PIETA HOTSPURS 1

FLORIANA 1

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

Floriana: M. Camilleri, B. Spasojevic, T. Cilia, M. Caruana (W. Gomes), R. GangoRtsa, I. Azzopardi, C. Cassar, M. Micallef, D. Pisani (A. Buhagiar), J. Briffa (K. Formosa), A. Mifsud

Referee: P. Caruana Asst.refs: K. Borg, M. Debono 4th official: S. Tanti

Scorers: A. Mifsud, M. Deanov

Yellow cards: J. Briffa, D. Mifsud, S. Kondev. W. Gomes

Player of the match: Martin Deanov (Pieta Hotspurs)

TMI top three: 1. S. Kondev 2. R. GangoRtsa 3. D. Mifsud

Floriana needed to win their last second round league match to keep hopes of avoiding the Relegation Pool alive. Adrian Mifsud’s goal scored before the break kept them well on course until 13 minutes from time, when Martin Deanov struck an equaliser. That upset all Floriana’s plans and sealed their fate as Hibernians’ one point lead is obviously unassailable WITH THE Greens having finished their commitments.

Pieta made several changes to their starting line-up, following the defeat by Birkirkara. Pulo and Refalo were dropped as Hogg returned in goal after suspension. Provenziano and Ciscaldi started the match as the still injured Camenzuli sat on the bench.

Floriana were bereft of the suspended Newell, one of their in-form players of late, with GangoRtsa starting the match instead.

The first quarter hour was totally barren, as the game flashed from one box to the other in scrappy fashion.

Then on 18 minutes Cassar’s free-kick was held out by the upright and Micallef’s shot on the rebound was turned into a corner by keeper Hogg.

The Hotspurs’ reaction was late from coming. On 38 minutes Provenzano passed the ball forward. Kokavessis ran inside the Floriana area only to be thwarted by keeper Camilleri who rushed out of his line to smother the danger.

Floriana broke the deadlock three minutes before the break. Adrian Mifsud, who was preferred to Gomes in the starting line-up, picked the ball on Cassar’s pass and rifled an unstoppable shot to beat Hogg via the underside of the bar.

Floriana looked capable of consolidating that lead after the interval as Spasojevic was well involved in three chances created by the Greens within as many minutes. Hogg stretched himself to save Cilia’s low shot on Spasojevic’s cross and then Spasojevic himself dribbled past Sciberras, shooting tantalisingly wide. Spasojevic played the ball wide to Cilia but Hogg again blocked into a corner.

Pieta gradually began to find rhythm and past the hour Provenzano’s snap shot from a distance brushed the bar.

Floriana’s willingness to secure full points had coach Grech adding Gomes to his attack, as substitute for Caruana on 72 minutes.

However Pieta kept attacking gamely and on 75 minutes they scored the equaliser. Galabov crossed from the left for Goodlip who flicked the ball towards Martin Deanov to volley at the top of the net.

Visibly devastated, Floriana tried to regroup in the final minutes as another striker, Buhagiar, went in for defender Pisani.

In a last ditch effort, Mifsud sent his effort narrowly wide, and with it all Floriana’s hopes of making it with the top six.