Pieta H-Floriana 3-1

Pieta H: A. Hogg, M. Deanov (B. Sciberras), S. Ciscaldi (D. Kokavessis), Q. Refalo, C. Pulo (G. Goodlip), C. Sammut, S. Kondev, D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, R. Camilleri, R. Galabov

Floriana: M. Camilleri, K. Formosa (A. Buhagiar), D. Pisani, R. Newell, R. Gango Rtsa, C. Caruana (M. Micallef), M. Caruana, C. Cassar (I. Azzopardi), T. Cilia, W. Gomes, B. Spasojevic

Referee: A. Zammit Asst.refs: J. Camilleri, R. Apap 4th official: S. Tanti

Scorers: W. Gomes, S. Kondev, D. Kokavessis, K. Formosa og

Yellow card: B. Spasojevic, C. Sammut

Player of the match: Svetlan Kondev (Pieta Hotspurs)

TMI top three: 1. M. Deanov 2. S. Kondev 3. C. Pulo

Showing more purpose and determination than their opponents, Pieta Hotspurs beat inferior opponents Floriana yesterday to move five points clear of third placed St George’s in the Relegation Pool, thus making a big step towards salvation.

Floriana, albeit with an understrength team, gave an inept performance, showing flaws in defence, and despite an early lead, they never made their mark on the proceedings.

Pieta won deservingly, simply because they were the more organised and creative team on the pitch.

Floriana’s defence showed some changes from the usual. Briffa and Azzopardi sat on the bench, handing starts to Mario Caruana and Newell. Floriana also had Adrian Mifsud suspended and Manolito Micallef among the substitutes, with Spasojevic starting the match.

Pieta also had their defensive problems, with their stalwart Camenzuli missing through suspension. Sciberras was exiled to the bench.

Floriana forged ahead after only 57 seconds, with virtually their first and only genuine attack in the first half. On a Spasojevic cross from the left, Wendell Gomes beat the unsettled keeper Hogg with a firm header.

Pieta’s response was immediate. They pinned their opponents inside their own half and threatened with a Deanov meaty free-kick, after six minutes, which keeper Camilleri stretched himself to save superbly into a corner.

Floriana’s attacking intentions were stifled at the halfway line by the industrious Pieta midfielders Pulo, Kondev and Mifsud.

Hotspurs forced a series of corners. None proved effective until the one played short by Deanov from the right for Svetlan Kondev’s dipper to beat keeper Camilleri at the top far corner past the quarter hour.

Pieta continued with their onslaught as Mifsud’s first-time effort was blocked.

Past the half hour Galabov headed Deanov’s corner narrowly wide.

It was only in the late stages of the half that Floriana ventured inside the Pieta area. A Spasojevic free-kick was turned into a corner by keeper Hogg and Christian Caruana, inside the area, beat Hogg with an intelligent lob but Herrera cleared off the line.

Pieta continued to be the better team even in the second half. When Deanov netted after five minutes, the goal was disallowed for offside and later Pulo arrived fractionally late on a Deanov teasing cross from the right.

But there was no denying the Hotspurs on the hour. Deanov’s superior pace took him past Newell on the left flank and his low inviting cross from the byeline was met by substitute Dylon Kokavessis to tap in the ball with relative ease.

Five minutes later, Pieta made sure of the points, courtesy of another Floriana defensive lapse. As keeper Camilleri rushed out to reach for Galabov’s long ball inside the area, Formosa deflected it inside his own net when pressed by Pulo.