Mosta come from behind to overcome Senglea Athletic

SENGLEA ATHLETIC 1

Wilkerson 57pen

MOSTA 3

Riascos 71og, Ememe 80

Tulimieri 90

Senglea Athletic

M. Farrugia-6, Z. Cassar-6, A. Abela-5, K. Atkinson-5, I. Misan-4, J. Tanti-5, L. Riascos-5, J. Diwoto-5 (66 D. Xuereb-), D. Kukic-5, L. Galea, Wilkerson-6.

Mosta

Y. Bitseki Moto-6, E. Ememe-7 (88 O. Sammut), J.Bezzina (19 K. Tulimieri-6.5), D. Bonniċi-5 (66 A. Spiteri-), C. Failla-5, G. Sciberras-5 (46 S. Martinez-6 88 M. Vella), T. Farrugia-6, M. Muchardi-6.5, L. Portelli-5, R. Morisco-5, B. Kaljevic-5.5.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.

Yellow cards Sciberras, Tulimieri, Galea, Misan.

Red card: Galea (S) 82.

BOV Player of the match: Christ Ememe (Mosta).

Senglea were dealt a cruel blow after Mosta bounced back from a goal down to take the spoils at the Centenary Stadium.

The Southseasiders took the lead when Wilkerson converted a penalty after the Brazilian was carelessly tripped by Liam Portelli.

After that the Blues gave little indication that they would deny the bottom-placed Senglea a win but a fortuitous own goal paved the way for Mosta’s win. Christ Ememe put them in front before Kevin Tulimieri sealed the win. 

Tactically Mosta were a well-disposed outfit. Their dense midfield was primarily devised to curtail Senglea’s direct approach with that platform also serving as a means for swift counter-thrusts mainly directed by Matias Muchardi to be finished off by Bojan Kaljevic and Ememe.

The pattern of the match took the semblance of a monologue. It was Mosta’s regular probing with Muchardi and substitute Kevin Tulimieri, who came on early in the first half as a substitute for Johann Bezzina, trying to set up some incisive play, complemented by Senglea’s calculated breaks.

But for all their efforts, Mosta lacked the quality to make life uncomfortable for Senglea and on the half hour mark, Ememe blasted an effort well over the bar.

At the other end, Kevaughn Atkinson intercepted Rafael Morisco’s back pass but could only direct the ball straight into the hands of Yves Bitseki-Moto, the Mosta goalkeeper.

On 52 minutes, Liam Portelli’s cross was met by Tulimieri who reacted quickly to send an acrobatic overhead kick that finished wide. Three minutes later, Wilkerson was floored by a robust Portelli challenge inside the area. Wilkerson picked himself up and struck home.

After 71 minutes, fortune smiled on Mosta who drew level thanks to a bizarre own goal. Andrei Spiteri’s cross inside the box prompted Igor Misan to belt the ball away but his clearance ricocheted off team-mate Riascos and into the net.

That perked up the Blues who then took the lead on 80 minutes after a fierce shot by Kaljevic hit the crossbar and Ememe headed the rebound into an empty net.

And to make matters worse for Senglea, they finished the match down with 10 men after Lee Galea was sent-off for two bookable offences.

More misery was heapead on Senglea two minutes from time when Santiago Martinez squared an excellent ball for Tulimieri in the box as the Italian striker nipped in to steer the ball home.