Pieta Hotspurs turned defeat into victory yesterday as they inflicted the first defeat of the season to high riding Birkirkara. Although surprising the result was a just reward for Carmel Busuttil’s youngsters who gave a spirited and display to beat their more fancied opponents.

Kondev was in great form, but others like defenders Camenzuli and Camilleri, together with Refalo, Sammut and Pulo were a delight to watch. Birkirkara had a very good start giving the impression they could easily snatch the points and keep firmly at the top.

But it was not to be, as they faded away slowly after the break. The Stripes were somewhat let down in defence as Yanchev and Hartvig were caught napping on more than one occasions. Hartvig so decisive in the Stripes’ matches so far had a rather quite evening. In attack Michael Galea showed his killer touch once again but this time this was not enough.

The Stripes had a very encouraging start as they pushed Pieta in their own penalty area. Carmel Busuttil’s side put a well organised defensive shell in the first minutes with Ryan Camilleri and David Camenzuli in great form.

The Stripes had their best chances massed in the first quarter of an hour with Pieta unable to block Birkirkara’s strides forward. Michael Galea went close on four minutes when his grounder went inches wide.

Minutes later Lino Galea gave a good ball towards Shaun Bajada whose dangerous angled shot missed the target. On 16 minutes Paul Fenech tried his luck from midfield with the ball finishing on the roof of the net.

Following this Birkirkara dominance Pieta started to go out of their defensive shell, ably marshalled by Kondev in midfield, helped by the sprightly Pulo and Carl Sammut.

Pieta almost took the lead in their first attempt when Quilan Refalo nipped in between Hartvig and Yanchev, only to be denied by a splendid Omar Borg save. Minutes later a melee ensued in front of the Birkirkara goal with Borg saving Sammut’s shot and Pulo missing to make full use of the inviting rebound.

Pieta were now dictating matters with Kondev going near with a long distance effort. Just before the break and when least expected Birkirkara took the lead. Tamboulas did all the spade work on the right, penetrated inside the area and crossed towards Michael Galea who darted in to score from close range.

The second half started with a Shaun Bajada dangerous freekick saved by Montfort, with Pieta’s immediate reply coming from a Carl Sammut scorcher that was tipped to a corner by Omar Borg.

Pieta were very unlucky on the hour when a Svetlan Kondev freekick hit the upright with Sammut clearing the danger. But Pieta were not to be denied on 71 minutes when from another Svetlan Kondev freekick, substitute Glanville Goodlip headed in from close range.

Birkirkara were visibly shaken by this goal and seven minutes from time Pieta were in front. Carl Pulo’s run on the left was finished off with a precise cross towards Refalo who slotted in from close range to the delight of the Pieta supporters.

Birkirkara stormed forward in the last minutes with the Pieta defence passing through some anxious moments, but Carmel Busuttil’s babes held on to their lead to notch their second consecutive victory.

Pieta H: M. Montfort, P. Aquilina (M. Vella), P. Deliminkov, Q. Refalo, C. Pulo (C. Cassar), C. Sammut, D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, E. Herrera, R. Camilleri, D. Kokavessis (G. Goodlip)

Birkirkara: O. Borg, A. Galea (L. Lombardi), R. Sammut, P. Fenech, M. Galea, A. Tabone (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), R. Hartivig, S. Bajada, M. Tamboulas, G. Mallia, E. Yanchev

Referee: S. Tanti asst.refs:A. Camilleri, G. Barbara 4th official: A.M. Sant

Scorers: M. Galea, G. Goodlip, Q. Refalo

Yellow cards: S. Kondev

Player of the match: Svetlan Kondev (Pieta H)

TMI top three: 1. S. Kondev, 2. C. Sammut, 3. M. Galea