Mosta 2
Chukwide 49; Murga 60;
Valletta 2
Cremona 23; Priso 90 pen;
Trailing 2-1 and a man down, Valletta looked to be heading for an unexpected defeat against a fiesty Mosta side but in a pulsating finale, Njongo Priso scored from the penalty spot to salvage a point for the Citizens.
Valletta coach Paul Zammit had defined their first-round clash with the resurgent Mosta as “tricky” and his cautious mindset was justified by the events on the field of play as the Blues, inspired by their coach Ivan Zammit who was determined to make a point against his former club, were the livelier side for much of this entertaining encounter.
When Federico Falcone was expelled for retaliation late in the first half and Mosta turned the result in their favour by the hour mark, all seemed lost for Valletta.
But true to their reputation, the Whites, albeit riding their luck at times, roared back in the final 20 minutes of the game to salvage a draw that took them a point clear of Birkirkara at the summit.
Jurgen Suda, the son of former Sliema Wanderers and Valletta striker Hubert Suda, was a surprise inclusion in Paul Zammit’s starting XI. The nippy winger was preferred to Priso.
It was the usual 4-3-3 from Paul Zammit with Falcone the attacking fulcrum and Suda and Abdelkarim Nafti on the wings.
Valletta were missing three key players in captain Jonathan Caruana, Roderick Briffa and Brazilian striker Jhonnattann.
The only change in Mosta’s team saw Samuel Chukwide take the place of Bobby Frederick as otherwise coach Ivan Zammit, who had to do without the suspended Ian Zammit, retained the same players who started the 2-0 win over Pembroke.
The presence of a host of forwards, the likes of Saviour Fidelis, Edin Murga and Chukwide, attested to Zammit’s intention to attack as he opted for 4-2-3-1.
Before kick-off, goalkeeper Yenz Cini hurled a bouquet towards the City fans as this was his first match against the club where he grew up since joining Mosta.
Henry Bonello, the Valletta goalkeeper, had to be alert to boot away a dangerous Mano Micallef free-kick from the right. Chukwide was high from the distance as Mosta were the more adventurous side in the early stages.
Valletta hardly got a glimpse of Cini’s goal in the opening 20 minutes as they struggled to cope with Mosta’s assiduous pressing but in their first significant attacking foray, the Citizens struck.
Nafti laid the groundwork as the Tunisian strode clear on the left before supplying a perfect pass to Llywelyn Cremona who prodded past Cini.
Mosta might have equalised immediately. The Whites were caught out at the back as Chukwide dashed into the box before crossing towards the far post where James Brincat miscued his effort.
The ball skewed towards the other post where Chukwide again dragged it back for Fidelis but his close-range header was blocked by Ryan Camilleri.
The Blues kept up the pressure, Ekani Rodriguez hitting wide from inside the box.
Their optimism increased two minutes from half-time when Falcone was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Ice Cream Guobadia after the Nigerian had hauled down the Argentine striker outside the box.
At the start of the second half, Zammit brought on Priso for Suda and switched Cremona to the right wing but their cause became more complicated when Mosta got back on level terms on 49 minutes.
Priso’s late charge on the marauding Rodriguez just in front of the Mosta bench yielded a free-kick for the Blues. Chukwide stepped up to take the free-kick and his dipping drive caught Bonello unawares as the ball soared into the net with the City goalkeeper off his line as he probably anticipated a cross.
A mistake by Bonello, who failed to hold the ball after rushing out to catch a long ball from Hassan Yau, gifted Mosta an opening as Murga was first to the ball but he rifled over.
Murga made amends moments later as he hammered home from inside the box after Bonello had partially blocked a Fidelis effort.
On 65 minutes, Cremona headed over from Nafti’s free-kick. Valletta went closer on 68 minutes when Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza sent his shot wide.
A goal and a man down, Valletta had to risk something to strengthen their chances of an equaliser. They did lift their game and Cremona laid the ball to Mifsud Triganza but his drive was blocked by Adrian Borg.
Valletta’s inclination to press forward left them somewhat exposed at the back. This was evident 11 minutes from time when Mosta had a glorious chance to kill the game but substitute Frederick hit wide with only Bonello to beat.
On the stroke of time, Valletta should have equalised but Juan Cruz Gill headed wide from Nafti’s free-kick.
There was more drama as Valletta won a penalty after Mark Brincat brought down Mifsud Triganza in the box. Priso dispatched his shot past Cini to spark wild celebrations among the City fans.
Mosta
Y. Cini-6, T. Farrugia-6, M. Micallef-7, I. Guobadia-6.5, A. Borg-6.5, H. Yau-6, S. Fidelis-6 (66 B. Frederick-7), E. Rodriguez-6.5, E. Murga-6.5 (83 M. Brincat), J. Brincat-6, S. Chukwide-7.5 (76 D. Falzon).
Valletta
H. Bonello-5, I. Azzopardi-5.5, R. Camilleri-6, J. Cruz Gill-6, A. Bruce-5 (67 J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6.5), J. Suda-5 (46 N. Priso-6), F. Falcone, L. Cremona-7, C. Pani-6 (89 R. Fenech), A. Nafti-7, R. Romao-6.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow cards: Murga; Azzopardi; Micallef.
Red card: Falcone (V) 43.
BOV player of the match: Samuel Chukwide (Mosta).
Attendance: 989.