Pieta H-Mosta 2-2
Pieta H: A. Hogg, B. Sciberras, M. Deanov, S. Ciscaldi (D. Mifsud), C. Calleja, C. Sammut, A. Spiteri, D. Camenzuli, F. Marius, A. Decesare (C. Okoh), R. Grech (D. Gera)
Mosta: M. Farrugia, P. Sciriha, D. Okonkwo (B. Agius), M. Bartolo, I. Bilocca (P. Camilleri), S. Borg, J. Caruana, I. Chibueze, D. Falzon, R. Newell (M. Spasic), U. Nwoko
Referee: L. Sammut Asst. refs: N. Debattista, J. Rapa 4th official: A. M. Sant
Scorers: C. Calleja (2), I. Chibueze (2)
Yellow cards: D. Camenzuli, S. Ciscaldi, P. Sciriha
Player of the match: Martin deanov (Pieta H)
TMI top three: 1. M. Deanov 2. I. Chibueze 3. B. Sciberras
With time running out and every match a must-win game, the draw between Pieta and Mosta only complicated matters further in the Relegation Pool. A point apiece was about right and ensured the Hotspurs remain one point above Mosta as they trail leaders Floriana by another point, with two matches remaining.
Bouyed by sturdy victories in the previous outings, both sides looked willing to keep up their momentum.
In truth, Mosta had slightly the better of a tight first half, showing more attacking intent, as Pieta’s midfield seemed to struggle in the absence of the suspended Kondev.
But once the Hotspurs began to employ their counter attacking play, which allowed Martin Deanov to terrorise Mosta’s lumbering defence, they looked always the more penetrative. Most of Pieta’s attacks were fashioned down the right flank were Deanov had another adventurous game, with his crossing at will, creating various opportunities and winning several corners.
The match saw Mosta begin energetically and create one or two openings against a still unsettled Pieta defence.
But it took only 11 minutes for the Hotspurs to break the deadlock. Deanov did all the spadework on the right, his cross from the byeline was held out by keeper Farrugia but Claudio Calleja was at hand to toe poke the ball in from close range.
The cushion of a goal bolstered Pieta’s hopes although their lead lasted only three minutes as Mosta drew level when Ikechukwu Chibueze headed in Falzon’s cross from the left.
The defences were on top for a long period afterwards, but Pieta threatened on 22 minutes when Decesare hooked a long Ciscaldi cross, clipping his volley against the bar.
On the half hour, Chibueze was off his marker on the left, but shot straight into the keeper’s arms.
On 44 minutes, Claudio Calleja towered himself inside area to head in Deanov’s menacing free-kick and restore the lead for Pieta. The Hotspurs went close of increasing that margin in added time before the break when Deanov beat the Mosta offside trap on Sammut’s through pass but Okonkwo blocked his low cross into a corner. From the ensuing Deanov’s flag kick, which keeper Farrugia failed to hold, Marius lobbed the ball towards an unattended goal but the Mosta defenders managed to clear into safety.
Most went out probing for the equaliser in the second half. Chibueze arrived fractionally late on Falzon’s cross before Mosta effected a double substitution. Past the hour, one of their substitutes, Ryan Agius delivered a finely judged deep cross from the left for Chibueze to put past keeper Hogg with a diving header.
Pieta missed a good chance on 70 minutes. Deanov served the unmarked Decesare from the byeline, but with a gaping goal in front of him, his effort was deflected into a corner.
Spasic replaced the injured Newell for Mosta with 15 minutes remaining. It was still anybody’s game.
Pieta’s late flurry though nearly earned them full points as they went close on a couple of occasions. When Deanov foraged down the flank and sent an accurate cross, Caruana cleared into a corner before Spiteri could connect and in the dying minutes, keeper Farrugia reached before Calleja with a plucky save on Deanov’s cross to preserve the draw.