PIETA HOTSPURS- 2

SLIEMA WANDERERS- 2

Pieta H: A. Hogg, B. Sciberras, M. Deanov, Q. Refalo (G. Goodlip), C. Pulo, C. Sammut, S. Kondev, D. Mifsud (S. Ciscaldi), E. Herrera, R. Galabov, D. Kokavessis (C. McKay)

Sliema W: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, B. Said, S. Pace, I. Ciantar, J. Chetcuti, I. Woods (O. Anonam), C. Ciantar (M. Galea), Z. Svoboda, C. Nwoko, R. Bajada

Referee: K. Azzopardi Asst.refs: K. Borg, J. Camilleri 4th official: S. Tanti

Scorers: C. Nwoko (2), S. Kondev (2 pen)

Yellow cards: E. Herrera, S. Ciscaldi

Player of the match: Chucks Nwoko (Sliema Wanderers)

TMI top three: 1. Z. Svoboda 2. B. Sciberras 3. R. Bajada

Just as they were asserting their grip on a game that looked likely to be their sixth consecutive win, Sliema Wanderers were thwarted by two penalty goals from Pieta Hotspurs, throwing away a two goal lead and finally settling for a draw.

Following their first league win, against Hibernians the previous week, this was another positive result for Pieta who, without their suspended coach Carmel Busuttil on the bench, earned a precious point which looked beyond them until late in the first half, when Sliema were two goals up and totally in command.

With a bunch of youngsters, bubbling with enthusiasm, Pieta are a curious lot, capable of some of the Premier League’s most plodding football at times, and yet equally able, on occasions, to resemble a top-six side.

Sliema’s stranglehold in midfield ensured that the Hotspurs were back tracking, absorbing their opponents’ pressure in the first half.

Sliema’s early intentions were clear – trying to exploit the gaps in Pieta’s defence as their backline was struggling, bereft of the not fully fit David Camenzuli. In his absence, Rumen Angelov Galabov from Bulgaria made his debut for the Hotspurs in central defence.

But it was not to be a very happy one.

Before the match was a quarter of an hour old, Sliema had gone in front when Chucks Nwoko headed in Svoboda’s sailing free-kick from the left.

Pieta’s rearguard found itself increasingly troubled, particularly by Svoboda’s pleasing accurate centres or the darting runs of Bajada.

And on 35 minutes, the Hotspurs fell further behind, courtesy of a terrible defensive gaffe by Galabov who played a square pass from the byeline on the left towards the middle, gifting the unmarked Chucks Nwoko with the easiest of chances as he tapped the ball in from close range.

Pieta, whose only shot on target so far had been Kondev’s effort past the half hour, were allowed back into the game within two minutes when awarded a penalty after Pulo was floored by Ian Ciantar inside the Sliema area and Svetlan Kondev pulled one back from the spot kick.

Those last ten minutes heralded the best spell of an otherwise dull first half.

The fact that they were still only a goal down, obviously encouraged Pieta to keep on trying in the second half although Sliema looked menacing with a firm Woods header held out by keeper Hogg and a Svoboda free-kick narrowly missing the target.

But Pieta were transformed after the interval as they re-emerged with greater vigour. On the contrary, Sliema faded away as the match wore on, and looked cagy, besides slow in their build-ups, allowing their opponents to counter attack with increasing fluency.

Even though Anonam went in for Woods on 70 minutes, the Wanderers conceded a second penalty eight minutes later when Pace handled Mifsud’s cross inside the area, allowing Svetlan Kondev to draw level for Pieta.

Sliema put in also Mark Galea in attack and went close with a Chetcuti header from a Svoboda corner as Hogg rushed out to block at Nwoko’s feet minutes later.

With too much space at the back, the Wanderers also ran the risk of losing the match in the late stages as the advancing Herrera had his shot going slightly over and Kondev went close with a lob during four minutes of added time.