Ten-man Pieta eliminate Saints in lively match

Pieta Hotspurs 3
Grech 12 pen; Harrevelt 25; Agius 38;
St George’s 2
Perdomo 30; Sammut 44;

Pieta Hotspurs made it to the last eight of the FA Trophy after a 3-2 win over St George’s in an exciting game where all goals were scored in the first 45 minutes.

Pieta had Dylan Agius sent off after the break but held on to reach the next round.

Pieta’s James Scicluna was denied by the woodwork early on but on 12 minutes Patrick Curmi’s side forged ahead when Mamic brought down Kyle Cesare in the box.

From the penalty Christian Grech put his team 1-0 up.

Midway through the half Pieta made it 2-0 when Randell Harrevelt found space to shoot home but the Saints stayed in the match with a Christian Fernando Toro Perdomo goal from a free-kick.

Pieta hit back strongly and on 34 minutes Jason Gorskie headed just wide from a free-kick before Dylan Agius hit a scorcher which left keeper Carbonaro helpless to make it 3-1.

This was a typical cup tie and minute from half-time Dylan Sammut left Chircop St John helpless from a free-kick.

On 52 minutes, Cesare was unlucky when his shot hit the bar from the edge of the area but two minutes later Pieta suffered a setback when Agius was shown a second yellow card.

St George’s tried hard to get back to level terms but it wasn’t enough as Pieta defended strongly to stay in the competition.

Pieta: J. Chircop St John, K. Micallef, T. Bartolo, N. Pace Cocks, D. Agius, W. Rizgalla (C. Dega-briele), K. Cesare (M. Mifsud) R. Harrevelt, J. Gorskie, C. Grech, J. Scicluna (J. Busuttil).

St George’s: C. Carbonaro, L. Grech, N. Falzon, B. Dalatu Ayuba, A. Mendy (L. Vella), C. Toro Perdomo, E. Amaira (C. Farrugia), U. Nwoko (K. Abela), D. Sammut, S. Aquilina, M. Mamic.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Red card: Agius (PH) 54.