Pieta H.-Valletta 0-1
Pieta H: A. Hogg, B. Sciberras, D. Mifsud, M. Deanov, C. Calleja, C. Sammut (D. Gera), D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, F. Marius, A. Decesare, R. Grech
Valletta: S. Sullivan, K. Cassar (S. Pace), M. Grima, B. Nisevic, R. Forace, J. Bondin, K. Fenech, C. Dean, C. Camilleri (D. Zarb), G. Agius, O. Monesterolo (K. Magro)
Referee: A. Casha Asst refs: K. Borg, Ms E. Farrugia 4th official: A. Azzopardi
Scorers: M. Grima (pen)
Yellow cards: A. Decesare, S. Sullivan, D. Gera, D. Mifsud, S. Kondev, C. Camileri, K. Fenech
Red card: C. Dean
Player of the match: Gilbert Agius (Valletta)
TMI top three: 1. K. Fenech 2. D. Camenzuli 3. G. Agius
Both teams needed all three points to haul themselves further away from the relegation zone.
A dreary and uninspiring contest was settled in Valletta’s favour. Their stout defender Massimo Grima scored the decisive penalty, early in the second half, proving the match winner.
Although down to ten men by the half hour, Valletta still controlled the proceedings to steer themselves towards a precious win worth double points.
Pieta Hotspurs paid the penalty for their laid-back approach, unable to exploit their opponents’ numerical handicap.
There were four new players on parade yesterday, two from each side. Pieta’s Romanian defender Marius and Bulgarian midfielder Kondev had a very quiet debut while Valletta’s English midfielder Craig Dean played only for 27 minutes as he was dismissed for his retaliation on Decesare’s tackle from behind. The Valletta Argentinian striker Omar Sebastian Monesterolo left the best impression as he stole the limelight in the match’s first six minutes when Valletta twice spurned opportunities to claim the lead.
His goalbound effort was blocked by Sammut on the line with the Valletta players claiming a handball. Then Monesterolo turned off his direct opponent but his powerful drive was superbly saved by keeper Hogg into a corner.
Midway through the half, Valletta looked menacing when Agius played a short corner with Fenech and his low inswinger narrowly missed the target.
The other noteworthy episode of a tedious first half was Dean’s sending off.
After that, Pieta, who were forced to substitute the injured Sammut, failed to capitalize on their numerical superiority and shortly before half-time, Valletta went closest with a Grima direct free-kick that went tantalisingly wide.
Valletta scored the all important goal six minutes into the second half when Agius , through on Camilleri’s penetrating pass, was brought down by Hogg inside the area and were awarded a penalty which Massimo Grima converted with a blasting shot.
Poor Pieta failed to spark an intense response and hardly ever looked dangerous except for a Kondev effort, on a Sciberras pass, which went over. Their play was cagey, lacking penetration and with Valletta defending deeply and carefully, keeper Sullivan remained mostly untested.
A Monesterolo cross on 77 minutes caused panic inside the Pieta area and Mifsud’s clearance on substitute Zarb, nearly brought an own goal. In the late stages a Monesterolo effort was blocked into a corner but ten-men Valletta were still winning by Grima’s penalty.