Vittoriosa S: P. Coreschi, S. Calleja, R. Adami, D. Burne (R. Attard), J. Camilleri, I. Zammit, S. Privitelli, L. Scerri, D. Gatt (T. Thomas), C. Sciberras, U. Anyanou

Pieta H: M. Vella, D. Okonkwo, A. Tasca, C. Calleja, C. Sammut (A.Debono), A. Spiteri, D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, A. Decesare (Q. Refalo)

Referee: A. Zammit Asst.refs: K. Borg, J. Spiteri 4th official: A. Arciola

Scorer: D. Okonkwo

Yellow cards: D. Camenzuli, D. Gatt, D. Okonkwo, S. Privitelli, A. Spiteri, A. Tasca

A headed goal in added time by defender Digger Okonkwo, put Pieta Hotspurs in the second round of the competition yesterday as they ousted Vittoriosa Stars, a team from the lower ranks of the First Division.

Pieta, however, did little to deserve their tight win and Vittoriosa might feel hard done by the end result. In fact the First Division side looked better in the first half and created the better scoring opportunities as Pieta’s keeper Mark Vella, deputising for Andrew Hogg, was undoubtedly the busier of the two custodians.

The match was boring to say the least. Both sides were devoid of ideas, and the match was littered with a never ending series of misplaced passes, producing the type of football which serves as a cure for insomnia.

Vittoriosa, who had the better start, could have taken the lead by the first 20 minutes, during which they created three scoring opportunities, only to be denied by the Pieta keeper.

Vella was immediately tested by Adami’s rasping shot and then he was nearly surprised by Camilleri’s lob from outside the area. Another Adami effort went narrowly wide and their best moment of a dull first half was on 22 minutes when keeper Vella was forced to repel Scerri’s cross into a corner after the Vittoriosa player’s resourceful run on the right.

But the tide abated after that. Pieta started to roll themselves into the game but they never managed to penetrate the Stars’ organised defence, well marshalled by Ivan Zammit’s experience at the back.

The second half degenerated further with neither side managing a shot on target. Many crosses, raked inside the opposing penalty area, went astray for the sides’ lack of decent finishing. Pieta were utterly disappointing and despite the inclusion of Debono and Refalo, they looked short of optimum sharpness in front of the Vittoriosa goal.

With extra time looming large, Pieta were awarded a free-kick outside the area on the left. Kondev’s teasing kick was headed in by their defender Digger Okonkwo, who turned attacker to put his side into the next round.