Pietà Hotspurs 2
St Patrick 2
St Patrick failed to leapfrog Mosta at the top of the Division One standings after being held 2-2 by Pietà Hotspurs in an entertaining match yesterday.
Both sides opted for attacking football and although the tempo of the game dropped after the interval, the sparse crowd on the Centenary Stadium terraces witnessed a classic.
All in all, a draw was a fair result as neither side deserved to leave Ta' Qali empty-handed.
It was Pietà who enjoyed the better start and after 35 seconds, they might have forged ahead but Simon Shead drove wide from inside the penalty area following a Martin Deanov cross. The move was triggered by an inch-perfect long ball by Jean Landry Poulangoye.
As time went by, St Patrick settled down, forcing a few corners which were easily dealt with by the Hotspurs rearguard. But in the 14th minute, the Blues were lucky not to concede a goal when Peter Anizoba rose well to head a Gary Inguanez free-kick with the ball finishing inches wide.
Two minutes later, Pietà took the lead when veteran striker Shead hammered the ball into the net after receiving from Deanov.
This goal boosted Pietà and with Carl Pulo dictating matters in midfield, Winston Muscat's side were looking vulnerable. But, thanks to Anizoba's fast movement, St Patrick managed to equalise on 22 minutes when the Nigerian sped past Gary Busuttil and scored with a fine shot.
The Saints maintained their momentum and it came as no surprise when, on 41 minutes, they went ahead. The unmarked Thomas Caruana headed home Anizoba's cross from the right flank.
But St Patrick's joy was cut short as Pietà drew level two minutes later. They won a free-kick from which Deanov's perfectly-hit drive gave David Cassar no chance. Pietà were dangerous again on the stroke of half-time when Busuttil brought the best out of Cassar.
The second half offered fewer scoring chances than the first but the game was still a good advert for first division football. St Patrick came close to forging ahead on 59 minutes when Caruana ran past a couple of defenders but his shot was deflected by a defender.
Pietà responded on 62 minutes when Deanov saw his shot being saved by Cassar. On 68 minutes, Alex Ellul's header for St Patrick, from a free-kick, was magnificently saved by Miguel Monfort who pushed the ball away for a corner.
Eight minutes from time, Shead's first-time volley from just inside the area finished just over the crossbar.
Deep into stoppage time, St Patrick could have sneaked a winner but Caruana's screamer from outside the box came off the crossbar with the Pietà custodian beaten.
Pietà Hotspurs
M. Montfort, C. Spiteri, J. Delia, G. Busuttil (C. Mckay), M. Deanov, C. Pulo (T. Vella), S. Shead, J. Poulangoye, D. Mifsud (S. Ciscaldi), K. Cassar, S. Pace.
St Patrick
D. Cassar, M. Pullicino, R. Briffa, M. Fleri Soler, G. Inguanez (J. Farrugia), T. Caruana, T. Farrugia, A. Ellul, P. Anizoba, B. Bonnici, D. Gatt.
Referee: Paul Apap.
Man of the match: Martin Deanov (Pietà).