Qormi 0
Pieta Hotspurs 1
Micallef 31;

Relegation-troubled Pietà Hotspurs threw themselves a lifeline as a Luke Micallef goal in the first half saw them past a struggling Qormi side, in Hamrun, yesterday.

It was a hard-earned win for the Hotspurs who were well organised and after taking a deserved lead they warded off Qormi’s reaction with some sound defending to maintain their fight at the red zone of the table.

Qormi are in full blown crisis now as they slumped to their fifth successive defeat and have not won in any of their last 10 matches.

They tried to pile the pressure after the interval but their efforts were futile. In the end it was the Hotspurs who celebrated an important victory that took them on the 17-point mark, level on points with Qormi and Tarxien Rainbows and five clear of bottom-placed Żebbuġ Rangers.

Qormi paraded their latest signing, Uzeh Edafe. He started the match along with Duncan Pisani who was back in the fray.

Pietà had Jurgen Pisani available and the Malta U-21 winger was preferred from Kyle Cesare who was among the substitutes.

The Hotspurs had a bright start and after eight minutes Pisani sped clear on the left before sending a dipping cross into the path of Micallef who headed the ball just over.

Qormi tried to get more into the picture but their approach lacked clear ideas.

The Hotspurs were forced to make their first change on 18 minutes when goalkeeper David Cassar suffered an injury when closing down the advancing Frank Temile. He was replaced by stand-in Miguel Montfort.

Proceedings remained devoid of entertainment but Claudio Frances lit up the game on 31 minutes when the Argentine beat two Qormi defenders before teeing up Micallef who placed the ball beyond goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia’s reach with a low drive to put the Hotspurs ahead.

Qormi’s response never came with Effiong and Temile struggling to find space in a well-knit Pietà half and defence well marshalled by Leonardo Fortunato and Christian Grech.

Josef Mansueto was clearly unhappy with Qormi’s showing and he withdrew defender Mauricio Latini Mazzetti with striker Ryan Micallef coming in to lift his team’s aspirations up front.

On 48 minutes Effiong connected to Temile’s corner but his header flashed wide. Six minutes later, Joseph Chetcuti hit a volley from the edge of the Pieta box but his effort also went off target.

Chetcuti had another opportunity on the hour but he headed into the side-netting from routine distance.

The Qormi no.10 continued to pose the biggest threat for the Hotspurs and on 70 minutes he tried with a shot that flew wide.

Micallef should have killed off Qormi 19 minutes from time.

Rafael Rodrigues played him through but after running past Farrugia, Micallef’s low shot hit the upright before rolling out of play.

The Pietà striker had another gilt-edged opportunity late on when he was put clear by Frances but he dallied to conclude and Farrugia rushed out to save his fort.

Frances was again the provider when his throughball released Pisani in stoppage time but the Qormi keeper was well placed to stop the Hotspurs from scoring a second goal.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-6, U. Edafe-6.5 (82 S. Agius), M. Mazzetti Latini-4.5 (46 R. Micallef-5), J. Chetcuti-6, A. Effiong-4, C. Gauci-5.5, F. Temile-4, E. Vella-5, Z. Levnaic-5, D. Pisani-5, J. Bondin-5.

Pietà Hotspurs
D. Cassar (18 M. Montfort-6), K. Micallef-6, L. Fortunato-7, C. Grech-7, J. Pisani-6.5, O. Anonam-6, D. Agius-6, Gabriel-6.5, L. Micallef-7.5, C. Frances-7.5, R. Rodrigues-7.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: Fortunato, D. Pisani, J. Bondin, Vella.

BOV player of the match: Luke Micallef (Pietà Hotspurs).

Attendance: 566.

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