Mosta dropped two crucial points in their fight to avoid the bottom two places of the YoHealth Malta Premier Opening Round Bottom 6 after being held to a 2โ2 draw by already-relegated Tarxien Rainbows.
Tarxien struck early before Mosta turned the match around before half-time, but a late penalty allowed the Rainbows to salvage a share of the spoils.
Tarxien coach Jacques Scerri made five changes to his side, handing league debuts to Aleksander Lubik, Angel Valverde and Isidoro Hinestroza.
Mosta, meanwhile, made four changes from the team that faced Naxxar Lions, with Aidan Agius, Chukwuemeka Eke, Gianluca Sciberras and Prince Chibuozor Emmanuel returning to the starting line-up.
The Rainbows took the lead after just two minutes. Following a cross from the right, Isidoro Hinestrozaโs header was blocked and Gilson Costa reacted quickest to slot home from close range.
Shortly after the opening goal, play was halted for over 20 minutes due to a power cut which caused the FVS system to fail. With match officials unable to immediately verify the goal, the game could only resume once the system was restored.
Mosta responded on 38 minutes when Leo Fernandesโ free kick from the left was parried by Lubik.
Their pressure paid off seven minutes later as Junior Eke Chukwuemeka delivered a cross from the left and Prince Chibuozor Emmanuel struck decisively, with the ball hitting the upright before crossing the line.
With the lengthy stoppage, the fourth official indicated 30 minutes of first-half added time, and six minutes into stoppage time Mosta completed the turnaround. Leo Fernandes again supplied the delivery from the left and Aidan Agius rose to head past Lubik for a 2โ1 lead.
Tarxien threatened in added time when Marcus Grima fired high after being teed up by Angel Valverde from the left.
In the second half, Claudio Murici tested Mostaโs defence with a powerful effort just over the bar on 57 minutes before narrowly missing the target again with an angled shot on 66 minutes.
The Rainbows drew level on 79 minutes when referee Matthew De Gabriele awarded a penalty for a handball by Aidan Agius. Substitute Erico Junior made no mistake from the spot.
Mosta nearly reclaimed the lead in stoppage time as Nathan Agius saw his effort from the edge of the area deflected behind for a corner, while moments later Aidan Agius headed over from a Leo Fernandes free kick.
MOSTA 2
TARXIEN RAINBOWS 2
Emmanuel 45โ, A. Agius 45+
Costa 2โ, Erico Jr 79โ (pen)
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
Leave a Reply