BALZAN-2, MOSTA-4
Mosta produced another stunning comeback this afternoon as they hit back from two goals down to beat Balzan 4-2.
Winless in their opening four games in the Championship Pool, Balzan looked on course to record their first victor after taking a two-goal lead early in the second half but Mosta suddenly sprung to life.
They scored three goals in 11 minutes before Mano Micallef applied the killer blow in stoppage time as Mosta joined fourth-placed Sliema Wanderers on the 27-point mark. Sliema are playing Hibs in today's second match.
The game was off to a quiet start with both teams struggling to create chances.
After 20 minutes, Mosta's Cristian Martins produced a rising shot that sailed wide of the far post.
Balzan responded with a Justin Grioli cross which just eluded Jose Luis Armario Negrin in the box. There was another good chance for Balzan when Negrin was first to a loose ball but his central shot was pushed away by Omar Borg, the Mosta goalkeeper.
Bojan Kaljevic, the Mosta striker, then had a shot deflected away for a corner but it was Balzan who took the lead six minutes from half-time.
After Borg had fisted away Grioli's long-range shot, the Balzan right-back delivered a teasing cross which bounced inside the box and striker Ryan Darmanin looked to get a slight touch to the ball as it rolled past the Mosta goalkeeper.
Borg then saved an effort from Pedrinho as Balzan remained on top.
Mosta protested for a penalty when Martins ended on the turf after being challenged by Andrew Scicluna but irtish referee Tim Marshall waved play on.
On the stroke of half-time, Balzan almost doubled their lead when Negrin stormed into the box from the right before pulling the ball back for Darmanin whose strike was headed away by Ishmael Grech.
Four minutes into the second half, Manuel Bartolo, the Balzan goalkeeper, saved a header from substitute Diego Pereira who had met a cross from Carrozza.
In their next attack, Balzan doubled their advantage. Pedrinho advanced through the middle before passing to Darmanin who beat Borg with a perfect grounder.
Mosta would have pulled one back but for a good block by Bartolo who kept out a low shot by Micallef. A free-kick by Martins was wide on 59 minutes.
The referee turned down Balzan's claims for a penalty after Negrin appeared to have been brought down by Grech.
Mosta reopened the issue on 66 minutes. Substitute James Brincat's cross from the left sailed towards the far post where Pereira headed the ball back to Kaljevic who flicked home.
Kaljevic's goal resurrected Mosta who took command. Bartolo saved Kaljevic's header from Carrozza's free-kick but, with 18 minutes, the score became 3-3. Micallef's rising effort from outside the area came off the crossbar but Pereira headed home from the rebound.
Balzan looked stunned. They almost regained the lead when, in a quick attack, Grioli released Scicluna who was thwarted by Borg.
It was Mosta who went 3-2 in front with 13 minutes left. Martins cut in from the right before hitting a curling shot that sailed into the far corner.
In stoppage time, Mosta sealed the issue. Balzan failed to clear Pereira's pass and Micallef dashed clear and fired his shot past Bartolo.
Bartolo denied Mosta a fifth goal with beating away Zammit's angled drive.
Balzan striker Darmanin was named BOV player of the match.