Pieta H. 3
Mosta 1
Pieta H.: N. Vella, T. Ose, T. Bartolo (C. Degabriele 89') , N. Pace Cocks, P. Chimezie, J. Busuttil, J. Artiaga (J. Ghigo 83'), C. Grech, S. Nakamura ( N. Pisani 90') , I. Jalo, A. Macedo
Mosta: A. Vella, A. De Cerchio ( K. Zammit 71') , K. Hirose (D. Xuereb 87'), M. Sammartino, T. Farrugia, S. Bonnici, M. Vicaroni (J. Brincat 46') , Z. Brincat, J. Cisotti, R. Romeu, N. Samb
Referee: Matthew Degabriele
Asst refs: Thomas Debono, Duncan Spencer
4th official: Mario Apap
Scorers: S. Nakamura 33', A. Macedo 35', A. De Cerchio 61' (p), P. Chimezie 86'
Yellow cards: Nakamura, De Cerchio, Bartolo, Takaki, Cisotti, Farrugia, Samb
Player of the match: Jan Busuttil (Pieta H.)
TMI Top 3: 1.J. Busuttil 2. P. Chimezie 3. A. De Cerchio
Pieta registered their first win of the campaign when they beat Mosta in a match in which they held the upper hand for long stretches. It was a hard fought win which now puts them in the 11th place leapfrogging Qormi and St. Andrew's though both have yet to play.
Prior to this match Pieta had lost narrowly against Hibernians, Balzan and Birkirkara apart from the two points they gained in their two draws. Mosta were coming from a goalless draw against Hamrun in their last outing.
Ramon Zammit started with the same formation of their last match with his counterpart Enrico Piccioni effecting two changes namely Vicaroni and Cisotti deputising for De Oliveira and Gomez.
After 8 minutes a cross from the left was met by Vicaroni whose header was partially blocked by Vella with the ball hitting the upright in the process with the ball falling into Samb's direction but his shot was blocked. There were shouts for a penalty allegedly for a handling infringement but the referee waved on.
In the 19th minute Pieta replied through Busuttil who found Chimezie but the latters shot just missed the target. The Hotspurs drew first blood just past the half hour when following some good work by Busuttil in came Shunsuke Nakamura who blasted home.
And two minutes later Pieta doubled their lead when off a Nakamura cross the ball was met by Antonio Macedo who was at the far post to head into an empty net.
Though shocked, Mosta reacted immediately and were unlucky when Cisotti's shot hit the crossbar. And four minutes from the break they missed a golden opportunity when after Grech was adjudged to have handled in the area from the resultant kick Samb's shot was saved by Vella.
On the hour Mosta were awared a second penalty following a foul by Takaki on Samb. This time Alessio De Cerchio made no mistake from the spot.
In the 75th minute Pieta ventured forward once again with Chimezie testing Vella with a low drive. And eleven minutes from time the same player saw his shot just miss the target.
Pieta sealed their first win in the 86th minute when Paul Chimezie lobbed over his direct opponent before firing past a helpless Vella. Till the end they held tight gaining their first maximum points after going so near on numerous occassions.