Pieta Hotspur proved to be too strong for newly promoted Naxxar Lions as they completely dominated their opponents after a rather slow start.
Pieta were impressive at times with some delightful touches. Edmond Lufi’s youngsters gave a five star performance and their speed was too much for the lanky Naxxar defenders. Pieta should have even won by a bigger margin had they not missed some glaring scoring chances in the last part of the match.
It is still too early to judge after the first ninety minutes, but Naxxar must improve considerably to avoid serious repercussions.
Ina rather tame first half, Pieta Hotspurs were the better team and deservedly were in front till the first fourty five minutes. Pieta were more on the ball with players like Jurgen Pisani, Zach Muscat and Quilin Refalo creating havoc in the Naxxar rearguard.
The Lions rarely roared in attack in the first half apart from some long distance efforts which were easily saved by the Pieta custodian. On their part Pieta could have scored after only twenty seconds, but Larson Mallia shot straight on the onrushing Naxxar goalkeeper Justin Spiteri.
Pieta took a deserved lead on 35 minutes when Zach Muscat headed home a well taken corner by Jurgen Pisani. Pieta went close again minutes later with Jurgen Pisani shooting over the bar.
Four minutes from the re-start Pieta doubled the score with a breath taking counter attack. Pisani and Muscat did the running and Quilin Refalo finished in style in the far corner past Justin Spiteri.
Six minutes later Pieta were on velvet with another impressive move, with Zach Muscat passing towards Cleaven Cassar who raced forward to beat Spiteri with a precise rounder. Three minutes later the Naxxar defence was again under threat, but the Lions’ goalkeeper somehow saved Pisani’s header.
The Hotspurs missed a couple of easy chances in front of goals with several fast breaks, but their goalkeeper Montfort finally came into action saving a dangerous Fiori Dos Santos freekick, and then a cross shot from Darren Falzon.
Four minutes from time Naxxar’s misery was complete when Jurgen Pisani’s shot hit the base of the upright and bounced off defender Andrea Farrugia for an unlucky own goal.
In the last shot of the match Naxxar went close to a consolation goal when Darren Falzon’s freekick slammed against the crossbar.
Pieta H M. Montfort, C. Spiteri, B. Sciberras, Q. Refalo, T. Agius (A. Farrugia), Z. Muscat (G. Busuttil), L. Mallia (M. Schembri), C. Cassar, J. Bilbao Zarate, J. Pisani, I. Grech.
Naxxar L J. Spiteri, A. Attard, K. Drago, A. Farrugia, M. Maccari, H. Lima Esquira (J. Debono), V. Bellia, R. Schembri, L. Micallef (M. Del Negro), D. Falzon, E. Fiori Dos Santos.
Referee Paul Caruana