Marsaxlokk-Pieta H. 1-5
Marsaxlokk: C. Cassar, M. Valeriani, T. Templeman, K. Polidano, S. Cutajar (G. Buttigieg 62 min), L. Agius, C. Debattista (P. Borg 62 min), J.P. Farrugia, G. Caruana, D. Grech (D. Attard 83 min), N. Stoskovic.
Pieta H: M.Montfort, C. Grech, C. Spiteri, Q. Refalo (M. Agius 83 min), T. Agius, Z.Muscat, V. Pereira Dos Santos, C. Cassar, J. Zarate, J. Pisani (L. Mallia 74 mins), A. Farrugia (C. Cutajar 89 min).
Referee: Clayton Pisani
Ass. Referees: William Debattista, Paul Apap: 4th official – Mario Apap.
Scorers: Adrian Farrugia 19 mins, Jean Paul Farrugia 39 mins, V. Pereira Dos Santos 56 mins, 80 mins, Z. Muscat 70 mins, M. Agius 91 min
Yellow cards: A. Farrugia, Z. Muscat, K. Polidano, V. Pereira Dos Santos, D. Grech, P. Borg
Red card: P. Borg 77 min
First Division leaders Pieta Hotspurs were in splendid form yesterday demolishing Premier bottom of the table side Marsaxlokk to reach the quarter final stages of the U*BET FA Trophy.
It was a fully deserved victory for Pieta who dictated matters for long stretches and could have even obtained a victory with a larger margin had they taken all the chances that came their way.
Vinicius Pereira Dos Santos was a constant danger to the Marsaxlokk defence as his fast pace could not be subdued by Marsaxlokk’s defenders. Dos Santos scored a brace but could have scored two or three more as he missed some glorious chances in front of goal.
Zach Muscat had another outstanding performance in defence, with Jonathan Zarate playing a blinder in midfield. Others who stood out for Pieta were Terence Agius and Adrian Farrugia who dominated the right flank.
Marsaxlokk are in a sorry state and their drubbing yesterday by a first division side says it all. They are a disjointed side with no punch up front and weak in defence, and they have to improve considerably if they want to avoid the drop.
Pieta enjoyed territorial superiority in the first minutes and went close on four minutes when the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Cassar had to rush out of position to block on Pereira Dos Santos who was well served by Terence Agius.
On 19 minutes Pieta took the lead. Jurgen Pisani beat the offside trap and ran through on the left flank to cross towards Vinicius Pereira Dos Santos whose first timer slammed against the upright and from the rebound Adrian Farrugia fired into the roof of the net.
Two minutes later Pieta were close to a second goal when Jurgen Pisani headed over the bar a good cross from the right by Farrugia. Pieta continued to dictate matters with Zarate distributing good passes to Pisani and Pereira Dos Santos.
On 25 minutes Pieta could have added a second one when Pereira Dos Santos failed to head home an inviting Adrian Farrugia cross from the right. Minutes later the same move was repeated with yet another good cross from the inspiring Adrian Farrugia, but Dos Santos again failed to connect with only Cassar to beat.
Pieta paid dearly for their mistakes as Marsaxlokk drew level in their first attack. A long Valeriani freekick deceived the Pieta defence and Jean Paul Farrugia anticipated Montfort to head home.
Two minutes later Periera Dos Santos ran to a Refalo pass but he failed to dribble past goalkeeper Cassar who blocked the danger.
Marsaxlokk played better in the last minutes of the first half and Pieta goalkeeper Montfort saved his side with a brilliant save off a Jean Paul Farrugia shot from the edge of the area.
On the resumption Marsaxlokk had a good chance with Jean Paul Farrugia heading slightly wide. On 56 minutes Pieta were back in front when a Cassar freekick was controlled by Refalo, and Pereira Dos Santos scored with a low shot from an acute angle.
Coach Anton Cremona made a double substitution on the hour introducing Patrick Borg and new signing Gabriel Buttigieg. Marsaxlokk pushed forward and Pieta, with the strong wind behind their backs, were menacing with their fast breaks.
On 70 minutes Pieta scored a third goal when Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Cassar could only partially save a fierce freekick taken by Pereira Dos Santos and from the rebound central defender Zach Muscat was on the right spot to hammer the ball home.
Pieta could have easily added a fourth goal some minutes later but Pereira Dos Santos missed a sitter when he dribbled past goalkeeper Cassar, but still failed to find the back of the net.
But Pieta were in full command and on 77 minutes Patrick Borg received a second booking for a foul on Pereira Dos Santos, and was sent off after only 17 minutes on the field of play.
Marsaxlokk were now dead and buried and Pieta went close again with a Zarate header slamming against the cross bar. But the fourth goal was in the offing as ten minutes from time Terence Agius passed towards Pereira Dos Santos who scored his second goal with a precise grounder.
In stoppage time Pieta added a fifth one when Dos Santos again ripped the Marsaxlokk defence apart and crossed towards substitute Matthew Agius who scored from close range.