Pietà Hotspurs 1
Sliema Wanderers 0
Pietà Hotspurs caused the biggest upset of the weekend when they produced a highly-efficient performance to upset championship challengers Sliema Wanderers in an entertaining Premier League match at the Hibs Ground.
A well-taken goal from Peycho Deliminkov early in the second half was enough for the brave Hotspurs to jolt Sliema's aspirations of taking sole leadership in the standings.
Sliema stayed one point behind early pacesetters Floriana who have a game in hand.
Pietà's surprise victory adds to the uncertainty surrounding the race for a top-six berth at the end of the first phase as Carmel Busuttil's men have now joined Valletta, Birkirkara, Hibs and Hamrun Spartans on the 12-point mark.
The Hotspurs deserved their victory yesterday as they refused to be overwhelmed by their opponents' reputation. Pietà battled valiantly throughout the 90 minutes and could have scored a more pronounced victory had it not been for some excellent saves from goalkeeper Murphy Akanji.
Sliema were a disappointing lot, especially in the opening 45 minutes when they struggled to impose their game against a Pietà team that managed to close all avenues to the opposing forwards.
It was only midway through the second half that Sliema managed to put Pietà under some pressure but the young Hotspurs held on to record a merited success.
Sliema coach Ray Farrugia named Roderick Briffa among the substitutes after the midfielder failed to recover fully from the knock he picked up during Malta's 4-1 defeat to Norway in midweek. Roderick Bajada was given the nod to partner Ivan Woods in the centre of midfield.
Pietà were without Bulgarian ace Martin Deanov who is struggling with abdominal pain while Daniel Gatt is still nursing a knee injury.
Sliema began the match brightly and Bajada should have put them ahead after five minutes. The nippy midfielder got on the end of a fine run from Etienne Barbara and looked odds on to score but somehow fired wide from routine distance.
The Blues continued to pile on the pressure and on 14 minutes Woods fed Madzar who curled in a fine shot that flew just wide.
Pietà's first attempt on goal arrived on 17 minutes. They won a free-kick just outside the area and Bulgarian midfielder Svetlan Kondev saw his shot stopped by the alert Akanji.
Sliema maintained the upperhand but for all their possession, they were struggling to break down the resolute Pietà rearguard.
Madzar threatened again for Sliema 10 minutes from half-time when, in a rare foray into the Pietà area, captain Brian Said flicked the ball towards the Montenegro forward but Deliminkov stepped in to block the danger.
Eight minutes from half-time, Glanville Goodlip's teasing cross from a corner was tamed by the well-positioned Akanji.
Sliema quickly regained the initiative and five minutes from the break, Woods was first onto a Nesko Milovanovic corner but his header sailed wide as the score remained 0-0 till the end of the first half.
The Wanderers were lucky not to find themselves behind five minutes after the restart.
Clyde Pulo traded passes with ever-present Kondev before firing a firm drive that was pushed away for a corner by Akanji.
The Nigerian goalkeeper again distinguished himself when tipping away for a corner a long-range drive from Carl Sammut.
From the flag-kick, Pietà punished Sliema as Dominic Mifsud's dipping cross found defender Deliminkov who was in the right spot to tap the ball past Akanji.
At this stage, Farrugia sought to revive his team's fortunes by withdrawing the ineffective Milovanovic and Woods who were replaced by Orosco Anonam and Briffa.
Sliema came close to an equaliser on the stroke of the hour mark when Pietà goalkeeper Mark Vella rushed out to block Madzar, the ball broke to Barbara who fired wide from just outside the area.
On 61 minutes, Matthew Bartolo sped clear on the right before directing the ball into the path of Barbara whose header finished wide.
Shoddy defending from Rumen Galabov almost gifted Sliema an equaliser on 67 minutes when he fluffed his attempt to clear Barbara's cross and in came Anonam who shot over from two metres out.
However, Galabov soon made amends on 69 minutes when he booted away Anonam's goalbound drive that had the better of the diving Vella.
Sliema increased their attacking manoeuvres but Carmel Busuttil's lads were dealing quite well with the pressure.
On 81 minutes, Bajada had a good opportunity to equalise but his firm drive from outside the area flew over.
Quelin Refalo could have put the game beyond Sliema when he burst through on goal in a quick break but his shot was too central to trouble Akanji.
However, Refalo's miss was soon forgotten as Pietà's victory was confirmed soon after when referee Kevin Azzopardi sounded out his whistle to bring the match to a close.
Pietà: M. Vella-6, P. Deliminkov-7, Q. Refalo-6.5, C. Pulo-6.5 ('74 M. Vella), C. Sammut-6.5, S. Kondev-7, G. Goodlip-6.5 ('90 B. Sciberras), D. Mifsud-6.5, E. Herrera-6 ('49 S. Ciscaldi-6), R. Camilleri-6, R. Galabov-6.
Sliema: M. Akanji-7, A. Muscat-5.5, I. Azzopardi-5, B. Said-6, N. Milovanovic-5 ('55 O. Anonam-6), R. Bajada-6.5, M. Bartolo-5.5, I. Woods-5.5 ('58 R. Briffa-6), A. Madzar-5, S. Pace-5, E. Barbara-5.
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.
Scorer: Deliminkov 53.
Yellow cards: Woods; Refalo.
BoV Player of the match: Peycho Deliminkov (Pietà Hotspurs).