Pietà Hotspurs 4
St Andrew’s 3
Pietà Hotspurs went top of the BOV Division One after edging fellow promotion rivals St Andrew’s in a seven-goal thriller.
Despite playing with 10 men for most of the second half, Pietà still managed to see off the Saints’ challenge after producing some devastating counter-attacks.
St Andrew’s gave a good account of themselves and played their part in the best game of the season so far.
After a few minutes, Pietà striker Raphael Kooh Sohna’s grounder was saved by Sam Bartolo, the St Andrew’s goalkeeper.
On four minutes, a similar drive by Trayko Grozev was saved by David Cassar.
Kooh Sohna then hit the ball over the crossbar from a corner action. But the Cameroonian forward made amends on 11 minutes when heading home from a Quilin Refalo free-kick.
Kooh Sohna scored his second barely a minute later, drilling the ball into the net from inside the box from a Jurgen Pisani cross.
Noel Coleiro’s side came close to a third on 21 minutes when Pisani passed to Terence Agius who was just anticipated by defender Brian Said as he was about to conclude.
Pietà continued to dictate matters. On 35 minutes, Ricardo Costa’s effort from 25 metres was tipped away for a corner by Bartolo.
The Hotspurs remained on top at the start of the second half. Kooh Sohna should have made it a hat-trick but fired wide.
Five minutes into the second half, the Saints revived their hopes thanks to a blunder by Luciano Mutasi who punched the ball in his own area from a Michael Grima corner.
The Guinea defender was dismissed for a second yellow card and Grozev converted the penalty to reduce the deficit for St Andrew’s.
On 67 minutes, Bartolo made a great save to stop Kooh Sohna’s header from Refalo’s corner. But a minute later, the Saints custodian could do nothing as he was beaten by Orosco Anonam’s perfect chip.
Eighteen minutes from time, St Andrew’s pulled themselves back into contention when Grozev hit home after receiving a low cross from substitute Nicky Vella Petroni.
Yet, their joy was shortlived as, on 74 minutes, Ricardo Costa’s half-volley from just inside the box had the better of Bartolo.
Two minutes later, the Saints again reduced the arrears with an excellent 30-metre shot from Emiliano Lattes.
With a minute to go, Pietà’s Christian Grech hit the foot of a post from a free-kick. In stoppage time, Said came close to netting a late equaliser for St Andrew’s but his effort came off the side-netting.
Pietà Hotspurs: D. Cassar, C. Cassar, O. Anonam, C. Grech, A. Spiteri, Q. Refalo (K. Cesare), L. Mutasi, J. Pisani, T. Agius (T. Agius), R. Costa, R. Kooh Sohna.
St Andrew’s: S. Bartolo, C. Cumbo, B. Said, D. Gera, J. Briscoe White (W. Camilleri), J. Farrugia, J. Falzon (N. Vella Petroni), M. Grima, W. Barbosa (A. Podda), E. Lattes, T. Grozev.
Referee: Paul Caruana.
Man of the match: Raphael Kooh Sohna (Pietà).
Żurrieq 1
Ħamrun Spartans 3
Ħamrun Spartans obtained their first win of the season after beating Żurrieq 3-1.
The Spartans dominated the first half but looked tense after the break despite playing against depleted opponents who finished the match with nine men.
Giuseppe Forassi’s side opted to sit back despite their numerical advantage before Italian Antonio Pignataro settled their nerves with a stoppage-time goal that secured a 3-1 win for the Spartans who are now on minus four points after starting the season with an eight-point penalty.
The first scoring chance came in the 26th minute when Ħamrun’s Jake Grech blasted wide after connecting with Pignataro’s cross.
A minute later, Pignataro crossed into the Żurrieq area and Justin Felice tapped the ball home.
On 38 minutes, Pignataro scored a fine individual goal. The Italian striker dribbled past Joris Garnier and hit a firm drive which gave Jeremy Alden no chance.
After the change of ends, Żurrieq suffered a setback when Stephen Wellman was shown the red card for tripping the goalbound Felice.
Ħamrun were now in command and, on 55 minutes, Pignataro concluded a good run with a well-hit shot that goalkeeper Alden managed to tip on to the post.
On the hour, a mix-up in the Spartans defence presented Glenn Bonello with an inviting opportunity and the Żurrieq striker had no difficulty beating Andrea Cassar.
On 69 minutes, Żurrieq were reduced to nine men after Karl Sacco was sent off for a crude challenge on Pignataro. Despite their numerical handicap, Żurrieq continued to play well. They were not dangerous but Ħamrun looked confused.
Two minutes into injury time Pignataro went past Zvesdan Vukovic and fired past Alden to seal Ħamrun’s win.
Żurrieq: J. Alden, J. Garnier (G. Inguanez), K. Sacco, S. Wellman, J. Lia, S. Giglio, J. Briffa, G. Bonello, Z. Vukovic, M. Schembri, O.L. Agboebina (D. Zammit).
Ħamrun: A. Cassar, A. Borg, D. Nazari, M. Busuttil, L. Grech, J.P. Kameni, R. Mangion, J. Grech (G. Formosa), R. Spiteri (G. Scerri), A. Pignataro (M. Cornago Del Pedro), J. Felice.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Man of the match: Antonio Pignataro (Ħamrun).
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Pietà Hotspurs | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 14 |
| Melita | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| St Andrew’s | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 11 |
| Lija Athletic | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 9 |
| Birżebbuġa | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| St George’s | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| Gżira United | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| Żebbuġ R. | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 8 |
| Żurrieq | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| Gudja United | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 4 |
| Żejtun Cor. | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 4 |
| Msida SJ | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| Ħamrun S. (-8) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -4 |