Mosta 2
Kaljevic 13, 53;
Hibernians 1
Obiefule 88;

Pilloried last season for their inept showings in the Championship Pool, Mosta are a transformed team this term.

Although it’s still early to pass judgment on their performance in this season’s elite cohort, the early signs are certainly encouraging as the Blues yesterday chalked up their second victory over Hibernians this camaign to stretch their winning run to six matches in a row.

Mosta’s impressive streak had begun here, at the Hibs Stadium, and against the same opponents with the Blues then coming from two goals down to beat the Paolites 3-2.

Hibs had been expected to produce a strong showing as they welcomed back three key players in Clayton Failla, Andrew Cohen and Ryan Camilleri but they fizzled out after a promising start.

It was not easy for them to break down this resolute Mosta team whose metamorphosis under Enrico Piccioni has been nothing but impressive.

Piccioni is even making a mockery of suggestions that Mosta were over-reliant on their foreigners as only three of his first XI were plucked from overseas, the rest were all Maltese.

The foreigners did make a difference, especially Montenegrin forward Bojan Kaljevic who added to his reputation as arguably the best finisher in the league with another well-taken double that took his league tally to 10 goals.

Hibs plumped for 4-1-3-2 with Luis Edison playing off Obinna Obiefule in attack and Bjorn Kirstensen sitting in front of the back four where Igor Radusinovic initially partnered Jonathan Pearson until the latter departed with a hamstring injury on 17 minutes.

There was no change in Mosta’s tactics as Piccioni stuck with two strikers, Gian Marco Piccioni and Kaljevic with Ian Zammit pushing forward from an advanced midfield position.

The first chance came Hibs’ way. Obinna Obiefule ran into a good shooting position but his drive was parried away by Omar Borg.

The Mosta goalkeeper was prominent again when keeping out Obiefule’s point-blank attempt from a measured cross by Cohen.

With Hibs down to 10 men as Pearson was out receiving medical treatment, Mosta capitalised on 13 minutes.

Kurt Zammit directed a perfect through-ball to Kaljevic who galloped forward before nudging the ball past the Jurgen Borg, yesterday preferred to Daniel Balzan.

The goal galvanised Mosta who were causing more problems to Hibs than they had in the opening stages.

Pearson’s exit further compounded Hibs’ task as they had to re-organise at the back with Ryan Camilleri moving into the centre after starting on the left and Scott Chircop, who replaced Pearson, taking over at left-back.

On 24 minutes, Mano Micallef cut into the box from the left but his cross-shot was intercepted by Borg.

The physical challenge posed by two towering strikers like Kaljevic and Piccioni complicated matters for this much-changed Hibs defence featuring three newcomers in Timothy Tabone Desira, Radusinovic and Chircop.

Mosta continued to produce the better stuff.

Ten minutes from half-time, Kurt Zammit passed to Piccioni who held off Camilleri before laying the ball back for Ian Zammit whose grounder was blocked by Borg.

The Paolites were struggling to create anything of note, their frustrations embodied by Cohen who was booked for a meaningless foul after he had been dispossessed.

Hibs’ woes increased eight minutes into the second half. They were again caught out at the back as Mosta broke on the counter, Piccioni laying the ball to the sprinting Kaljevic who raced past Camilleri before rifling past Borg.

Kaljevic went to celebrate in front of the Hibs fans who pelted the jubilant Mosta players with cups and bottles.

There was a goalmouth melee in the Mosta box after Jackson Lima’s free-kick was diverted towards the far post but Failla’s attempt was repelled by the blue-shirted defenders.

The Paolites rallied. They would have reduced the arrears but for a fine save from Borg who parried away Obiefule’s strike after the Nigerian had been set up by Cohen.

Needing a goal to revive their hopes, Hibs moved through the gears but could not find a way past the solid Mosta reaguard.

Thirteen minutes from time, Edison headed wide from Lima’s corner. Kaljevic left the field to a standing ovation as the Montenegrin was replaced by Diego Pereira after picking up a knock.

Mosta almost administered the killer touch but Piccioni’s grounder hit the base of the near post after the Italian had slipped past Chircop.

Reprieved, Hibs made the most of their luck as, two minutes from time, Obiefule scored with a perfect header from Cohen’s cross.

Obiefule then made a surging run into the box but his effort was blocked.

Deep into stoppage time, Micallef charged into the box from the left but his low strike just missed the target.

Mosta
O. Borg-7, I. Grech-6, T. Farrugia-6.5, A. Carrozza-6, R. Grech-6.5, K. Zammit-7 (78 A. Cini), M. Micallef-6, I. Zammit-7, B. Kaljevic-8.5 (79 D. Pereira), M. Brincat-7, G.M. Piccioni-6.5 (90 Y. Messias).

Hibernians
J. Borg-5.5, T. Tabone Desira-5.5 (58 Z. Levnaic-5.5), I. Radusinovic-5, R. Camilleri-5, J. Pearson (17 S. Chircop-6), A. Cohen-5, B. Kristensen-5, J. Lima-5, C. Failla-5, O. Obiefule-6, L. Edison-5 (87 J. Degabriele).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: I. Zammit; Cohen; Brincat; Edison.

BOV player of the match: Bojan Kaljevic (Mosta).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Birkirkara	22	18	2	2	51	19	28
Valletta	22	17	2	3	52	14	27
Hibernians	23	15	2	6	58	29	24
Sliema W.	22	12	7	3	43	24	22
Mosta	23	13	2	8	46	36	22
Balzan	22	8	4	10	24	31	14
Naxxar	23	8	4	11	28	40	15
Floriana	23	9	4	10	33	38	14
Vittoriosa	23	5	4	14	25	48	10
Tarxien R.	23	4	5	14	28	47	9
Qormi	23	4	4	15	30	48	8
Rabat Ajax	23	1	4	18	18	62	4