Camenzuli dismissal paves way for Citizens' victory

Pietà Hotspurs 2
Valletta 3

Valletta collected three important points yesterday, dismissing Pietà Hotspurs' challenge in a combative encounter which produced five goals, one red card and a spate of bookings.

Thanks to their latest success, the Citizens are now sharing second place with Birkirkara in the standings on 12 points and have definitely consolidated their claim for a place in the Championship Pool.

Under the guidance of J.J. Aquilina, the Lilywhites are a disciplined lot and their fourth win of the season can be viewed as an indication that this once-mighty club are on the road to recovery.

The teams' ambition to enrich their chances of clinching a slot in the top six by the end of the first phase led to an entertaining albeit fiercely-contested encounter which required the iron hand of referee Chris Lautier to keep tempers in check.

The Hotspurs enjoyed their best patch late in the first half when two quick, well-taken goals turned the tide in their favour after Nemanja Vucasinovic had given Valletta a 33rd minute lead.

However, the Hotspurs' joy was shortlived when they were reduced to ten men on the hour, David Camenzuli receiving his marching orders for a foul on Gilbert Agius.

It took Valletta some time to impose themselves but they became the better side as the game gathered momentum, leading to Agius's winning goal 16 minutes from time.

Georgi Deanov, the Pietà coach, faced a tough job to raise his side's spirits after their disappointing outing against Msida in which they let slip a two-goal advantage in the final minutes of the game.

Anatole Debono and Pierre Aquilina were both absent for Pietà yesterday following their expulsion in the game against Msida.

Valletta sighed with relief after 12 minutes as Cleaven Frendo curled a free-kick towards Ivan Woods who nodded towards goal but Sean Sullivan got a hand to the ball and tipped it onto the crossbar.

At the other end, Agius did well to beat his marker and drive a shot towards goal but the diving Andrew Hogg deviated the ball away and Mark Galea's hasty conclusion ended wide.

The Citizens drew first blood on 33 minutes. Mark Galea was the provider and Vucasinovic the converter, the Serbian striker evading the offside trap and Hogg's advances before slotting the ball home.

A minute later, a similar move nearly gave Valletta a two-goal lead. Vucasinovic squared the ball to Keith Fenech who split through the defence only to be blocked by Hogg.

Two minutes from half-time, Pietà were back in contention. They broke on the counter, Sanin Ortas serving Woods who breezed past a jittery defensive line and struck past Sullivan for his ninth goal of the season.

In first-half added time, Frendo scored a gem of a goal, reminiscent of his winning strike against Iceland's Under-21 team a few weeks back.

The youngster pulled the trigger from 30 metres out as his shot evaded Sullivan's frantic attempt to stop the ball from sailing into the net.

After a drab start to the second half, Valletta came agonisingly close to restoring equilibrium on the hour. Fenech, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Pietà, initiated a menacing move on the right flank before guiding the ball to Kevin Cassar. The former Hibs flank defender crossed towards Jaroslav Marx whose attempt hit the foot of the post.

This move was the prelude to Valletta's equaliser as a minute later, Camenzuli wrestled Agius to the ground inside the box. Referee Chris Lautier ordered a penalty and red-carded the Pietà defender after consulting his assistant. Massimo Grima made it 2-2 from the penalty spot.

For a quarter of an hour, Valletta did not make their extra man count and even risked falling behind to a bold Pietà team that refused to wilt despite the setback.

It was in the last 16 minutes of the game when Valletta began to mount pressure on their opponents and they reaped instant rewards.

Agius was floored outside the penalty area, Karl Bonnici chipped a free-kick towards the unmarked Valletta skipper who had a rather easy task to head the ball into the net and give his side the three points.

Pietà H.: A. Hogg-5, C. Okoh-5, K. Farrugia-5, C. Calleja-6 ('63 A. Spiteri), I. Woods-7, S. Ortas-6, B. Nisevic-6, S. Repuh-6, C. Sammut-5 ('80 N. Schembri), D. Camenzuli, C. Frendo-6 ('83 S. Ciscaldi).

Valletta: S. Sullivan-5, S. Pace-5, M. Grima-7, K. Cassar-5 ('63 J. Bondin), K. Bonnici-7, J. Marx-6, M. Penchev-5, K. Fenech-5, M. Galea-6 ('88 R. Forace), G. Agius-7, N. Vucasinovic-6 ('39 I. Zammit-6).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Scorers: Vucasinovic 33; Woods 43; Frendo 45; Grima 61 Pen.; Agius 74.

Yellow Cards: Woods; Bonnici; Grima; Marx; Bondin; Fenech; Galea.

Red Card: D. Camenzuli 60.

Player Of The Match: Cleaven Frendo (Pietà Hotspurs).