Senglea Athletic earned their first point in the BOV Premier League as they scored a late goal to hold Pietà Hotspurs in a 1-1 draw at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Friday.

Led by new coach Vincenzo Potenza, Senglea, who were coming from three defeats to Qormi, Mosta and Balzan, had four changes from their last outing as Leighton Grech was named in the starting line-up along with three new signings Fabrizio Bramati, Matias Garcia and Augusto Rene Caseres. Garcia and Caseres had already played for the club last season.

For Pietà, this was the second consecutive draw after holding Qormi in a 2-2 draw last week. Shunsuke Nakamura was back in the starting line-up. Neil Pace Cocks and Gabriel Mensah made way for Nakamura and Nicholas Pisani.

The Hotspurs managed to take the lead on the 16th minute when off a cross by Jan Busuttil from the right, Paul Chimezie headed home past goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.

A fine shot by Jan Busuttil, served by Nakamura, was neutralised by Farrugia aided by the bar. 

In the second half, the Hotspurs went close again wth a Paul Chimezie effort which hit the foot of the post on the 70th minute.

However seven minutes from time, captain Ferdinando Salvati equalised with a direct freekick to rescue a point for Senglea.

PIETÀ Nicky Vella, Ose Takaki, Travis Bartolo (73’ Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa), Dylan Agius (86’ Jake Ghio), Paul Chimezie, Jan Busuttil, Nicholas Pisani (88’ Clyde Bouvet), Christian Grech, Shunsuke Nakamura, Ishaya Irimiya Jalo, Antonio Orlando Macedo Neto.
Subs not used: Jacob Chircop St John, Christian Degabriele, Neil Pace Cocks, Ayrton Mizzi.
Coach: Ramon Zammit
Asst. Coach: Mark Vella

SENGLEA Matthew Farrugia, Brandon Muscat, Ferdinando Salvati, Leighton Grech (88’ Matthew Bartolo), Manuel Giullari, Imanol Gonzalez Benac, Zachary Cassar, Fabrizio Massimo Bramati, Matias Nicolas Garcia (78’ Karl Cutajar), Augusto Rene Caseres (82’ Kieran Xuereb), Roman Tchanturia.
Subs not used: Philip Schranz, Dylan Micallef, Daniel Buckle, Karl Cutajar, Rayson Vella.
Coach: Vincenzo Potenza
Asst. Coach: Darren Anton Vella

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Chris Francalanza
Fourth Official: Darryl Agius
Yellow Cards: M. Guillari, L. Grech, D. Agius, F. Salvati, P. Chimezie, R. Tchanturia 
BOV Player of the Match: Jan Busuttil