Msida hold out for first league win

Pietà Hotspurs 0
Msida St Joseph 1

Msida St Joseph clinched their first points of the 2007-08 season after edging neighbours Pietà Hotspurs in yesterday's opening match at the National Stadium.

It was a game of two halves between two teams who, prior to yesterday's match, had yet to break their duck after two successive defeats.

Msida, inspired by the surging runs of debutant Priso Doding, were clearly the better side throughout the opening 45 minutes but despite creating several chances, they only scored once, George Ogbonna putting them ahead early in the match.

After the break, the pattern of the game changed as the Hotspurs assumed control of the proceedings, laying siege to Manwel Bartolo's goal. However, Carmel Busuttil's team lacked the killer punch up front as they missed a series of chances, including a late penalty that was saved by the Msida goalkeeper.

Msida coach Patrick Curmi was able to pick his strongest formation with Nigerian forward Doding making his first start of the season after his registration papers were filed at the Malta FA last week.

Pietà, on their part, effected three changes to the team that lost 3-1 to Valletta. Coach Busuttil roped in his son Gary to replace the suspended Pierre Aquilina while Rumen Galabov took a central defensive position as David Camenzuli was demoted to the bench. Svetlan Kondev returned from injury while Quelin Refalo deputised for Carl Pulo who was unavailable.

Pietà enjoyed the better start. After just three minutes, Kondev released Martin Deanov whose firm volley flew just over.

Msida responded in style and on 13 minutes, they forged ahead with their first attempt at goal. They won a corner on the right and Adrian Farrugia's cross fell to the unmarked Ogbonna who had little difficulty heading past Miguel Montfort.

A peculiarity about the Msida goal-scorer yesterday was that he was wearing the no. 13 shirt but on the teamsheet, Ogbonna was listed as no. 23.

The goal jolted the Hotspurs and two minutes later, it was almost 2-0 for Msida when Doding put Ouahchia Yacine clean through but the Algerian-born forward hit wide with only Montfort to beat.

The pace of Doding and Yacine made life difficult for the Hotspurs defenders. Pietà seemed powerless to force a reaction as they were relying heavily on the flair of Deanov to unlock their opponents' defence. However, the Bulgarian forward was isolated and well marked by the Saints rearguard.

Seven minutes from half-time, the Hotspurs almost drew level. From a well-taken Deanov corner, Peycho Deliminkov headed just wide. At the other end, the speedy Doding pushed forward before releasing Yacine who saw his effort blocked by Montfort.

Five minutes from the break, Curmi was forced to make his first change when Ogbonna suffered an injury and was replaced by Patrick Borg.

Three minutes later, Msida should have doubled their advantage when Doding burst through down the left channel, turned past Montfort but shot incredibly wide in front of an open goal.

At the start of the second half, Busuttil made two changes, sending on Camenzuli and Ryan Camilleri in place of Busuttil and Silvan Ciscaldi.

Camenzuli almost made an instant impact when, five minutes into the second half, he was first to Deanov's corner but nodded just wide.

On 55 minutes, the Msida fans shouted for a penalty when Yacine looked to have been upended by Deliminkov but referee Anton Zammit waved play on. A minute later Montfort did well to punch away Farrugia's volley.

Thirteen minutes after the break, Deanov set up Carl Sammut who looked certain to score but his shot was diverted to a corner. A minute later, Galabov had a golden chance to equalise for Pietà when receiving from Deanov but the Bulgarian shot straight at Bartolo.

As Pietà's attacking threat increased, Curmi withdrew Yacine in lieu of defender Gilbert Camilleri.

Deanov kept manufacturing chances for his team. On 64 minutes, he sent in a teasing cross towards Camenzuli who headed wide from a good position.

Fifteen minutes from time it was the turn of Dominic Mifsud to threaten but his angled drive sailed over.

However, Pietà's best chance to salvage a point came seven minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty after Andrew Spiteri, who had just come on for Pio Sciriha, handled the ball inside the area.

Kondev stepped up for the kick but his low shot was palmed away by Bartolo.

Pietà: M. Montfort-6, P. Deliminkov-6, G. Busuttil-5 ('46 D. Camenzuli-6), M. Deanov-7.5, S. Ciscaldi-5 ('46 R. Camilleri-6), Q. Refalo-6 ('76 S. Grech), C. Sammut-6.5, S. Kondev-6, D. Mifsud-6, E. Herrera-6, R. Galabov-5.

Msida: M. Bartolo-7, C. Brincat-5.5, P. Sciriha-6 ('79 A. Spiteri), S. Grima-6, G. Ogbonna-6 ('40 P. Borg-6), T. Farrugia-6, D. Cachia-5.5, A. Farrugia-6.5, R. Baldacchino-6, P. Doding-7.5, O. Yacine-6.5 ('61 G. Camilleri-5).

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Scorer: Ogbonna 13.

Missed penalty: Kondev (P) 83.

Yellow Cards: Busuttil; Kondev; Doding.

BOV Player of the Match: Priso Doding (Msida SJ).

Playing Today: (National Stadium) 7 p.m. Hibernians vs Valletta.