St George’s: B. Paris, B. Fenech (L. Mizzi), R. Conceiciao, C. Brincat, J. Spiteri, A. Effiong, L. Lagana, K. Darmanin, H. Schembri, E. Do Nascimento, E. Sevasta
Pieta H.: A. Hogg, M. Deanov, Q. Refalo (R. Provenzano), C. Pulo (D. Camilleri), C. Sammut, S. Kondev, N. Busuttil, D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, R. Camilleri (B. Sciberras), R. Galabov
Referee: C. Pisani Asst.refs: K. Borg, E. Spiteri 4th official: Ms E. Farrugia
Scorers: H. Schembri, D. Mifsud, S. Kdev
Yellow cards: S. Kondev, H. Schembri, D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, R. Galabov
Red card: H. Schembri
Player of the match: Emanuel Sevasta
TMI top three: 1. L. Lagana 2. E. Sevasta 3. R. Galabov
This win, courtesy of two late goals of inestimable importance, maintained Pieta Hotspurs’ push towards safety and nearly doomed St George’s – the side with similar ambitions before kick-off.
The Hotspurs, who have won all their three matches in the Relegation Pool, had resilience and excellence about their finishing to account for St George’s first half lead and spirited performance. They have now opened an eight-point lead over the Saints, and with three matches remaining, it will be surprising if there is any alteration in the standings between now and the end of the season.
Despite all their gallant efforts, the Saints failed to win this one, conceding two goals in the last ten minutes, and relegation looms large now.
The results also condemns bottom-placed Marsa to next year’s first division.
Injuries and suspensions deprived St George’s of some key players like Zahra, Grima and Degabriele. Mizzi went in as a substitute in the second half.
Primed for safety-first tactics, St George’s made a cautious start, although they were well aware that only a win would suffice to keep their salvation hopes flickering.
Pieta, as expected, took the early initiative and by the first 12 minutes, the woodwork twice denied them a lead.
After nine minutes, Kondev’s glancing header on Deanov’s cross from the right took a wicked deflection and sent keeper Paris the wrong way, but the ball rebounded off the foot of the post.
Then, Refalo played an intelligent dummy, on Pulo’s low cross, for the unmarked Busuttil, who thumped his shot against the post, but when Deanov netted the rebound, the goal was disallowed for an offside position.
Having weathered those two threats, the Saints’ confidence grew. Midway through the half, Effiong delivered a good cross from the right, Schembri failed to connect and Darmanin lofted the loose ball.
On 36 minutes Busuttil foraged down the right flank but keeper Paris, in full stretch, turned his shot into a corner.
Within two minutes, the goal came on the other side. Heathcliff Schembri chased a long ball which caught the Pieta defence square, and beat keeper Hogg with a low drive to give his side a one-goal cushion by halftime.
Pieta were forced to do the running in the second period. Busuttil headed Pulo’s free-kick over and on a Deanov’s corner, Galabov failed to put his header on target.
The Saints retreated further and defended in numbers, relying on the fast breaks of Do Nascimento and Effiong. The latter twice spurned good opportunities with his overdone dribbles.
On 68 minutes, Pieta effected a double substitution as Refalo and Pulo made way for Provenziano and David Camilleri, with a bandaged head. Galabov moved upfield to support the attack.
On 78 minutes Herrera fell inside the area when coming into contact with Lagana but the referee booked the Pieta player for simulation despite strong claims for a penalty.
Two minutes later, Pieta’s efforts were rewarded when Dominic Mifsud rifled an arrow-like drive from the edge of the area on the left, beating Paris at the far top corner for a spectacular equaliser.
Soon St George’s were reduced to ten men after Schembri’s dismissal for a second bookable offence and Pieta increased their efforts, mounting some sustained pressure.
That yielded dividends deep into added time as Svetlan Kondev headed in Galabov’s cross from the right for a dramatic winner.