Mosta dropped their first points of the VBet Malta Premier season after being held to a 1-1 draw by Marsaxlokk in a hard-fought encounter at the National Stadium.
Mario Muscatโs side entered the match with a perfect record of three wins from three and made an ideal start when Pedro Paulo da Silva Barbosa โFogueteโ put them ahead after just five minutes.
However, Marsaxlokk responded quickly through Rasmus Linden and, despite creating the better opportunities over the course of the match, Enzo Potenzaโs side had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Mosta made three changes from the side which defeated Birkirkara, with new signing Neil Frendo handed a start alongside Oscar Ezejiofor and Geoffrey Acheampong. Giancarlo Goncalves was unavailable, while Ernest Agyiri and Wanderson Gotinha started on the bench.
Marsaxlokk, meanwhile, opted for Matias Garcia ahead of Domantas Simkus.
The Blues took the lead after only five minutes when Acheampong delivered a cross into the area and Foguete got in front of goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi to divert the ball into the net.
The forward and goalkeeper collided in the process, with Foguete eventually forced to leave the pitch through injury a few minutes later.
Mosta threatened again in the 10th minute when Prince Afriyie unleashed a powerful effort from outside the area which Mafoumbi turned behind for a corner.
Marsaxlokk, however, drew level just a minute later. Linden combined neatly with Dodo before being sent through inside the penalty area, with the Danish forward calmly slotting the ball past Udoh Akpan.
Nikolai Muscat tested Akpan with a free-kick from the left on 16 minutes before Marsaxlokk went close again six minutes later. From Leandro Aguirreโs corner, Garcia directed the ball towards Dodo, whose header sailed narrowly wide.
The Southseasiders started the second half strongly and were unfortunate not to take the lead when Aguirre struck the upright after Garcia’s initial effort had been blocked by a defender.
Mosta responded almost immediately, with a Thiaguinho free-kick going just wide in the 49th minute.
Marsaxlokk continued to create the more dangerous openings. Dodo fired narrowly wide after being supplied by Linden on 59 minutes, while Joseph Minala also missed the target three minutes later.
Substitute Redon Mihana then released Ulises Arias in the 80th minute. Arias rounded a defender but saw his attempt blocked by Emmanuel Ugwu.
Aguirre tested Akpan with a free-kick two minutes from time as Marsaxlokk continued searching for a winner.
Mosta had a late opportunity of their own two minutes into stoppage time when Nathan Cross, supplied by Gotinha, tried his luck with an angled effort from the right, but Mafoumbi was equal to it.
The draw brought Mostaโs three-match winning streak to an end but ensured the Blues remained unbeaten after four matches, while Marsaxlokk also preserved their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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