Pieta H.-Mosta 0-1

Pieta H: D. Cassar, C. Attard, C. Grech, L. Fortunato Dos Santos, J. Pisani, R. Rodrigues, T. Agius, K. Cesare (M. Licari), L. Micallef (D. Agius), J. Gabriel (Q. Refalo), C. Frances

Mosta: O. Borg, T. Farrugia, D. Falzon, R. Grech, K. Magro, M. Micallef, D. Bueno, B. Kaljevic (K. Pulo), S. Jovanovic (J. Brincat), N. Milovanovic, A. Borg

Referee: M. Apap Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, E. Spiteri Additional refs: A. M. Sant, G. Tonna 4th official: T. Debono

Scorers: D. Bueno 74 Yellow cards: C. Frances, S. Jovanovic, B. Kaljevic, R. Grech, C. Attard, T. Agius, R. Rogrigues Player of the match: L. Fortunato (Pieta H)

TMI top 3: 1. L. Fortunato  2. K. Cesare 3. J. Brincat

Mosta’s second narrow win keeps them on maximum points, but their performance yesterday was far from convincing, at times pathetic, and hardly deserves any mention. It was only a rare flash of clinical finish by Daniel Bueno, a quarter of an hour from time, that won the match for Mosta, who only began to harry themsleves into the match after James Brincat’s inclusion in the second half. On paper, and after beating Valletta in the first match, Mosta were always expected to be a class above their determined, persistent, but limited opponents. They kept the same line-up but it was a hard-fought win, if hardly deserving, as Pieta showed resilience, meaning the result was in doubt until the end. Pieta had lost their opening fixture of the season against Birkirkara.

Understandably, they were desperate to collect a first Premier League point and they looked capable to achieve that objective, even to pick all three points, as they had the better chances throughout, but were left with nothing to show at the end. The Hotspurs gave a debut start to their Argentine wide player Claudio Paniel Frances, who showed some good touches in flashes. But it was their central defender Fortunato Dos Santos who stole the limelight. He looked solid at the back and blocked most of the incursions of Jovanovic and Kaljevic on the few occasions they were provided with some good service from the Mosta midfielders Milovanovic, Grech and Micallef. To the Brazilian defender fell Pieta’s best chances.

Two minutes before the break, standing in an onside position  in front of the Mosta goal, Fortunato picked a Pisani through ball but his shot on the turn went off target. Four minutes into the second half, Fortunato again headed Christian Grech’s cross wide from a few metres out. Kyle Cesare and the more experienced Joa Gabriel provided some neat footwork and were an ongoing threat to the slow Mosta rearguard. On 38 minutes Luke Micallef burst past Mosta de- fender Adrian Borg, galloped down the right but shot wide. The Pieta keeper David Cassar was never severely tested for the first half as Mosta’s front runners looked too erratic in their finishing.

Not surprisingly, Mosta substituted Jovanovic with James Brin- cat for the second half and although they remained mostly lethargic, they grew more menac- ing. On 50 minutes, from a Milo- vanovic corner, Tyrone Farrugia deflected the ball against the side netting. On 67 minutes, Kaljevic beat Fortunato in the air, off a Brincat cross from the left, but keeper Cassar tipped his firm headerover the bar into a corner.

Mosta’s goal was in the air, as Pieta’s energy levels started to dip. That came on 74 minutes. Substitute Brincat provided the cross from the byeline of the left for Daniel Bueno to hit in from in- side the Pieta area, the ball taking a slight deflection to put keeper Cassar off balance. Two minutes later Mosta almost doubled and wrapped up the match. On Tyron Farrugia’s cross, Kaljevic headed against the post with the Pieta keeper arriving fractionally late on the ball. But with eight minutes remaining, Pieta missed the best chance to draw level. Frances’ good work provided a cross for substitute Malcolm Licari, whose powerful drive unluckily clipped the upright and went out. But Pieta can surely take heart from yesterday’s showing.

Table

Birkirkara 2 2 0 0 6 1 6

Hibernians 2 2 0 0 5 1 6

Mosta 2 2 0 0 2 0 6

Balzan 2 1 1 0 5 3 4

Qormi 2 1 0 1 2 2 3

Sliema W. 2 0 2 0 2 2 2

Tarxien R. 2 0 2 0 1 1 2

Naxxar L. 2 0 1 1 1 2 1

Valletta 2 0 1 1 0 1 1

Floriana 2 0 1 1 1 4 1

Pieta H. 2 0 0 2 1 3 0

Zebbug R. 2 0 0 2 2 8 0