St Patrick 2
Pietà Hotspurs 3

Pietà Hotspurs advanced to the quarter-finals of the U*Bet FA Trophy after battling their way past a resolute St Patrick side at the Hibs Ground yesterday morning.

The Hotspurs looked set for an easy passage to the last eight after two own goals and a strike by Italian Roberto Provenzano gave them a three-goal lead inside the opening hour.

However, St Patrick did not give up and, making a bold effort to force their way back in contention, they struck twice in the final 15 minutes to set up a tense finale. Although the Hotspurs survived the Division One side's rally, coach Carmel Busuttil will be disappointed with his team's poor showing in the final stages of this second-round tie.

Pietà will now shift their focus to their Relegation Pool fight in the coming weeks. Busuttil will surely warn his players that they cannot afford another sharp decline in concentration if they are to retain their Premier League status for another year.

Pietà had to do without Bulgarian winger Martin Deanov, defender Bernard Sciberras and midfielders Carl Pulo and Carl Sammut.

Borislav Giorev, the St Patrick coach, made one change to the team that trounced Naxxar Lions 4-0 in their last Division One match. Brazilian Sandro Costa Brazilino started on the bench in lieu of Vince Camilleri who was handed a berth in midfield.

The Hotspurs opened what looked like an assuring two-goal lead early on. After two minutes, they were awarded a corner from the right. Svetlan Kondev sent an inswinging cross into the box and Camilleri inadvertently deviated the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear the danger.

The goal hit St Patrick's confidence hard and Pietà capitalised on their opponents' weaknesses by doubling their advantage in the ninth minute.

Glanville Goodlip picked Provenzano just outside the area and the Italian midfielder fired a fierce drive that gave St Patrick goalkeeper David Cassar no chance.

Sensing his team's uneasiness in these early stages, Giorev made two changes on 22 minutes when Camilleri and Kurt Coleiro were replaced by Shaun Magro and Costa Brazilino.

The move brought more stability to the team and on 29 minutes St Patrick were unlucky not to pull a goal back.

Kenneth Abela did well to dribble past David Camenzuli but his shot was blocked by Elton Camilleri.

Quilin Refalo almost hit Pietà's third on 33 minutes when he was released by a clever Kondev pass but the young forward shot wide with Cassar beaten.

The much-travelled Abela was leading the Saints' charge in attack. Eight minutes from the break the St Patrick forward again raced through but his shot was off target. Then, Kondev was left ruing his luck for not putting his name on the scoresheet when he saw his free-kick hitting the bar before finishing out of play.

On the stroke of half-time, Michael Zerafa's piledriver finished just wide and then Gordon Failla was denied by an excellent diving save from Andrew Hogg as St Patrick ended the first half on the attack.

After the change of ends, Busuttil revised his tactical gameplan by deploying Roman Galabov in a defensive position with Edward Herrera partnering Refalo up front.

Many thought the match was as good as over on 56 minutes when the Hotspurs went three goals up.

Herrera broke through on the right and delivered an inviting cross which had Robert Cassar in a state of confusion as the St Patrick skipper headed the ball past his own goalkeeper for the second own goal of the day.

But, St Patrick surged forward in search of a consolation goal and it had to be a fine save from Hogg to deny Costa Brazilino. Their efforts were rewarded 12 minutes from time when Failla's dipping shot completely surprised Hogg with the ball flying into the top corner of the net.

Failla's goal spurred the Saints to push more men in attack and their risky approach yielded a second goal three minutes from time. Substitute Steve Dimech sent a speculative ball into the Pietà box and Abela's arching header sailed into Hogg's net.

However, St Patrick had little time left to push for an equaliser in a bid to force extra-time. Their aspirations were dashed in time added on when Karl Micallef was shown a red card for retaliation after a foul by Daniel Gatt.

Teams in QFs

Birkirkara; Hibernians; Marsa; Marsa-xlokk; Msida St Joseph; Pietà; Sliema Wanderers; Valletta.

St Patrick: D. Cassar, R. Cassar, M. Zerafa, M. Fleri Soler, S. Zerafa ('71 S. Dimech), K. Micallef, G. Failla, M. Pullicino, K. Coleiro ('22 S. Costa Brazilino), V. Camilleri ('22 S. Magro), K. Abela.

Pietà: A. Hogg, Q. Refalo, E. Camilleri, R. Provenzano ('77 N. Busuttil), D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, G. Goodlip ('56 D. Kokavessis) D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, R. Camilleri ('41 D. Gatt), R. Galabov.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Scorers: Camilleri 2 og; Provenzano 9; Cassar 56 og; Failla 78; Abela 87.

Yellow cards: Mifsud, Gatt.

Red card: Micallef (SP) 90.