Birkirkara-Pieta H. 2-3
Birkirkara: J. Haber, L. Galea, P. Monye, R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, M. Galea, C. Nwoko, T. Paris (M. Anastasi), A. Tabone, J. Mifsud Triganza, A. Ciantar.
Pieta H.: S. Darmanin, P. Aquilina, C. Okoh, K. Farrugia (D. Camenzuli), G. Sciberras, I. Woods, S. Ortas (M. Abdilla), B. Nisevic, S. Repuh, A. Spiteri, C. Frendo (C. Calleja).
Referee: A. Zammit, asst. refs: P. Agius, C. Micallef, 4th official: M. Borg.
Scorers: C. Okoh, S. Ortas, J. Mifsud Triganza, I. Woods,
Yellow cards: C. Nwoko, P. Monye, W. Camenzuli, J. Mifsud Triganza, A. Ciantar, P. Aquilina, K. Farrugia, S. Repuh
Player of the match: S. Repuh (Pieta H.)
TMI top three: 1. S. Repuh, 2. I. Woods, 3. B. Nisevic.
Pieta took three very important points in their bid to make it to the championship pool when they beat depleted title contenders Birkirkara 3-2 in yesterday’s second match.
Pieta did not steal anything from the match winning a game which at the end of the second round could prove crucial for Pieta’s hopes.
The Stripes had six of their regular players missing Mallia, Bonnici, Doda, Dronca, Briffa and Zahra, the first two suspended and the rest injured.
Coach Azzopardi was forced to play with a different formation having to invent a new striking duo in Alan Tabone and Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza. In midfield he had Thomas Paris playing on the left flank for his full debut.
It was immediately an uphill struggle for the Stripes as Pieta scored two goals in the first ten minutes to totally disrupt Birkirkara’s plans.
Pieta proved lethal in their finishing and were always very dangerous up front with Ivan Woods being a live wire with his constant running. He proved to be more than a handful for the Birkirkara defence.
Repuh, Ortas and Frendo were also very prominent while in defence, Pieta rarely allowed any space with Okoh and Nisevic winning clearly their tussles with Mifsud Triganza and Tabone.
Pieta took the lead in the in the first chance of the game in the 5th minute. They were awarded a freekick from just outside the area after Camenzuli floored Woods who was heading dangerously towards goal. From the resultant freekick Repuh passed to Okoh who hit a low shot past the Birkirkara barrier and Justin Haber.
Pieta were two up five minutes later. Ortas received a cross inside the area, controlled the ball and then hit a low shot past Haber as the Birkirkara defence was caught staring around like statues.
The Stripes could not come to grips with the situation and were rarely if ever dangerous in those opening minutes of the game. On one occasion, a cross beat Darmanin who was outside his goal but no one was close to hit home and the chance was lost.
Woods set Frendo through with a fine pass in midfield but the Pieta midfielder advanced and then hit wide out of Haber’s reach.
The Stripes pulled one back in the 27th after a good move started in midfield by Nwoko. Mifsud Triganza and Tabone combined well, the latter passing to Mifsud Triganza who controlled turned and hit a low shot past Darmanin from just outside the area.
A Nwoko freekick in the 43rd minute sailed over the bar but for their territorial superiority, Birkirkara were finding it very hard to penetrate a solid Pieta defence and could rarely procure any goal-scoring chances.
Just before half-time an Adrian Ciantar corner nearly surprised Darmanin. Andrew Spiteri did not clear and the Pieta goalkeeper had to save in two attempts what could have been a very good chance for Birkirkara.
The Stripes were very close to equalising in the 50th minute when Mifsud Triganza stole a ball in midfield and hit a good shot which was saved by Darmanin. Spiteri managed to clear before the Birkirkara strikers could pounce on the loose ball.
Pieta however added a third in the 59th minute. Repuh crossed to Woods who on the run met the ball and headed superbly past a helpless Haber.
Ivan Woods was then unlucky not to add a second to his tally when he hit a superb drive from outside the area which thumped against the crossbar with goalkeeper Haber beaten.
A Michael Galea freekick in the 75th minute was powerful and angled but Darmanin dived to punch the ball away and keep Birkirkara at bay.
Birkirkara were awarded a penalty in the 79th minute when Okoh floored quite uselessly Tabone inside the area. Camenzuli took the penalty and hit home despite Darmanin’s attempt to block.
Birkirkira however fizzled out in the last minutes of the match and in fact Pieta could administer the proceedings and await the referee’s final whistle.
Today Centenary Stadium 7pm: Hibs vs Msida SJ