Sliema Wanderers 4 Mosta 1

Mosta looked set to break the duck in the champions pool with a convincing victory over Sliema after leading at half-time and playing with such confidence.

But they fell apart late in the second half as Sliema cruised into control scoring four goals in 22 minutes to turn the tables over their opponents.

Mosta had struggled to shake off an end-of-season lethargy but once Manolito Micallef had his sight on goal, testing Glenn Zammit with low effort, they gained some momentum.

Fabio Vignaroli began to cause problems, particularly down the right  and it was his break that led to Mosta’s opener after 28 minutes. Steve Bezzina was on hand to demonstrate a clinical touch, thumping home a header from the Italian midfielder’s cross.

Jonathan Bajada, a handful to Sliema all night, found space on the left flank, sidestepped Clifford Gatt Baldacchino rather easily but his effort was repelled by Zammit.

Yet, moments later, Paltemio Barbetti squared for Bajada and from 25 metres, the former Valletta midfielder took one touch before beating Attard in the Mosta net with a precise dipping shot.

Five minutes later, Alex Muscat collected the ball on the left wing, crossed for Ohawuchi who could only head the ball into the goalkeeper’s arm but Beppe Muscat whose ran at the far post had not been tracked, stooped low to head the ball home unchallenged from close-range.

With nearly 20 minutes remaining, the match naturally diminished in its intensity but Mosta’s defence could hold out until the closing minutes when they were on the back foot as Sliema stepped up their pressure.

One minute from time, Ohawuchi showed some of his expertise in front of goal when he raced through Ruggiero’s pass and beat Attard with ease.

Few moments later, Doncic’s side were living on the edge and tumbled over the precipice for another heavy defeat in the cruellest fashion when Ferinando Apap could only divert Kokkavesis’s attempt into his own net