Marsa 0
Pieta H 1
A Jan Busuttil goal just past the hour was enough for Pieta to return to winning ways and consolidate theur second position in the standings. For the Redblues it was yet another setback, after a very good first twenty minutes of the game. For Marsa not all is lost as they still hold a four-point lead over Melita, but they desperately needed a point yesterday.
Marsa started on a the top gear and after barely sixty seconds they went close with a Luka Mijic scorcher from the edge of the area that was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Montfort. The same Montfort was again called in action a couple of minutes later saving low on the first post a well taken freekick by Paul Lapira.
After this initial fury from their opponents, Pieta settled down and took control of the midfiels sector. On 15 minutes Pieta’s first attempt smashed against the crossbar when Jan Busuttil’s cross shot completely deceived the Marsa custodian, who however was saved by the crossbar.
On 30 minutes another Pieta attempt, again through Jan Busuttil with his freekick just missing the base of the upright. In the remaining minutes both teams tried to prevail but the defences were never under real danger.
The second half started on a slow pace with Pieta again hitting the crossbar on 58 minutes when Ian Busuttil’s shot on the turn hit the crossbar. On 61 minutes Pieta broke the deadlock when Dylan Agius passed towards Jan Busuttil who finally found the back of the net from ana acute angle.
Marsa tried to make a comeback in the remaining half an hour, but lacked the lucidity in the final meters with Pieta on the other hand missing a lot of good scoring opportunities in their fast breaks.
Marsa: W. Galea, E. Grech (R. Mercieca 73 min), N. Micallef, A. Caruana, V. Stanic, J. Farrugia, M. Busuttil (D. Pirotta 79 min), M. Gauci, P. Lapira, R. De Fex Marriaga (M. Platisa 66 min), L. Mijic.
Pieta H: M. Montfort, T. Bartolo, C. Degabriele, A. Mizzi (J. Ishaya Irimiya 85 min), G. Mensah, C. Gauci (N. Pace Cocks 63 min), D. Agius, A. White, C. Grech, J. Busuttil, L. Chiedozie (J.M. Artiaga 78 min).
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Last gasp stunning goal foils Mqabba
Sirens 2
Mqabba 2
Substitute Ethan Goodman score a masterpiece of a goal to give Sirens a dramatic equaliser and foil Mqabba who are now third in the table two points behind Pieta. Mqabba shoul have wrapped the match with a third goal and were made to pay as Sirens snatched a dramatic equaliser.
Mqabba were shocked after 59 seconds when Sirens took the lead. It was a quick and neatly executed goal scored by Luke Galea after receiving a through ball from Michael Micallef. Mqabba tried to recover but it was not an easy task as Mqabba were finding the going hard.
However they still had some attempts at goal through Paul Chimezie, a point blank effort that was blocked by a defnder just in front og goal, and through a Trebovac run who lobbed well over the bar. At the other end a Michael Micallef deflected shot just missed the base of the upright.
On 34 minutes Mqabba drew level when a Trebovac cross created a melee in front of goal and Noah Ojuola headed home from close range. Four minutes later mqabba took the lead when Chimezie passed towards Michael Borg who scored a beauty from the edge of the area.
On 41 minutes Sirens should have easily obtained the equaliser but Daniel Agius hit incredibly wide from two meters.
On the resumption Mqabba lost their top scorer Chimezie who limped off injured and on 56 minutes went close wit a Del Negro rising shot that missed the crossbar. Ten minutes later Marmara saved his side off a Trebovac header.
Mqabba had several scoring opportunites with Trebovac missing some glorious cchances and with goalkeeper Marmara keeping his iside in the match with some good saves.
Mqabba paid dearly for their misses as Sirens obtained the equaliser on 91 minutes when substitute Ethan Goodman scored a great goal from an almost impossible ange, with his first timer finishing in the top corner of the net.
Sirens: R. Marmara, L. Zammit (K. Etim 78 min), R. Previ, D. Sant, B. Kremenovic, I. Curmi (E. Goodman 63 min), J.N. Azzopardi (J. Zammit 69 min), D. Agius, M. Micallef, C. Caruana, L. Galea.
Mqabba; J. Debono, N. Ojuola, M. Borg, G. Gesualdi, B. Muscat, K. Cutajar, P. Chimezie (A. Saindou Ahamada 47 min), T. Trebovac, L. Vella Critien, G. Micallef, M. Del Negro.
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri