Pieta 1
Senglea 1
Pieta H.: N.Vella, T.Ose, T.Bartolo (J.Artiaga Roa 73'), D.Agius (J.Ghio 86'), P.Chimezie, J.Busuttil, N.Pisani (C.Bouvet 89'), C.Galea, S.Nakamura, I.Jalo, A.Macedo
Senglea A.: M.Farrugia, B.Muscat, F.Salvati, L.Grech (M.Bartolo 88'), M.Guillari, B.Gonzalez, Z.Cassar, F.Bramati, M.Garcia (K.Cutajar 78'), A.Caseres (K. Xuereb 81'), R.Tcanturia
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Asst refs: Mitchell Scerri, Christopher Francalanza
4th official: Darryl Agius
Scorers: P.Chimezie 16', F. Salvati 83'
Yellow cards: M.Guillari, L.Grech, D. Agius, F.Salvati, P.Chimezie, R.Tcanturia
Player of the match: Jan Busuttil (Pieta H.)
TMI Top 3: 1. J.Busuttil , 2. P.Chimezie, 3. S.Nakamura
Senglea grabbed their first point following three defeats when in a drab encounter against Pieta it was Ferdinando Salvati who saved the day with a well-executed free kick seven minutes from the end. Though Pieta were slightly better they never dealt the killer blow, in the process also hitting the woodwork twice. For this they paid dearly conceding a few minutes from time.
Pieta once again showed that they are going to be a difficult team to beat. On the other hand much more was expected from Senglea who after three consecutive defeats changed their coach and in went Vincenzo Potenza. But their late rally proved dividends and now they can look forward with optimism after avoiding another defeat.
Both coaches adopted a prudent plan with Ramon Zammit demanding from his players a more adventurous role with his counterpart being more cautious being his first match in charge.
After a lengthy spell with play restricted to the midfield sector, Pieta surged forward on 15 minutes when Chimezie was put through but his shot was blocked by Farrugia. A minute later the Hotspurs drew first blood. Off a Busuttil in swinger from the right flank Paul Chimezie rose high above all heading past a helpless Farrugia.
Senglea were shocked on conceding and never mounted a reaction. It was Pieta who went close on 27 minutes through a Nicholas Pisani shot from just outside the area with the Senglea custodian tipping over the bar. In a rare attack Garcia tried his luck with a grounder but Vella saved.
And two minutes from the break Garcia found Cassar whose acute shot was blocked by an alert Vella. But it was Pieta who were unlucky not to double the score when on the stroke of half time a Busuttil thunderbolt hit the upright.
On resumption few things changed with Senglea moving more personnel forward. In the 56th minute a Salvati free kick was blocked by Vella. The Hotspurs could have sealed the issue in the 70th minute but Chimezie was unlucky seeing his shot hitting the upright. And just a few seconds later a Pisani ball went begging with no one there to inflict the final touch.
Senglea countered and in the 72nd minute a Grech cross was met by Georgian Tcanturia but Vella blocked on time. And when Pieta seemed to be cruising to their first win of the campaign Senglea drew level. A wonder strike from a free kick by Ferdinando Salvati beat Vella all ends up. In the final minutes it seemed that both teams settled for a point apiece but both coaches have to work overtime if they hope for improvement and better results in their next matches.