Goalie Hogg rescues Hotspurs

Pietà Hotspurs 3
Mosta 3

Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg was the hero of Pietà Hotspurs yesterday. Hogg had the final laugh not by bringing off a decisive save but by showing his ability at the other end of the pitch when scoring with a last-gasp strike to earn his side a dramatic 3-3 draw against Mosta.

It was an extraordinary finish to an exciting game that seemed heading Mosta's way after the newly-promoted side took a comfortable 2-0 lead inside the opening 45 minutes. But the Hotspurs were a transformed outfit after the break, two goals from the Deanov siblings, Ilian and Martin, restoring equilibrium.

Their efforts seemed destined to prove futile after substitute Matthew Borg put Mosta back in front with only two minutes to go but Hogg's goal in the dying moments rescued Pietà.

The returning Dyson Falzon immediately made his presence felt for Mosta. Less than two minutes from the start had elapsed when Falzon received a pass from Udo Nwoko and unleashed a powerful drive that was punched away by Hogg.

Pietà's reply arrived on 14 minutes when Silvan Ciscaldi advanced on the left before sending a dangerous cross in the area but Stefan Zahra incredibly shot over from close range.

The Hotspurs paid dearly for this miss as six minutes later, Falzon collected a poor backpass from Andrew Spiteri, turned past Bernard Sciberras before firing low past Hogg.

Pietà's afternoon took a turn for the worse when Mosta struck their second. And what a goal it was. Nwoko collected the ball just outside the area, sped past three opponents and squeezed a shot past the onrushing Hogg.

The speed of Nwoko and Ikechukwu Chibueze was causing all sorts of problems to the Hotspurs' rearguard.

Ten minutes from the break, Mosta could have made it 3-0. In a swift counter attack, Nwoko served Chibueze who darted into the area but his low drive breezed the upright.

Sluggish for most of the opening 45 minutes, Pietà protested for a penalty when Martin Deanov was sent tumbling inside the Mosta area but the referee waved play on.

At half-time, Deanov made two changes, roping in Claudio Calleja and Ryan Grech in lieu of the ineffective striking duo of Zahra and Andrew Decesare.

These substitutions reaped instant dividends as barely two minutes into the second half. After his close-range shot was deviated for a corner by Bartolo, Calleja was first to Carl Sammut's ensuing corner but his header hit the hand of Okonkwo and a penalty was awarded. Ilian Deanov coolly converted from the spot to hand the Hotspurs a lifeline.

Gradually Mosta came more into the picture and, on 65 minutes, Falzon should have grabbed a third goal when he was well picked by Pio Sciriha but his chip over Hogg was deflected by Sciberras.

Pietà kept pushing forward in search of an equaliser and 12 minutes from time, Ciscaldi sent a dangerous cross towards Calleja who failed to connect.

The Hotspurs' improved efforts in the second half were rewarded seven minutes from time when Martin Deanov created space for himself just outside the penalty area and his low shot passed underneath the body of goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.

Mosta were not finished yet, though. They still found the strength to attack and get back in front two minutes from time. They won a free-kick on the right flank, Sciriha lofted a teasing cross in the area where Borg's angled header had the better of Hogg.

More drama unfolded in time added on as Pietà's salvo came from the unlikeliest of sources. Sammut's inviting cross was fumbled by Calleja but the ball reached the attacking Hotspurs goalkeeper Hogg who fired a low shot that found its way into the net.

Pietà: A. Hogg-7, D. Gera-6, B. Sciberras-6, H. Schembri-6, A. Spiteri-5, I. Deanov-7, M. Deanov-7, S. Ciscaldi-6, C. Sammut-6, A. Decesare-5 ('46 R. Grech-6), S. Zahra-5 ('46 C. Calleja-6).

Mosta: M. Farrugia-5, P. Sciriha-6, R. Newell-6, M. Spasic-6, C. Attard-6, D. Okonkwo-6, M. Bartolo-6 ('67 M. Borg-6), P. Camilleri-6 ('60 I. Bilocca), U. Nwoko-7, I. Chibueze-6 ('89 J. Caruana), D. Falzon-7.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Scorers: Falzon 21; Nwoko 29; I. Deanov 47 pen.; M. Deanov 82; Borg 88; Hogg 90.

Yellow Cards: Okonkwo; Spiteri; Nwoko.

BoV Player of the Match: Udo Nwoko (Mosta).