Mqabba, Pietà share four goals in exciting match
St George's stay in promotion hunt
Mqabba 2
Pietà Hotspurs 2
Mqabba and Pietà Hotspurs were involved in an absorbing match at the Hibs Ground yesterday.
Both sides went all out for victory but had to settle for a point after sharing four goals, a result that was met with great satisfaction by Division One leaders St Patrick.
Most of the action in the early stages took place in midfield but as the minutes ticked away, Pietà began to show the better ideas.
Their first real threat on Mqabba's goal came on 18 minutes when Jean Landry Poulangoye's drive just missed the target.
A minute later, Martin Deanov's corner for Pietà was headed off the line by Patrick Borg. Mqabba replied on 24 minutes when a Paul Chimezie free-kick was warded off by Ivan Cassar.
But Pietà continued to dictate matters. Terrence Vella's cross-shot flew just wide on 34 minutes but shortly afterwards, the Hotspurs forged ahead. Having swapped positions with Vella, Deanov delivered a teasing cross-shot that had the better of Kris Calleja in the Mqabba goal.
Four minutes from half-time, Deanov brought the best out of Calleja.
A minute later, Calleja saved Deanov's volley and in first-half stoppage time, Pietà's Simon Shead shot straight at Calleja.
Mqabba came out for the second half looking more focused. On 50 minutes, they levelled the score when Chimezie, collecting a pass from substitute Sean Magro, blasted the ball home.
Bobby Giorev's side were playing the better football now and it came as no surprise when John Paul Muscat put them 2-1 up on 65 minutes.
Pietà made a quick reaction but they were not that dangerous. However, Clive Mizzi's side still managed to equalise eight minutes from time when Kevin Cassar stroked the ball home from Deanov's corner.
It was now Pietà's turn to attack. Six minutes from time, Calleja made a fine save to deny Carl Sammut.
A minute later, Borg came to Mqabba's rescue when intercepting Deanov after Calleja had partially saved Shead's drive.
Four minutes from time, Mqabba's Michael Borg Olivier shot straight at Cassar .
Mqabba
K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, J. Debattista, P. Borg, D. Azzopardi, P. Chimezie, C. Calleja, J.P. Muscat, E. Borg (M. Borg Olivier), M. Mifsud (S. Magro).
Pietà Hotspurs
I. Cassar, M. Deanov, S. Ciscaldi (D. Mifsud), S. Shead, M. Robinson (C. Sammut), J.L. Poulangoye, C. Cassar, I. Grech, T. Vella (Q. Refalo), K. Cassar, S. Pace.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Man of the match: Patrick Borg (Mqabba).
Bonello boosts St George's
San Ġwann 0
St George's 3
In yesterday's second match, St George's kept their promotion hopes alive with a deserved 3-0 win over San Ġwann.
St George's might have opened the scoring after 16 minutes but Nigerian John Nwoba's close-range effort was saved by Frank Axisa. .
The Cottonera side continued to hold the upperhand but their finishing was erratic. On 24 minutes, Nwoba again missed a sitter after receiving a good ball from Glenn Bonello.
Seven minutes from half-time. Joey Falzon's side again had a good opportunity to score but Nwoba and Bonello failed to hit the target.
On 42 minutes, Nwoba fired over the crossbar after being teed up by Benior Fenech. But, at last, St George's reaped the reward for their pressure when a minute before the end of the first half, Bonello fired home from close range to finish off an excellent move by Nwoba.
San Ġwann showed more ambition when the second half got underway. After two minutes, Roberto Brincat hit wide after receiving a cross from Sergio Hili.
St George's gave the impression that they were happy to defend their one-goal lead but San Ġwann threatened to equalise, mainly through Brincat who failed to conclude from a Lee Cumbo cross.
On 73 minutes, St George's sealed their win when Nwoba lobbed Axisa following a through-ball from Lee Grima.
Five minutes later, St George's tripled their lead. Nwoba beat the offside trap and rounded goalkeeper Axisa but the latter floored the Nigerian striker.
Bonello made no mistake from the penalty spot.
San Ġwann
F. Axisa, L. Cumbo, R. Brincat, S. Hili (R. Sell), M. Caruana, A. Borg, C. Cuschieri, M. Francica, A. Zahra, F. Aboulezz (S. Pisani), C. Giordemaina.
St George's
T. Galea, C. Schiavone, E. Degabriele, E. Sevasta, J. Nwoba, M. Gauci (H. Schembri), E. Amaira, B. Fenech, I. Curmi (S. Dimech), G. Bonello (J. Dalli), L. Grima.
Referee: Gordon Barbara.
Man of the match: Glenn Bonello (St George's).