Pieta Hotspur dented Mosta’s ambitions when they held their opponents to a draw in a six-goal thriller. It was a fair result in a more than exciting match as Mosta paid dearly for some defensive lapses.

Mosta were far from their good form as Pieta were determined from the very first minute to spring a surprise. Thing slooked good for Mosta midway through the second hal when they took the lead for the first time, but Pieta were not to be denied and obtained a late equalizer to gain a deserved and precious point.

After only three minutes play Pieta took the lead when the hesitant Mosta defence was caught napping and Jurgen Pisani came in from behind William Camenzuli to beat Debono with a low shot.

Mosta were taken completely off as they failed to recover from this shock. They were very erratic in their passing and the Pieta defence had little difficulty in controlling Mosta’s sporadic attacks.

A Briggs freekick went slightly wide and a Lee Grima header was easily saved by Kersten Vella who played in goal for Pieta. But on 36 minutes Mosta received a gift goal when from a William Camenzuli cross shot, Vella fumbled the ball which finished slowly behind the goal line.

Mosta tried to capitalize on this favourable moment with another shot by Camenzuli almost finishing again at the back of the net. But on 40 minutes Pieta were back in front. Mosta defender Mark Brincat failed to clear a Pieta long ball, and Jurgen Pisani pounced on the ball to beat Debono for the second time.

In the second period Mosta had Aboulezz coming in for a disappointing Victor Osobu and on 49 minutes Pieta’s goal scorer Jurgen Pisani was sent off after receiving the second yellow.

But three minutes later Mosta were also reduced to ten players when Lee Grima was sent off for dissent. On 55 minutes Mosta were back on level terms when Gilbert Martin was floored inside the area by Ryan Mifsud, and from the penalty spot Kane Farrugia made no mistake.

For the first time in the match Mosta took control of the match and went close with a Mark Briggs dipper that went inches wide. William Camenzuli starting a shooting practice session but goalkeeper Vella was always at hand to save the danger. On 70 minutes Pieta went close to a third lead when Christian Grech’s scorcher slammed against the crossbar.

Five minutes later Mosta took the lead for the first time when Gilbert Martin and Aboulezz ripped the Pieta defence apart and Simon Shead slotted the ball home from close range.

Seven minutes from time a Deguara cross shot hit the upper part of the crossbar and three minutes later Pieta were back on level terms when Zach Muscat beat Debono with a good shot on the turn.

Pieta H K. Vella, C. Grech, C. Spiteri, R. Mifsud (L. Farrugia), B. Sciberras, Q. Refalo (T. Agius), R.L. Bandeira, S. Grech, Z. Muscat (J. Azzopardi), J. Pisani, I. Grech.

Mosta J. Debono, A. Borg (B. Agius), K. Farrugia, M. Brincat, W. Camenzuli, N. Bogdanovic, M. Briggs, L. Grima, G. Martin (R. Deguara), S. Shead, V. Osobu (F. Aboulezz).

Referee Kevin Azzopardi