Pietà Hotspurs 3
Rabat Ajax 0
After two successive draws, Pietà Hotspurs obtained their first win of the season in a game they dominated from start to finish. The two sides were poles apart yesterday as Clive Mizzi's Pietà saw more of the ball and could have scored more goals.
Carl Pulo, Terrence Vella and Martin Deanov dominated in midfield and with Jean Landry Poulangoye roaming all over the pitch, Rabat found the going tough. They surely need to strengthen their side if they are to avoid an immediate return to Division Two.
After 10 minutes, Michael Micallef cleared off the line a Kevin Cassar header for a corner, and from the flag-kick, Vella rose above the Rabat defenders to head home.
Pietà continued to push forward and 10 minutes later they doubled their lead when Pulo's centre rebounded off a defender and the ball broke to Cleaven Cassar who drove the ball home from 11 metres out.
Rabat were nowhere to be seen as Pietà continued to pummel the Magpies' rearguard but were somewhat erratic in their finishing.
On 50 minutes, Pietà made it 3-0 when veteran Jesmond Delia blasted the ball home from inside the Rabat area from a Deanov corner.
Rabat were demoralised but could have reduced the arrears on 62 minutes. Christopher Schembri's scorcher from just outside the box was saved in style by Ivan Cassar.
On 77 minutes, it was Rabat again who came close when a Joseph Caruana half-volley was again stopped by goalkeeper Cassar.
Rabat's flickering hopes received a fatal blow with 10 minutes to go when they were reduced to 10 men after Edward Azzopardi was shown a straight red card for elbowing Glanville Goodlip. With three minutes left, Pulo was also dismissed, this time for dissent.
Pietà Hotspurs
I. Cassar, J. Delia, C. Cassar (D. Mifsud), G. Busuttil, M. Deanov, C. Pulo, S. Shead, J.L. Poulangoye (S. Ciscaldi), T. Vella (G. Goodlip), K. Cassar, S. Pace.
Rabat Ajax
J. Azzopardi, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, A. Mifsud, A. Smeir, D. Galea, M. Micallef (P. Ciantar), G. Magri (C. Schembri), L. Micallef (D. Falzon), E. Azzopardi.
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Red cards: Azzopardi (R) 80; Pulo (P) 87.
Best player: Martin Deanov (Pietà).