Hotspurs hit six goals past helpless Swallows as derby ends all square

Pietà Hotspurs 6
Dingli Swallows 1

Robson Luiz Bandeira was the catalyst behind Pietà Hotspurs’ crushing victory over Dingli Swallows as the Brazilian striker ran the Dingli defence ragged with his individual skill.

The Hotspurs dominated the match from the word go and should have had a healthier lead by the end of the first half had they been sharper in front of goal.

Dingli, on their part, are having a poor season and are now just a place off the bottom in the standings.

The Hotspurs created the first chance after five minutes when Zach Muscat’s long range shot finished just wide.

On 13 minutes, Pietà were unlucky not to forge ahead when Bandeira dashed into the area but his shot was pushed away by Jeffrey Farrugia and from the rebound Jurgen Pisani’s shot hit the upright. Dominic Pisani again took possession and his effort again smacked against the woodwork.

On 20 minutes, Muscat should have put Pietà ahead but failed to hit the target with only Farrugia to beat.

Pietà finally took the lead a minute from the break when Bandeira was set up by Cleaven Cassar and the Brazilian made no mistake from close in.

After the interval, Dingli almost drew level when Joreilly Chirino found Ryan Sammut who crossed for Chris Ciappara. The latter was anticipated by team-mate Chris Azzopardi whose drive was cleared off the line by Ryan Mifsud. Ciappara was first to the rebound but his shot hit the post.

Pietà doubled their lead on 55 minutes when Bandeira picked Muscat who beat his marker to head home.

On the hour Ciappara almost deceived Miguel Montfort with a fine lob but the goalkeeper tipped the ball over.

Pietà put the game to bed on 63 minutes when it was Bandeira again who beat a defender and found the unmarked Muscat to shoot home.

On 74 minutes, the Hotspurs conceded a penalty when Kevin Cassar floored Ciappara in the area and the Dingli forward picked himself up to score from spot.

Pietà restored their three-goal lead three minutes later when Mifsud was fouled in the area by Kurt Formosa and Quilin Refalo converted the resulting penalty.

The Hotspurs hit their fifth goal on 85 minutes when substitute Jesmond Azzopardi rifled home a Jurgen Pisani cross from close range.

In time added on Refalo added a sixth goal for Pietà when he dribbled past substitute goalkeeper Mark Abela to fire into an empty net.

Pietà: M. Montfort, C. Spiteri, R. Mifsud, B. Sciberras, Q. Refalo, R. L. Bandeira (K. Cassar), S. Lijeskic, Z. Muscat (L. Mallia), C. Cassar, J. Pisani, D. Mifsud (J. Azzopardi).

Dingli: J. Farrugia (M. Abela); R. Sammut, S. Tellus, C. Ciappara, K. Formosa, M. Pace, K. Borg, R. Briffa, K. Bonavia (C. Caruana), C. Azzopardi, J. Chirino.

Referee: Fiodor Zammit.

Man of the match: Robson Luiz Bandeira (Pietà Hotspurs).

St Andrew’s 1
Melita 1

Two goals in the last five minutes revived a dour derby between St Andrew’s and Melita which was watched by one of the biggest attendances in Division One this season.

With the game heading to a goalless draw, substitute Kurt Coleiro scored with almost his first touch what looked like the winner for St Andrew’s.

But Melita refused to throw in the towel and equalised in stoppage time through defender George Gribbon. St Andrew’s suffered more woe as just before the final whistle Coleiro was dismissed for dissent.

The match was evenly balanced early on but as the minutes passed, St Andrew’s started to create the better chances.

On 12 minutes Jack Pallen’s drive from a free-kick hit the Melita wall with the ball falling into the path of Nicky Vella Petroni who saw his shot on the turn finish just wide.

Wayne Attard’s side continued to play the better football and on 16 minutes, Ronnie Hartvig’s header just missed the target from just inside the area.

Two minutes later Vella Petroni crossed the ball towards the unmarked Eddie Grima who saw his header well pushed away by Zahra and from the rebound Grima fired home. However, the ‘goal’ was annulled as Grima controlled the ball with his hand.

Melita responded on 22 minutes when Julian Galea’s low shot was well blocked by Deren Ibrahim.

No side looked dangerous in the second half with Melita coming close on 64 minutes when Nigel Rizzo had a shot blocked by a defender after some good work by Luke Micallef.

The stalemate was finally broken in the closing stages of the match when Vella Petroni set up Coleiro who despite losing his balance still managed to fire the ball past Zahra.

But Melita managed to draw level six minutes later when Kane Micallef’s cross found Gribbon at the right place to slot the ball home.

St Andrew’s: D. Ibrahim, P. Briscoe White, N. Chetcuti, J. Bugeja, R. Hartvig, J. Briscoe White, M. Valenzia, W. Camilleri (K. Coleiro), N. Vella Petroni, E. Grima (M. Calleja), J. Pallen (J. Dabbs).

Melita: K Zahra; R. Alinho, L. Martinelli, G. Gribbon, A. Caruana Scicluna (M. Martin), N. Rizzo, Julian Galea, M. Borg, Karl Vella Petroni (L. Micallef), S. Galea (K. Micallef), M. Batel.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Man of the match: Nicky Vella Petroni (St Andrew’s).