MOSTA 2

Fenech 54, Priso 77

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 1
Giusti 42

Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

A very unwelcome defeat for Ħamrun Spartans against a re-shaped Mosta could land them into deep trouble with the Spartans’ points advantage over the Blues cut down to seven points with the relegation issue again brewing for Jacques Scerri’s side.

Mosta’s Rodriguez Ekani who twice came to his side’s rescue in the opening minutes. On 10 minutes, Leonardo Wallace Motta surged down the right and forced Andreas Vella to bravely palm the ball away but with Misan lurking in the centre, Ekani threw his body on the ball to block his rebound. From the ensuing corner, Misan beat Vella but the Nigerian winger cleared off the line.

On 23 minutes, Jeanpierre Mifsud Triganza tossed away an open chance when he was put through by an excellent pass from Kurt Magro. However, the former Spartans striker elected to veer to his right when bypassing David Cassar and dragged his effort wide.

Ħamrun found their feet as the end of the first half approached as Mosta looked in trouble every time the Spartans moved forward. But four minutes from half-time, Motta swung over a corner that Nanapere headed into the path of Giusti at the post, to stab the ball home.

The game continued in the same vein after the break, with Ħamrun pressing but wasteful in front of goal. On 49 minutes, Guisti beat the offside trap to collect an astute lob over the Mosta defence by fellow midfielder Jake Grech but Vella blocked his effort.

That miss turned out to be costly for the then rampant Spartans. Mosta pranced back to level matters after 54 minutes. Ħamrun were caught out at the back as the Blues broke on the counter. Kyle Frendo tried to place his shot inside the near post but Cassar blocked with his feet. The ball fell kindly at David Fenech’s feet who unleashed a long-range drive which took a decisive deflection off a Ħamrun defender which completely deceived Cassar.

Scerri tried to infuse some urgency into Ħamrun’s play by introducing Siraj Arab for Motta. Moments after his entrance, he combined with Giusti but the U21 Malta striker saw his effort saved by Vella.

Yet, Ħamrun could do nothing to prevent Njongo Priso from putting his team ahead. He ran inside the goal area to meet an inch-perfect ball from Pedrinho before prodding it behind Cassar.