Pietà on top in strugglers' clash

Pietà Hotspurs 5
Mqabba 0

Pietà Hotspurs are making a habit of scoring emphatic wins against fellow strugglers Mqabba.

Following their 6-1 win in the corresponding first round fixture, the Hotspurs yesterday coasted to a 5-0 success to boost their morale in their struggle against relegation.

Carmel Busuttil's team have managed 20 goals this season of which 11 have been scored against basement side Mqabba.

With the improving Msida claiming the three points against Floriana in yesterday's opening match, victory was imperative for the Hotspurs to keep within striking distance of the Saints and end a seven-match winless streak.

Pietà captain Martin Deanov and midfielder Svetlan Kondev hit a brace each with substitute Quilin Refalo also getting his name on the scoresheet as Pietà ran riot, particularly in the second half.

An early goal from player-of-the-match Deanov set the tone for a one-sided match as Mqabba never really got to trouble Pietà goalkeeper Miguel Montfort.

With Italo Nogueira and Fabio Silva named among the substitutes, Mqabba were forced to defend for long stretches but they failed to avoid their 16th defeat in 17 matches.

Pietà could not have hoped for a better start as, after just six minutes, Edward Herrera sent a teasing cross into the path of Deanov who chested the ball past a stranded Paul Psaila.

One expected the two teams to attack each other, given their urgency to take the three points, but constructive football was absent for much of the opening half.

It was not before the 40th minute that either team had another attempt at goal. It fell Pietà's way when Rumen Galabov supplied a dangerous cross towards Dylan Kokavessis whose shot on the turn sailed just wide.

Two minutes later, Kokavessis controlled the ball inside the area but was challenged by Roderick Briffa as the Pietà forward was about to pull the trigger.

Mqabba had a sniff of goal in first-half stoppage time when Brazilian forward Marcelo Pereira sprinted towards the Pietà goal but was dispossessed by Bernard Sciberras who deflected the ball towards goalkeeper Montfort.

Referee Chris Lautier ruled that Sciberras's back-pass was intentional and a free-kick was awarded to Mqabba but the latter failed to profit.

Seconds after the restart, Mqabba gave the impression that they were still in the hunt for some tangible reward from this match as Dylan Zarb served Pereira on the edge of the area but the Brazilian's effort sailed wide.

Pietà doubled their lead on 53 minutes. Deanov lofted the ball towards the unmarked Refalo and the Pietà substitute let fly a firm shot that gave Psaila no chance.

The Hotspurs struck again two minutes later when Deanov dribbled his way past his marker and beat Psaila with a low shot for his second goal of the day.

Mqabba were clearly struggling and just past the hour Gatt Baldacchino was left chasing shadows when Herrera broke free on the right but his angled shot flew wide.

More misery was in store for Mqabba on 66 minutes when goalkeeper Psaila floored Pietà's Clyde Pulo in the penalty box and the referee had no other option but to dismiss the Mqabba goalkeeper.

Having already used his three substitutions, Falzon instructed midfielder Claudio Calleja to guard Mqabba's goal. Calleja's first task was to try and save Kondev's penalty kick. The stand-in custodian dived to his right to partially block Kondev's attempt but failed to stop the ball trickling into the net for the Hotspurs' fourth goal.

Pietà were now in cruise control and 13 minutes from time, Cassar broke free on the right before serving the hard-working Herrera who quickly delivered a measured cross towards Kondev for the simplest of tap-ins from two metres out.

Mqabba should have scored a consolation goal on 84 minutes as substitute John Mintoff nipped in to meet Pereira's cross but his delicate touch sent the ball against the post.

Luck was certainly not on Mqabba's side as Matthew Cocks connected with the loose ball but his firm shot came off Mintoff who was standing close to goal, much to the dismay of the Premier League strugglers.

Pietà: M. Montfort-6, C. Cassar-6.5, B. Sciberras-6.5 ('75 S. Ciscaldi), M. Deanov-7.5, C. Pulo-6.5 ('81 D. Mifsud), C. Sammut-6.5, S. Kondev-7, E. Herrera-7.5, R. Camilleri-6.5, D. Kokavessis-6 ('46 Q. Refalo-6.5), R. Galabov-6.5.

Mqabba: P. Psaila, M. Bonnici-4.5, M.A. Psaila-4.5 ('46 I. Nogueria-4), M. Briffa-4.5 ('63 A. Busuttil-4), M. Pereira-4.5, C. Calleja-5, M. Cocks-5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-5.5, L. Galea-5, D. Zarb-5.5 ('63 J. Mintoff-5). R. Briffa-5.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Scorers: Deanov 6, 55; Refalo 53; Kondev 68 pen., 77.

Yellow cards: Gatt Baldacchino; Nogueria; Kondev.

Red card: P. Psaila (M) 66.

BoV Player of the match: Martin Deanov (Pietà Hotspurs).

Next fixtures

Saturday (Hibs Ground): 1.30 p.m. Msida vs Hibs; 3.30 p.m. Sliema vs Pietà.

Sunday (National Stadium): 2 p.m. Hamrun vs Floriana; 4 p.m. Valletta vs Birkirkara.