Late Galea strike sees off gritty Pietà fightback

Pietà Hotspurs 2
Birkirkara 3

A combination of Digger Okonkwo's 86th minute dismissal and a late headed goal by Michael Galea denied Pietà Hotspurs the point their committed second-half fightback deserved in their opening Premier League encounter against Birkirkara.

In keeping with the pattern set by yesterday's first game between Sliema Wanderers and Marsaxlokk, it was the more-quoted and more resourceful Birkirkara team who imposed their superiority on the game only for the gritty Hotspurs to turn the heat on their opponents after the change of ends.

Birkirkara's second-half decline will have disappointed their coach Stephen Azzopardi, who believes that his team have the credentials to wrest the title from Sliema Wanderers.

Galea's 88th minute goal brought relief for Birkirkara who must clearly be more consistent if they are to live up to their billing as genuine title candidates.

On their part, Pietà will have felt hard done by Galea's late, decisive intervention but the fluency of their second-half display should have lifted optimism of another positive campaign.

Azzopardi, the Birkirkara coach, resisted the temptation of throwing Adrian Ciantar, the club's latest big signing, straight into the thick of things as he virtually kept faith with the players who turned out for the team in their pre-season matches.

Pietà also had a clutch of newcomers in their squad but of these, only Cameroon striker Fransis Omam and Branko Nisevic, the former Hibernians centre-half, commanded a berth in the starting line-up. Edward Azzopardi, William Borg and goalkeeper Mark Farrugia, signed from Valletta, Rabat Ajax and Zurrieq, were named as substitutes.

The first genuine goalscoring chance was fashioned by Birkirkara within 18 minutes of the initial whistle. George Mallia advanced down the right channel and laid the ball into the path of the steaming Mark Anthony Bonnici who turned and shot but Mauro Di Lello's last ditch tackle took some power away from his attempt and goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin did the rest by repelling his effort before Digger Okonkwo hooked the ball to safety.

At the other end, Ivan Woods powered his way into the box with a typically penetrating run but his tame effort was parried by Haber.

The stalemate was broken on 31 minutes when Chucks Nwoko curled in a free-kick that left Darmanin stranded after Okonkwo had tripped Michael Galea just outside the box.

Seven minutes from half-time, Birkirkara may have increased their lead had Camenzuli's thunderbolt not been kept out by Darmanin. Their second goal did not take long to materialise. A Michael Galea accurate pass from near the bye-line was flicked home by Matthew Calascione, though his shot may have taken a deviation off Nisevic.

Azzopardi and Borg made their first official appearances in a Hotspurs' shirt at the beginning of the second half, replacing Anatole Debono and Cleaven Frendo.

Pietà enjoyed a sustained spell of ascendancy early in the second half, raising hopes of a comeback despite their 2-0 deficit.

Having watched most of the first half from afar, Justin Haber was forced to cut out a Pierre Aquilina cross-shot after two minutes while Woods had a low effort whizzing past the foot of the near post.

The sight of Ciantar trudging towards the touchline to enter the fray brought the biggest cheer of the second half. The former Hibernians midfielder came on for Lino Galea.

On the field of play, it was Pietà who were pushing forward with some conviction, Omam forcing a fine save from Haber. Borg and Woods then had efforts blocked by the Stripes defence and Haber parried a Di Lello drive.

Those who saw Marsaxlokk's bold comeback in their two-all draw with Sliema Wanderers will have felt that the story was about to repeat itself here when Omam pulled a goal back for Pietà.

Aquilina, one of the Hotspurs' better players, sent in a teasing cross from a free-kick which bypassed the entire Birkirkara defence and dropped at the feet of Omam who chipped the ball past Haber.

Birkirkara's worst fears materialised when Pietà redressed the balance 15 minutes from the end. Omam was given time to make space for himself inside the box despite Dronca's approach and his low cross was put away by Borg.

Pietà's hopes of hanging on the draw looked to have been dealt a severe blow when Okonkwo was sent off for tugging Nwoko, his second bookable offence.

Two minutes from time, Birkirkara had their noses back in front.

Clint Micallef, who had taken the place of Bonnici midway into the second half, sent in a perfect cross which was nodded home by Michael Galea for the killer goal.

Pietà H.: S. Darmanin, P. Aquilina, M. Di Lello, C. Okoh, D. Okonkwo, G. Sciberras, I. Woods, B. Nisevic, F. Omam, A. Debono (E. Azzopardi), C. Frendo (W. Borg).

Birkirkara: J. Haber, M.A. Bonnici (C. Micallef), L. Galea (A. Ciantar), W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione (R. Sammut), H. Doda, M. Galea, C. Nwoko, L. Dronca, R. Briffa, G. Mallia.

Referee: Mark Spiteri.

Scorers: Nwoko 31; Calascione 39; Omam 73; Borg 75; M. Galea 88th.

Yellow Cards: Okonkwo; Nisevic; Dronca.

Red Card: Okonkwo 86.

MIA Player Of The Match: Fransis Omam (Pietà Hotspurs).