Żebbuġ Rangers 2
Muchardi 83, Galea 89;
Pietà Hotspurs 1
Anonam 2;
For more than 80 minutes, Pietà Hotspurs had played with such composure that any prediction of Żebbuġ Rangers turning the tables on their opponents in this basement clash was way off the mark.
Yet, Noel Coleiro’s hopes were dashed by the revival of the Rangers who hit two goals in the space of six minutes to snatch all points in dramatic fashion after Pietà Hotspurs had taken the lead inside the opening two minutes.
With seven minutes to go, Żebbuġ looked dead and buried but they refused to throw in the towel and inspired by an excellent Matias Muchardi the bottom-placed side went on to score a priceless victory that threw the relegation battle wide open.
In fact, Żebbuġ have now moved on the 15-point mark, just two points behind second-bottom Qormi and Pietà Hotspurs.
Alfonso Greco, the Żebbuġ coach, kept faith with the same team that started the 2-0 defeat with Valletta. The Italian mentor stuck with a 4-4-2 formation and a diamond-shaped midfield with Mauricio Britto and Rashid Yussuff in attack.
Suspension deprived coach Noel Coleiro of Pietà midfielder Juergen Pisani as the Hotspurs mentor handed Charles Newecke a debut.
The Nigerian striker was the team’s attacking spearhead with Claudio Frances and Dylon Agius providing support from behind. Miguel Montfort started ahead of David Cassar in the Hotspurs goal.
Pietà didn’t have to wait long to break the deadlock, as in their first dangerous foray into Żebbuġ’s half they hit the breakthrough.
Żebbuġ goalkeeper Emmanuel Bartolo flapped at Frances’s corner, leaving the fast-thinking Orosco Anonam to fire the ball home.
A period of fragmented football followed with Żebbuġ toiling to make headway in attack.
Greco introduced striker Miguel Ciantar for Thomas Paris at the start of the second half.
The nippy striker almost left an instant mark on the game as, less than three minutes after entering the field, he unlocked the Pietà defence with his deft footwork but dragged his effort just wide.
On the hour mark, Montfort appeared to have smothered a shot by Muchardi but let the ball to slip from his grasp but the Hotspurs goalkeeper recovered in time to stop the ball from rolling over the goalline.
The Rangers continued to pressure forward.
In the 78th minute, Muchardi connected to Matthew Bartolo’s cross but his first-time volley drew a fine save from goalkeeper Montfort.
Five minutes later, Muchardi revived Żebbug’s spirits with a well-taken goal.
The Argentine midfielder controlled a cross from Jacob Borg before whipping the ball home with a fierce drive.
Muchardi’s strike looked to have bolstered his team-mates’ belief that they could still breach the Pietà defence a second time.
Six minutes later, Pieta’ defensive frailties resurfaced when Kurt Zammit’s corner soared above a sea of players and towards Lee Galea who timed his run into the box to perfection, and sent a glancing header into the back of the net.
The final whistle came seconds later with the Żebbuġ players and fans celebrating an important victory.
Żebbuġ Rangers
E. Bartolo-4.5, Y. Camilleri-6, L. Galea-7, P. Barbetti-6, J. Borg-6.5, M. Muchardi-7.5, T. Paris-5.5 (46 M. Ciantar-5), K. Zammit-6.5, M. Bartolo-6.5, M. Britto-5, R. Yusuff-5.
Pietà Hotspurs
M. Montfort-6, K. Micallef-6, O. Anonam-6, L. Fortunato-6.5, J. Pisani-5.5, Gabriel-5, L. Micallef-5, Rafael-5, C. Newecke-5 (70 R. Costa-4), C. Francis-6.5, D. Agius-6 (68 K. Cesare-4).
Referee: Esther Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Agius, Frances.
BOV player of the match: Matias Muchardi (Zebbug)
Attendance: 581.