St. George's: B. Paris, A. Bonello, C. Brincat, E. Sevasta, R. Conceicao (E. Degabriele), J. Spiteri, L. Grima, S. Sciberras (B. Fenech), H. Schembri (L. Pace), E. Do Nascimento, H. Suleiman
Pieta H: A. Hogg, D. Okonkwo, C. Okoh (C. Sammut), B. Sciberras, A. Tasca, M. Deanov, D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, A. Debono (C. Calleja), A. Decesare (C. Camilleri), D. Theuma.
Referee: A. Zammit, asst. refs:Ms. E. Farrugia, K. Frendo Cumbo 4th official: S. Tanti
Scorers: S. Sciberras, A. Decesare
Yellow cards: D. Camenzuli, A. Debono, C. Brincat, H. Schembri, B. Sciberras, S. Kondev,
Red cards: D. Camenzuli, C. Sammut, E. Do Nascimento
Player of the match: Renato Conceicao (St George's)
TMI top three: 1. R. Conceicao 2. E. Sevasta 3. M. Deanov
St George’s-Pieta H. 1-1
St George's and Pieta earned a point each following an interesting 1-1 draw. For Pieta this was the first point of the season, whilst for St George's this was their second draw. Both teams were still in search of their first goals this season and they managed to do so through Silvio Sciberras and Andrew Decesare.
St George's deserved something better from this match and have only themselves to blame after missing a penalty in the final minutes, apart from hitting the post in injury time. Pieta finished the match with nine players and St George's with ten, with the Hotspurs playing the last half an hour with a man less.
Pieta showed their best immediately after their first send off, when they eventually equalised. Both teams have still a lot of problems to solve, and will both remain relegation candidates. defender Conceicao had a five star performance at the heart of the Saints' defence and it was a pity that he was strechered off in the dying minutes. Do Nascimento marred a good overall performance by missing the penalty, and was later shown the red card after an incident with substitute Carl Sammut.
Pieta continued to disappoint, with yet another dull performance. Their main problem is in attack were they lack punch, practically playing without a real striker. Their defence was many a times caught at sixes and sevens against the Saints' attacks, as their central defender David Camenzuli keeps his foul rate at a rather high level and was once again shown the red card.
Pieta had Theuma and Deanov, supported by Debono, Okonkwo and Konddev in midfield. Renato Conceicao kept an eye on Pieta's most dangerous man, Martin Deanov, with Daniel Theuma marked by Sevasta.
Do Nascimento and Suleiman were St George's attacking partners, with Lee Grima and Heathcliff Schembri on the left and right flanks respectiveley.
Pieta's opening was promising with the returning Daniel Theuma finding ample space on the right but his shot wnet wide. On seven minutes Digger Okonkwo lashed a fierce drive from more than 20 metres but Paris dived sideways to save. Kondev exchanged the ball with Deanov but his shot was too weak to worry Paris.
The Saints’ first danger came on 18 minutes when a Do Nascimento free-kick went slightly over the bar. Do Nascimento grew in confidence minutes later as he struck another dangerous free-kick forcing Hogg to save and from the rebound Suleiman passed to Schembri whose shot was again blocked by Hogg. On 25 minutes it was Pieta's turn to go near through a freekick, this time Paris denied Martin Deanov with a brilliant save.
On 30 minutes St George's broke the deadlock, and it was not a surprise that the goal came directly from a free-kick. But this time it was captain Silvio Sciberras that curled a beauty past a helpless Hogg to score the Pioneers' first goal of the season. St George's defended too early this precious lead as they left the initiative completely in their opponents' hands. However Pieta could not find a way past a packed defence, and only Decesare went close with a good run on the left but his shot at goal left much to be desired. The last shot at goal of the first half came from Heathcliff Schembri but his shot did worry Hogg.
Pieta introduced Sammut for Okoh at the start of the second half, and the Saints could have doubled after only a minute through a Suleiman shot that went wide. On 51 minutes Conceicao saved a certain goal when he blocked a dangerous Deanov cross that was going Theuma's way.
On the hour Pieta's David Camenzuli was shown the red card after flooring Johann Spiteri. Four minutes later Pieta finally broke their scoring jinx when Theuma half volleyed beautifully into the net, but the goal was ruled offside by assistent referee Frendo Cumbo who was making his debut in the top flight.
But Pieta's first goal of the season was in the air and arrived on 69 minutes when Decesare first timed beautifully from the edge of the area into the low corner of the net. Ironically with ten players Pieta started to play better as the Saints' seemed to tire out. However ten minutes from time Suleiman easily went through on the left but his grounder was well saved by Hogg.
Six minutes from time St George's lost Conceicao who was carried off injured, and seconds later lost a golden opportunity when Chris Camilleri brought down Johann Spiteri inside the area, but from the resultant penalty, Hogg saved Do Nascimento's feeble attempt. This miss must have irritated the Brazilian striker as minutes later he came to blows with Carl Sammut, and rightly referee Zammit sent them both for an early shower.
In injury time St George's could have easily grabbed the points at stake, when Johann Spiteri beat the offside trap, rounded off the goalkeeper but his shot hit the foot of the upright. The same Spiteri had another chance following a good Lee Grima move but his shot went incredibly wide.