Tarxien Rainbows 0
Mosta 1
Kaljevic 63;
Mosta had been locked in a fierce scramble with neighbours Naxxar Lions, Balzan and Floriana for a place in the Championship Pool when Enrico Piccioni took charge of the team in early January.
At the time, the decision to replace Danilo Doncic, a highly-rated coach who has won several honours during his playing stint in the Premier League, with Piccioni, a former Serie A player with no previous experience of Maltese football, was seen as a massive gamble.
More than a month later, and after five consecutive victories, the scepticism about Piccioni’s appointment has vanished as under the Italian’s guidance, Mosta have not only secured a top-six place but their positive run has fuelled talk of a strong push for Europe.
Yesterday’s victory over the struggling Tarxien Rainbows owed much to the tactical nous and experience of the former Cremonese player.
Brazilian striker Daniel Mariano Bueno, back in Tarxien’s fold, was assigned a starting role but the onus of leading the Rainbows’ forward line fell to Demba Tourè as Clive Mizzi opted for 4-2-3-1 with newcomer Lucas anchoring the midfield and Jorge and Bueno on the wings.
William Barbosa dropped back to partner Josef Mifsud at the heart of the Tarxien defence as Ryan Sammut moved to right-back.
Mosta were set up in 4-1-3-2 configuration with the returning Gianmarco Piccioni and Bojan Kaljevic taking up the two attacking roles. Former Valletta striker Ian Zammit was named in the starting XI, taking up the duties of captain Manolito Micallef who was suspended.
The other change in Piccioni’s line-up from the 4-0 rout of neighbours Naxxar saw Armando replacing Yuri Messias.
Tarxien had the better of the early exchanges as Lucas was proving quite a handful for Mosta.
Yet, Mosta threatened to surge ahead when Kaljevic, latching onto a crossfield pass from Piccioni, volleyed the ball onto the bar after just seven minutes.
At the other end, left-back Carlo Mamo floated the ball towards goal where Tourè rose above friend and foe but his header ricocheted off the crossbar.
In the 21st minute, an excellent move involving Lucas, Bueno and Jorge unlocked the Mosta defence. Jorge sprinted into the box from the blind side and swung in a teasing cross but Mark Brincat made a vital block to clear the danger.
Two minutes later, Ian Zammit powered his way through before hitting a rising shot that finished just wide. But it was Tarxien who continued to call the tune. Just past the half-hour mark, Jorge’s curling free-kick caressed the crossbar.
Seven minutes before the break, Mosta’s Rodriguez Ekani produced an excellent cross from the left and the unmarked Kaljevic forced goalkeeper Nicholas Vella into a fine save.
Mosta went on the offensive at the start of the second half, Piccioni having an effort diverted away for a corner. From the ensuing corner, the Italian striker met Ian Zammit’s cross but his header sailed over.
After 50 minutes, Kaljevic evaded the offside trap to reach Ekani’s intelligent pass but the striker’s shot was parried away by Vella.
Piccioni introduced Diego Pereira for Armando and switched to a four-pronged attack.
The erstwhile disjointed Mosta began to find their rhythm as the game moved past the hour mark.
Their sudden improvement reaped instant dividends as, on 63 minutes, Ian Zammit seized possession near the halfway line and released Kaljevic who drilled an angled drive past Vella.
That was Kaljevic’s last contribution as the prolific striker was withdrawn by Piccioni three minutes later.
Mizzi responded with a double substitution, throwing on Fernando Lopez and Karl Pulo for Agius and Lucas and promptly tweaking his formation with Barbosa pushed into midfield in a re-designed 4-4-2 set-up.
Yet, Tarxien failed to up their game.
On the contrary, it was Mosta who ended the match in attacking mode. In the 71st minute, Piccioni’s free-kick arched towards the far post but Vella leapt to his left to push the ball away.
At the death, Piccioni flicked the ball wide after being sent through by Kurt Zammit.
Tarxien Rainbows
N. Vella-6, C. Mamo-6, M. Caruana-5.5 (80 M. Ciantar), A. Agius-5.5 (70 F. Lopez-4), Lucas-6 (70 K. Pulo-4), W. Barbosa-6, D. Toure-5, R. Sammut-5.5, D. M. Bueno-5, J. Mifsud-5.5, Jorge-6.
Mosta
O. Borg-6, T. Farrugia-6, M. Brincat-6.5, R. Ekani-6.5, R. Grech-6.5, K. Zammit-5.5, Armando-5.5 (57 D. Pereira-6), A. Carrozza-5.5, B. Kaljevic-7 (66 A. Cini-5), G. Piccioni-7 I. Zammit-7.5 (90 K. Frendo).
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Yellow cards: Sammut; Mamo; Bueno; Carrozza; Ekani.
BOV player of the match: Ian Zammit (Mosta).