Floriana 1
Grabowski 67;
Mosta 2
Obiefule 26, 90;

Floriana surrendered their 100 per cent record when they tasted their first defeat in 2012, at the hands of the much-improved Mosta, after a run of five consecutive victories.

The game was a lesson for Michael Woods’s team who looked unable to muster the necessary energy to press for the winner after Andrè Grabowski had equalised midway into the second half.

Instead, the game had a sting in the tail as Mosta striker Obinna Obiefule, who had given his team an early lead, pounced on some hesitant defending by Floriana to run on to a Kurt Magro clearance, round Manuel Bartolo and slot home.

Floriana rarely looked like a team good enough to challenge for the title during yesterday’s match but credit must go to Mosta who secured their third victory in the last four matches.

Mosta coach Steve D’Amato effected only one change from the team that beat Qormi last week. On-loan winger Dyson Falzon is sidelined after suffering two fractured ribs on his Mosta debut and newcomer Terence Vella was given the nod to make his first start for the Blues.

Lined out in a 4-1-4-1 formation, Florent Raimy was detailed to protect the back four, with Jonathan Bajada and Vella on the flanks and Obiefule alone up front.

Woods awarded a debut to Italian newcomer Alessio Restuccia. The former Acireale defender assumed the left-back role in Floriana’s 4-3-3 formation, allowing Manolito Micallef to push higher up the pitch.

It was Floriana who dominated possession in the opening stages but Mosta looked dangerous on the break through Ian Zammit and Obiefule. It was a quick one-two combination that undid the Greens’ rearguard as the Nigerian broke the deadlock after 26 minutes.

Obiefule received Zammit’s return pass, skipped past Owen Bugeja and slammed a shot across the bows of goalkeeper Bartolo and into the low corner.

Bajada, in particular, looked menacing down the right as he gave Restuccia, Floriana’s weakest link, a torrid start.

His influence dictated the tempo of Mosta’s attacks with Floriana struggling to pick him up as he had a hand in all three first-half clear chances for the Blues.

On the half-hour mark, the midfielder slipped the ball to the overlapping Adrian Borg who created space on the flank but shot wide.

Two minutes later, Magro sliced open the Floriana defence with a lovely passing move that ended with the onrushing Bartolo saving smartly from Obiefule.

Mosta were also threatening on the left flank thanks to the pace and direct running of Vella. Two minutes from the break, he outfoxed the Greens defence and laid the ball to the sprinting Magro who headed out.

Just before half-time, Floriana were unlucky not to level matters when Argentine midfielder Pablo Doffo thumped a 20-metre effort against the post.

After the break, Woods switched to 4-2-3-1, sending on Malcolm Licari for Restuccia with Micallef dropping back to a defensive role and the former Marsaxlokk utility man moved upfront to provide support to Ivan Woods.

And it was Floriana’s turn to dominate. On the hour, Micallef swivelled to hit Grabowski’s low left-wing cross just wide of Mosta goalkeeper Jonathan Debono’s left-hand post.

Floriana’s pressure ensured Mosta struggled to get out of their own territory in the second half. The Greens enjoyed a lengthy spell of possession that concluded with Grabowski’s leveller after 67 minutes.

A free-kick from the right by Doffo sparked a chaotic goalmouth scramble with the Swedish winger’s initial header blocked by Debono but coolly finishing his second attempt.

Mosta fans had gone from elation to anxiety and Grabowski should have heaped more misery on the Blues. Played in by Woods, Grabowski was unable to apply the finishing touch eight minutes from the end.

Five minutes from time, Grabowski could not stretch enough to head in Licari’s cross into an open goal, thus leaving the stage clear for Obiefule to provide a further boost for the revived Mosta.

With just injury time to be played, the Nigerian striker took advantage of some sloppy Floriana defending to reach a Magro clearance. Obiefule nipped past Bugeja and kept his cool to beat Bartolo.

Thanks to this win, Mosta took their tally to 20 points, three behind the seventh-placed Qormi and six down on Birkirkara. With a maximum nine points at stake in their remaining three first-phase games, Mosta still have a mathematical chance of forcing their way into the Championship Pool.

Floriana
M. Bartolo-6, O. Bugeja-5, T. Paris-5.5, D. Pisani-5, P. Doffo-6.5, A. Grabowski-6, I. Woods-5, M. Micallef-7, C. Caruana-5 (59 J. Mintoff-4), C. Borg-6 (70 J. Borg), A. Restuccia-4.5 (46 M. Licari-5).

Mosta
J. Debono-6, A. Borg-6, K. Farrugia-6, F. Tisbi-6, Y. Ossok-6, T. Vella-6 (74 G. Martin), F. Raimy-6 (82 P. Mirceta), J. Bajada-6.5 (89 S. Grech), K. Magro-7, I. Zammit-7, O. Obiefule-8.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Zammit; Paris; Ossok; Raimy; Mirceta; Doffo; A. Borg.

BOV player of the match: Pablo Doffo (Floriana).

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