PIETA’ HOTSPURS 0 SLIEMA WANDERERS 2
The Wanderers did the bare minimum to take all three points with a goal from newcomer Fabio Mangiacasale in the 15th minute. Alfonso Greco’s side showed little motivation after that goal and almost paid the price in the second half as Pieta' improved. But Mark Scerri eased their fraying nerves with a late strike which went some way towards lifting the team’s spirits.
The early exchanges were devoid of scoring chances as both teams toiled to find some sort of rhythm. Fifteen minutes from the start had elapsed when Mangiacasale drifted infield before arrowing a shot above David Cassar, the Pieta' goalkeeper.
After a somewhat indifferent start, Sliema began to dominate but lacked fluidity in attack. Danger loomed for the Hotspurs after 38 minutes, when Guy Kassa Gnabouyou galloping on the right flank, squared the ball for Michael Mifsud. The nippy striker took the ball over Cassar but Mifsud’s lob was weak and Christian Grech cleared.
In the 54th minute, Claudio Francis temporarily broke Sliema’s dominance when Rafael Rodrigues picked out the striker who controlled well before producing a smart save from Cassar.
A sweeping counter-attack almost yielded a breakthrough for Pieta' on
70 minutes. Retrieving possession in midfield, Francis surveyed his option and chose the right flank where he chipped the ball for Rafael Xavier. The latter’s teasing cross was headed out by Luca Martinelli.
Pieta' continued to press forward. Six minutes from time, Francis’s corner from the left soared towards the far post where Jurgen Pisani flicked the ball goalwards but Clifford Gatt Baldacchino cleared the danger.
The Blues would have sealed it but for another fine intervention By Grech who slid in to block Mangiacasale’s drive after the latter had been released by Trevor Cilia, coming on for Mifsud few moments before.
At death, the tension among the Sliema fans turned into joy. Following a through ball by Paltemio Barbetti, Mark Scerri showed excellent poise to round the onrushing Cassar before unleashing a rising shot that nestled into the top corner.