Hibernians 1
Jorge 27;
Mosta 4
Guobadia 38; Rodriguez 48; Zammit 71 pen.; Murga 80;
Mosta caused the first major upset of the 2015/16 campaign when they came from a goal down to hand champions Hibernians their first defeat of the season.
It was a stunning outcome to a match which had seen the Paolites take control from the outset with Brazilian Jorge putting them ahead after 27 minutes.
However, after their opener, the Paolites seemed to go off the boil as Mosta grew in stature.
Inspired by the hard-working Ian Zammit and the surging runs of Edin Murga and Bobby Frederick, Ivan Zammit’s men unsettled the usually reliable Hibs defence, netting four goals without reply to complete a remarkable victory that will raise the pressure on coach Branko Nisevic as the champions have dropped five points in their last two outings.
Nisevic handed a start to Rui Da Gracia Gomes in the absence of Andrei Agius who was serving a one-match ban while Brazilian wing-back Marcelo Dias was restored to the starting XI at the expense of Joseph Mbong.
Zammit, the Mosta coach, made three changes from the team that went down to Balzan last week as Mark Brincat filled the void left by the suspended Dyson Falzon while Frederick and Edile Micheletti were brought in at the expense of Samuel Chukwide and Yau Hassan who were not included in the 18-man squad.
Hibernians were off to a solid start. Inside the opening minute, Dias stormed into the area but his firm drive was pushed away by Yenz Cini, the Mosta goalkeeper
The initial signs were that Hibs would dominate proceedings but, as the minutes passed, it was Mosta who came to the fore.
On 17 minutes, the Blues appealed for a penalty when Murga was upended in the area by goalkeeper Rudy Briffa but referee Mario Apap waved away their appeals and booked the Bosnian forward for simulation.
Hibs were looking short of ideas but 10 minutes later they opened the scoring.
The dithering Tyrone Farrugia was dispossessed by Jorginho who sped into the box and, with only Cini to beat, squared the ball to Jorge who deposited into an empty net.
Farrugia somehow made up for his earlier mistake on 34 minutes. Jorge ran clear and passed the ball to the unmarked Jorginho who was anticipated by the Mosta defender before he could pull the trigger.
Mosta levelled matters on 38 minutes.
They were awarded a free-kick, Murga’s curler came off the bar and in came Ice Cream Guobadia who stabbed the ball into the net.
Three minutes from the break, Jorginho should have restored Hibs’ lead when he controlled the ball inside the area but fired wide with only Cini to beat.
Mosta shocked Hibs with a second goal three minutes into the second half.
Manolito Micallef’s long pass picked out Ekani Rodriguez who nipped between Da Gracia Gomes and Rodolfo Soares and hit a rasping drive that flew into the top corner.
On 54 minutes, Hibs thought they had equalised when Cini inexplicably charged out of his goal to anticipate Jorginho who evaded his challenge and passed to Jorge who headed into the net.
The ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.
Mosta should have added a third on 63 minutes when Zammit put Frederick clear but the Nigerian saw his shot blocked by Rudy Briffa as Hibs were on the ropes.
Two minutes later, Nisevic brought on Denni for Da Gracia Gomes and the Brazilian almost made an instant impact.
With his first touch, he exchanged the ball with Jorge but his shot was blocked by the Mosta goalkeeper.
Mosta all but wrapped up the points 19 minutes from time when Murga was floored in the area by Soares and from the spot, Zammit drilled the ball past Briffa.
Hibs were in shambles. Their misery was further compounded 10 minutes from time when Murga turned past Soares before hitting a swerving drive that sailed into the far corner.
In his goal celebration, Murga lifted his shirt and was penalised by Apap who gave him a second yellow card followed by the red. That mattered little as Mosta had long sealed the points.
Hibernians
R. Briffa-5, R. Da Gracia Gomes-5 (65 Denni-5.5), J. Pearson-5, J. Lima-5 (74 J. Degabriele), R. Soares-4, M. Dias-5, A. Cohen-4.5, B. Kristensen-4.5, C. Failla-5, Jorginho-6, Jorge-5.5.
Mosta
Y. Cini-6.5, T. Farrugia-6, M. Micallef-7, I. Guobadia-7, R. Grech-6 (67 M. Abdul Malik-5.5), E. Rodriguez-6.5, I. Zammit-7.5 (82 G. De Paola), E. Murga, M. Brincat-6, B. Frederick-6 (72 J. Brincat), E. Micheletti-6.5.
Referee: Mario Apap.
Yellow cards: Dias; Murga; Da Gracia Gomes; Soares.
Red card: Murga (M) 81.
BOV player of the match: Ian Zammit (Mosta).
Attendance: 1,010.