Pieta’s late rally was enough to avoid defeat against a superior Mqabba side, who moved to second place in the table five points behind leaders Balzan, thanks to this victory.
Mqabba were cruising to a comfortable victory by the 52 minutes thanks to three goals from John Paul Muscat. But within the space of a few minutes, Pieta scored their first goal and Mqabba had a player ejected.
From now onwards the game was a completely different game with Pieta surging forward and Mqabba finding it hard to keep their opponents at bay. Pieta could have equalized but in the end a Pierre Grima penalty sealed it for Mqabba.
All in all it was a deserved victory for Mqabba, who dominated the first hour of the match, but faded out after the sending off of Caushi.
Mqabba were dominant in the initial stages and went close on seven minutes when Shaun Magro passed towards Advan Cakigi whose shot beat Montfort, but Zach Muscat cleared the ball off the goal line.
On 15 minutes Mqabba took a deserved lead when Cakigi passed towards John Paul Muscat who dribbled his way inside the area and beat Montfort with an angled shot.
Pieta’s only reaction came from a Quilin Refalo angled shot that missed the target by inches. Mqabba continued to dictate matters missing some good scoring opportunities in the process.
However in stoppage time Mqabba doubled the score when Jon Paul Muscat headed in a Wilson Caushi precise cross from the left.
The second half started with Pieta’s substitute Jurgen Pisani going close with a first time effort going wide. On 52 minutes Mqabba scored a third when James Shead did all the spade work and passed towards the unmarked John Paul Muscat who easily slotted home for his hat trick.
Three minutes later Pieta crawled back in the game when Campos was floored by David Azzopardi and from the resultant penalty Quilin Refalo made no mistake. Pieta increased their efforts and on 65 minutes Mqabba received a setback when one of their best players Wilson Caushi was sent off after receiving a second booking.
Pieta continued with their desperate efforts and Bandeira’s header went slightly off target. On 86 minutes Pieta scored a second when Zach Muscat’s cross from the right was met by substitute Christian Grech who headed beautifully in the top corner of the net.
Pieta were now in full forcing and Campos missed a sitter in front of goal failing to connect from two meters.
Deep in stoppage time Mqabba had a fast break with Marlon Briffa’s shot blocked by Montfort and from the rebound the same Briffa was brought down by Ryan Mifsud, and from the penalty spot Pierre Grima sealed the issue with the fourth and final goal.
Pieta H M.Montfort, D. Owuo (J. Pisani), C. Spiteri (T. Agius), R. Mifsud, Q. Refalo, R. Bandeira, S. Grech (C. Grech), D. Campos, Z. Muscat, D. Mifsud, I. Grech
Mqabba K. Calleja, P. Grima, A. Scicluna, B. Timotic, M.A. Psaila, D. Azzopardi, J.P. Muscat (I. Curmi), W. Caushi, A. Cakigi (M. Briffa), J. Shead (T. Mazitelli), S. Magro
Referee Trustin Farrugia Cann