounced on an incredible howler from Floriana goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona for Mosta to chalk up a win and a positive start to their league trek.
Floriana coach Luis Oliveira, who was making his first appearance in the Maltese league, set his team in a 4-1-3-2 module with Argentine Maurizio Villa and Italian Mario Fontanella leading the Greens’ forward line and Conor Borg, back on loan from AS Roma, operating just behind.
The Mosta coach opted for a more attacking 4-3-3 approach with Nigerian trio Abdul Malik Mohammed, Fidelis and Samuel Chukwide banking on their speed to unsettle the opponents’ defensive lines.
Floriana could not have hoped for a better start as they were already a goal to the good inside the first five minutes.
They were awarded a corner on the right from which Nicholas Chiesa delivered a cross towards Bonnici who headed past a stranded Omar Borg.
Rattled by that opener, Mosta were unable to lift their game but Floriana failed to seize the opportunity and struggled to create any scoring opportunities.
In fact, the Greens had to wait until the 28th minute to come close to a second goal. They were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area and Steve Pisani’s curling drive was pushed away by Borg.
Scrappy play continued to be the order of the day with Mosta’s build-up leaving much to be desired while Floriana’s ploy of launching long balls towards their forwards reaping no dividends.
Mosta finally came close to an equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Ice-Cream Guobadia, who was making his debut for the Blues, was picked on the edge of the penalty area by Mohammed but his thumping drive was kept out by Calleja Cremona.
Fifteen minutes into the second half Oliveira tried to inject some fresh ideas to his forward line when he withdrew the subdued Villa and roped in Brazilian Juninho.
A second goal would have killed Mosta’s hopes but Zammit’s men came close to an equaliser on 66 minutes when in a swift break Chukwide played in Fidelis who was denied by a fine reflex save from Calleja Cremona.
The Mosta mentor tried to reshuffle his pack when he withdrew Dyson Falzon and Mark Brincat and introduced James Brincat and Bobby Frederick instead.
James Brincat almost left an instant impact as he released Fidelis who fired over with only Calleja Cremona to beat.
James Brincat then took matters in hands when he latched on a loose ball on 83 minutes and let fly a scorching drive that flew into the top corner of the net – great goal.
Mosta were on a high and almost grabbed a second two minutes later as Frederick sped clear off his marker but his angled drive flashed past the upright.
That turned out to be a prelude to what was to come a minute later when Mosta were handed the winner on a plate.
Calleja Cremona charged out of his penalty area to intercept Manolito Micallef’s punt upfield but he missed the ball and Fidelis was left with the simple task of pushing his shot inside an empty net.
In stoppage time, Floriana could have scored a dramatic equaliser when goalkeeper Borg failed to keep out Juninho’s cross but Fontanella incredibly headed wide in front of a gaping Mosta goal.
Floriana
M. Calleja Cremona-4, A. Monticelli-5, E. Pepe-5, S. Pisani-5 (88 Clyde Borg), M. Villa-5 (61 Juninho), Conor Borg-5.5 (70 F. Aboulezz), J. Pisani-5, S. Ezeadi-5, S. Bonnici-6, N. Chiesa-7, M. Fontanella-5.
Mosta
O. Borg-5, T. Farrugia-6, M. Micallef-6, R. Ekani-5, I. Guobadia-5, D. Falzon-5 (67 J. Brincat-7), M. Brincat-5 (67 B. Frederick-6), H. Yau-5 (77 R. Grech), S. Fidelis-6, S. Chukwide-5, A.M. Mohammed-5.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Yellow cards: M. Brincat, S. Pisani, Fontanella, Grech.
BOV player of the match: Nicolas Chiesa (Floriana).