Pieta H. 2
Xewkija T. 1
Pieta H.: M. Chetcuti, N. Pace Cocks, D. Vukovic, C. Bouvet (C. Gauci 72), C. Sammut, JL Caetano, K. Amehi, QL Bregman (T. Bartolo 31), L. Mckay, I. Jalo, J. Scicluna (N. Pisani 75)
Xewkija T.: M. Grima (L. Camilleri 22), M. Tabone, JM Vella (J. Camilleri 74), J. De Lima, C. Antunes, R. Buttigieg, C. Nogueira, M. Hrubsa, D. Mercieca, M. Stojanovic, C. Frances, M. Scerri (substitute 89)
Referee: D. Portelli
Asst refs: D. Sultana, C. Francalanza
Scorers: C. Bouvet 37, JL Caetano 42 pen., C. Antunes 60,
Yellow cards: M. Tabone 25, M. Hrubsa 39, C. Frances 43, C. Sammut 56, D. Mercieca 68, M. Stojanovic 84, C. Nogueira 90
Red card: R. Buttigieg 45
First Division Pieta Hotspurs beat Gozitan side Xewkija Tigers by the odd goal in three to reach the quarterfinals.
Pieta were obviously the better side in the first half, but Xewkija effected a strong rally in the second half, especially after they reduced a 2-0 deficit thanks to a penalty.
What was surprising was the fact that Xewkija finished the match in 11 men although they should have had 10 as they had a man dismissed near the end of the first half. The incident probably occured just before the 90th minute when Manwel Scerri entered the pitch as a substitute. No one on the pitch, not even the referee, his assistants and the club officials, seemed to have noticed the infringement.
The match appeared heading goalless in the first half as neither side seemed to have the better of the other, even if Pieta were much more dangerous in their swift counterattacks spearheaded by Ishaya Jalo on the left flank.
The Gozitan side lost much of their composure when they suffered Pieta's first goal and their woes increased considerably before the interval when they conceded a second goal from a hotly disputed penalty. And things turned to the worse when Rodney Buttigieg was shown a second yellow card and was dismissed, leaving the side in 10 men.
In the second half, despite playing in numerical inferiority, Xewkija were a transformed side and richly deserved their consolation goal, albeit from a penalty.
After that, they pressed forward in search of an equaliser with Antunes, Frances and Nogueira inspiring their team-mates. But their efforts proved fruitless as Pieta contained them comfortably till the end.
Xewkija were the first to have an attempt at goal in the 6th minute, but Carlos Nogueira's 20-metre freekick sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Pieta, however, were more dangerous in the 11th minute, when Jose Lucas Caetano advanced into Xewkija territory following a defensive clearance, only to see his lob being brilliantly turned to corner by Xewkija goalie Mark Grima.
And on 15 minutes, Ishaya Jalo missed another good opportunity when he advanced and came face to face with onrushing goalie Grima but hesitated and lost possession when a shot at goal might have produced better dividends.
Pieta took the lead on the 37th minute. Kilian Amehi had a fantastic run on the left flank, leaving two opponents behind and his low cross was flicked home by Clyde Bouvet from two metres.
It was 2-0 in the 42nd minute when Pieta were awarded a penalty after Rodney Buttigieg was adjudged by the official to have handled the ball from a freekick. Xewkija protested hotly claiming that the ball was never handled by their player, but the official stuck to his decision as three Xewkija players were shown yellow cards. From the spotkick, Jose Lucas Caetano made no mistake.
Two minutes into added time Gzira's James Scicluna had a good effort going just over.
In the 50th minute, Pieta again went close through Amehy who saw his rising shot hitting the crossbar.
Xewkija went close to scoring on the 57th minute as former Sliema and Hibs stalwart Jackson De Lima saw his freekick hitting the crossbar.
The Gozitans insisted and two minutes later, from a Hrubsa cross, Claudio Antunes saw his header going just wide.
Xewkija were not downhearted and a minute later, they finally scored. It was Nogueira who set Antunes in the Pieta area. The latter dribbled round a defender before beating goalie Chetcuti.
In the 86th minute, Pieta again went close through Clive Gauci who had a fine rising shot going just over.