Saints prevail in high-scoring match

Pietà Hotspurs 4
St George's 5

With the relegation issue already settled weeks ago, Pietà Hotspurs and St George's had no pressure weighing down on their shoulders going into their final match of the season.

As one might have expected, the match was generally played in a good sporting spirit but the two teams should be commended for their efforts in trying to ignore the quiet atmosphere at the National Stadium and put up a decent showing.

Their commitment transformed this end-of-season fixture into an entertaining, high-scoring match, featuring no fewer than nine goals.

St George's, relegated to Division One along with Marsa, twice came from behind to edge the Hotspurs 5-4 and end the season with something to smile about.

Rumen Galabov, the lanky Bulgarian defender who played a significant role in Pietà's survival mission, returned to the starting formation after recovering from an ankle problem.

Pietà coach Carmel Busuttil again started with reserve goalkeeper Mark Vella instead of Andrew Hogg who figured among the substitutes. Martin Deanov, Carl Sammut and Edward Herrera began their holidays early as they were not even included in the 18-man squad.

Injuries to a host of first-team players and the suspension to Larry Lagana left St George's coach Marco Gerada with depleted resources. On the plus side, Clive Brincat and Lawrence Mizzi were available for selection after serving a one-match ban.

The Hotspurs enjoyed a dream start as, within two minutes of the initial whistle, they had already taken the lead.

Carl Pulo was the provider with an inviting square pass from the left towards Daniel Gatt who prodded the ball past Bernard Paris from point blank.

Less than three minutes later, Pietà doubled their lead. Once again, Pulo made good progress down the inside-left channel before cutting the ball back for the unmarked Quilin Refalo who drilled a low shot past the stranded Paris.

The concession of two goals inside the opening five minutes had a negative effect on the Saints' confidence. It took Gerada's men some time to find their passing range but after a string of hopeful shots failed to bring any tangible reward, St George's reduced the gap on 21 minutes.

A swerving corner by Mizzi eluded the hesitant Vella and Effiong was quick to capitalise by heading the ball home.

St George's went on to replicate their opponents' early two-goal flurry by scoring their second goal only four minutes after their first.

The equaliser came courtesy of Mizzi who beat Vella with a twirling free-kick from a difficult position, just a few metres away from the by-line to the left of Pietà's penalty area.

St George's two-goal comeback revived interest in the game as a contest.

Seven minutes from half-time, Galabov ran nearly the whole length of the pitch after intercepting a St George's attack before crossing the ball for Svetlan Kondev on the left. The Pietà midfielder pondered his options before attempting to curl the ball home but his effort was stopped by Emanuel Sevasta.

In their next attack, St George's moved in front, Heathcliff Schembri slotting home from close range after Mizzi, who had been sent through by Effiong, had evaded Vella's attempt at blocking his run.

Early in the second half, a dipping cross-shot from Pulo finished wide of the far post and a powerful Kondev volley was deflected away for a corner.

Pietà's improved display delivered a goal after 10 minutes of the second half. At the end of a prolonged move, Bernard Sciberras's angled effort was parried by Paris but the loose ball rolled towards another Pietà defender, David Camenzuli, who fired low into the net.

For most of the next 15 minutes, goalmouth action was something of a rarity before Paris pushed away a dangerous effort from Refalo who had been teed up by the overlapping Sheldon Grech.

Fourteen minutes from time, Pietà earned a gilt-edged chance to restore their lead when Paris brought Pulo down in the area after the Hotspurs' livewire had sped past Renato Conceicao. Referee Andre Arciola pointed to the spot, Kondev's central strike was kept out by Paris but Gatt stroked the rebound home.

Pietà's delight was short-lived though as St George's made it 4-4 with eight minutes left, Mizzi crowning a fine performance with a shot from close distance after he dispossessed Camenzuli.

Barely three minutes later, St George's struck the winner, Lee Grima hammering the ball past the helpless Vella after receiving a through-pass from the middle.

In the dying moments, St George's substitute Josef Dalli scuffed his shot high after being put through by Mizzi.

Pietà came close to restoring parity but Dominic Mifsud's scorcher hit the post and Sciberras's header was tipped over the bar by Paris.

Pietà: M. Vella-4, S. Grech-5.5, B. Sciberras-5, Q. Refalo-5.5 ('83 R. Xuereb), C. Pulo-7, E. Camilleri-5 ('65 C. McKay-5), D. Camenzuli-6, S. Kondev-5, D. Mifsud-5, D. Gatt-6.5 ('79 E. Vella), R. Galabov-5.

St George's: B. Paris-6, E. Degabriele-5, R. Conceicao-5, L. Mizzi-7.5, C. Brincat-5, L. Grima-6, N. Abela-5 ('77 J. Dalli), A. Effiong-6, E. Sevasta-6, H. Schembri-6.5, J. Spiteri-6.5.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Scorers: Gatt 2, 77; Refalo 5; Effiong 21; Mizzi 25, 82; Schembri 40; Camenzuli 55; Grima 85.

Missed penalty: Kondev (P) 77.

BoV player of the match: Lawrence Mizzi (St George's).