Senglea Athletic extended their impressive run with a fourth consecutive win as they defeated Pietà Hotspurs 2-1 in a direct clash between two teams from the lower part of the table at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.

Senglea now join Mosta on the 16-point mark, six ahead of Pietà and nine ahead of bottom-placed Qormi. The Hotspurs, on the other hand, suffer a seventh consecutive. 

The Hotspurs could have taken the lead on the 36th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Nicholas Pisani was floored by Arian Mrsulja but Gabriel Mensah’s effort was turned into a corner by Matthew Farrugia.

Senglea took full advantage, breaking the deadlock two minutes later through Sidqy El Mehdi.

The Hotspurs levelled matters just before the end of the first half thanks to Nicholas Pisani who tapped the ball home from close range following a good move and a cross by Jan Busuttil, deflected by the goalkeeper.

However Senglea regained the lead on the 59th with a goal by Augusto Rene Caseres whose diagonal shot beat Vella following an assist by Garcia.

Four minutes later, Senglea were reduced to ten men after Arian Mrsulja received a second yellow card and was therefore sent off.

SENGLEA Matthew Farrugia, Taisei Marukawa (90+2′ Gary Camilleri), El Mehdi Sidqy, Zachary Cassar, Leighton Grech, Romulo Silva Santos (73′ Karl Cutajar), Diego Venancio, Matias Nicolas Garcia, Augusto Rene Caseres, Arian Mrsulja, Christian Sammut (65′ Larson Mallia).
Subs not used: Zach Valletta, Matthew Bartolo, Luke Scorfna, Bradley Schembri.
Coach: Vincenzo Potenza
Asst. Coach: Darren Anton Vella

PIETÀ Nicky Vella, Christian Degabriele (57′ Dylan Agius), Jan Busuttil (84′ Paul Chimezie), Nicholas Pisani (76′ James Scicluna, Gabriel Mensah, Juan Manuel Artiaga, Christian Grech, Stefan Radovanovic, Uchenna Calistus Umeh, Ishaya Irimiya Jalo, Antonio Orlando de Macedo Neto.
Subs not used: Jacob Chircop St John, Samuel Okoh, Liam Mckay, Jake Ghio.
Coach: Ramon Zammit
Asst. Coach: Mark Vella

Referee: Stefan Pace
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna
Yellow Cards: Jalo, Umeh, Romulo, Sammut, Mrsulja, C. Grech, Marukawa, Radovanovic, Busuttil, Agius, Tony, L. Grech, M. Farrugia
Red Cards: 63′ Arian Mrsulja
BOV Player of the Match: Taisei Marukawa