Pieta H.                 1
Birkirkara             2

Pieta H.: J. Chircop, T. Ose, D. Agius, P. Chimezie, J. Busuttil (N. Pisani 83), G. Mensah (C. Bouvet 83), JM Artiaga, C. Grech, A. Mizzi, S. Nakamura, A. Macedo Neto.

Birkirkara: K.Naumovski, DA. Chapoval, M. Andelkovic, P. Fenech, J. Grech (M. Basrak 61), K. Zammit, E. Ferreira, M. Mifsud (T. Agius 79), C. Attard, M. Franca (E. Herrera 86), T. De Souza.

Referee: Emm. Grech.

Asst refs: T. Debono, D. Stankovic.

4th official: M. Degabriele.

Scorers: J. Busuttil 22, M. Mifsud 69, C. Attard 71,

Yellow cards: S. Nakamura 21, P. Fenech 21, C. Attard 22, J. Busuttil 70, M. Andelkovic 86, T. Ose 88, Macedo Neto 90,

Red card: C. Attard 86.

TMI Top 3: 1. M. Franca, 2. G. Mensah, 3. C. Attard.

Birkirkara turned defeat into a victory yesterday as they scored two quick second half goals to beat a stubborn Pieta side 2-1.

Veteran striker Michael Mifsud and defender Cain Attard were their heroes as they scored to overturn a 1-0 first half deficit after Jan Busuttil had given Pieta the lead.

For the second consecutive week, Pieta had to leave the ground in disappointment after having given their more illustrious opponents a good run for their money.

It was Birkirkara's second consecutive victory while for the Hotspurs, it was their second defeat.

Birkirkara dominated the first half, but despite all their running and possession of the ball, they failed to get past a well drilled Pieta defence. When they did - on one occasion - they found goalie Chircop to thwart them.

In the second half, the Stripes improved a lot but still found it difficult to penetrate until they eventually scored those two goals.

On their part, Pieta confirmed that their good performance the previous week against Hibernians was no fluke. They concentrated mainly in defence, but when they moved upfield, they often had the Stripes defence at sixes and sevens.

The first real action on goal on 23 minutes produced the first goal of the day from Pieta. Mensah crossed into the Stripes area where Jan Busuttil was unmarked to shoot low past Naumovski.

Birkirkara's reply arrived four minutes later through a Paul Fenech effort which, however, went wide.

Soon after, from a Kurt Zammit cross, it was Marcelo Franca who had a good effort going just wide.

Birkirkara went close to equalising in the 44th minute. From a Cain Attard cross, a Michael Mifsud header was excellently saved by goalie Chircop who then again covered himself with glory as he blocked Jake Grech's conclusion from three metres.

In added time, Nakamura set Mensah in the area, but the latter's effort was blocked by the onrushing Naumovski.

Early in the second half, a Marcelo Franca effort went just wide. Moments later, it was a Pieta defender who cleared off the line a De Souza good effort and in the next minute, it was Franca who again went close with a shot from the edge of the area.

On 61 minutes, from a Cain Attard cross, Jake Grech missed a sitter for Birkirkara as he hit wide from five metres.

At the other end, in a swift counterattack, Nakamura was denied by Stripes goalie Naumovski.

Birkirkara continued pressing for an equaliser and were rewarded for their efforts in the 69th minute when from a Franca cross, it was veteran striker Michael Mifsud who headed home past Chircop.

Two minutes later, Birkirkara took the lead when off a Franca corner, Cain Attard nipped in to flick the ball into the net.

The Stripes were unlucky not to add a third goal on 76 minutes, when substitute Basrak hit the upright off a C. Attard cross.

Birkirkara had to play the final moments in 10 men after Cain Attard was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for time wasting.

In added time, in a fast counter attack, Franca missed a good chance when he had a shot blocked by goalie Chircop.