Sliema W-Pieta H 0-1

Pieta Hotspurs pulled out one of the most sensational results of the first round in the BOV Premier League, defeating runaway leaders Sliema Wanderers to halt their unbeaten run after nine outings.

Yesterday they fully exploited the Wanderers’ understrength team bereft of regulars such as Giglio, Brincat, Turner and Anonam, as well as the fact that Sliema were forced to play the entire second half with ten men, after Debono’s dismissal.

Of course that is no excuse, considering Sliema’s strength in depth, but the champions were yetserdy reduced to an ordinary side, bereft of their usual conviction and class.

That does not discredit Pieta’s triumph in any way.

Obviously playing against the leaders, the Hotspurs showed more endevour than in their recent outings. Their bunch of youngsters put up a collective effort, playing their hearts out, despite their limitations and inexperience. They somehow must have felt that yesterday Sliema were there for the taking and Martin Deanov completed the execution with a clinical strike 12 minutes from time.

Within the first half hour, Sliema had twice hit the Pieta woodwork. First Bogdnovic’s diagonal shot from the left thumped against the foot of the post and then Farrugia’s cross shot from the right clipped the cross bar.

On 34 minutes referee Lautier turned down Pieta’s appeal for a penalty, after Debono looked to have tripped Calleja inside the area as the latter was about to turn and shoot at goal, and booked the Pieta player for protests.

But the most noteworthy episode of the first half was Debono’s dismissal three minutes before the break. The Sliema defender hit Calleja in an off the ball incident and rightly received his marching orders after assistant Micallef drew the referee’s attention.

The ensuing Deanov free-kick for Pieta was back-kicked by Decesare in Gera’s path with Akanji saving his close-range shot.

The second half was also short of real goalmouth action. Pieta kept fighting gamely, fancying their chances against ten men.

Meanwhile Sliema struggled to convert their possession into goals, their attack starved of service, although they showed some bright approaches with Grima’s forays on the left flank until substituted.

They found few openings in a Pieta watertight defence. Woods turned and shot when served by Muscat but keeper Hogg blocked.

Pieta exploited fully their deadly breaks on 78 minutes. Martin Deanov ran on the left flank unhindered and with ample space at his disposal he let fly an arrow-like shot from the edge of the area, beating Akanji at the top corner.

Sliema, even without the injured Bogdanovic, concentrated all their efforts in the final minutes.

A Woods effort was saved into a corner on the line and Muscat had his shot saved by Hogg.

The Pieta keeper denied Sliema with a top rate save, diving to hold out Farrugia’s weighted free-kick at the top corner.

Another Farrugia curling free-kick from the left went tantalasingly wide. Sliema were beaten.