Pietà Hotspurs register their first win

Pietà Hotspurs registered their first win as they defeated Mosta 3-1 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Friday.

The Hotspurs therefore obtained their long-awaited first victory after earning just two points from the first five matches including three quite unlucky narrow defeats to Hibs, Birkirkara and Balzan. On the other hand, for Mosta, this was the third defeat in six matches.

Hotspurs coach Ramon Zammit named an unchanged line-up following a fine performance in a narrow defeat to Balzan. Mosta, on the other hand, had Italian midfielder Mattia Vicaroni making his debut while Juri Cisotti was back in the starting line-up as they replaced Renan Oliveira and Misael Miranda Gomez.

Shunsuke Nakamura put the Hotspurs ahead on the 33rd minute when he advanced on the left, beating Romeu Romao on the run and beat goalkeeper Andreas Vella with an angled shot, ending in the top corner.

Two minutes later, Pietà doubled the score. Antonio Orlando Macedo Neto headed the ball home off an inviting cross by Nakamura.

Juri Cisotti was unucky to hit the crossbar and just before half-time, Mosta could have reduced the arrears when they were awarded a penalty after a defender handled the ball inside the area but Falou Samb’s effort from the penalty spot was neutralised by Nicky Vella.

Mosta eventually reduced the gap thanks to Alessio De Cerchio on the 61st minute when he converted a penalty after Samb was brought down inside the area by Ose.

Four minutes from time Paul Chimezie sealed the issue for the Hotspurs with a third goal as he rounded a defender and placed the ball at the back of the net.

PIETÀ Nicky Vella, Ose Takaki, Travis Bartolo (89′ Christian Degabriele), Neil Pace Cocks, Paul Chimezie, Jan Busuttil, Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa (85′ Jake Ghio), Christian Grech, Shunsuke Nakamura (90+1′ Nicholas Pisani), Ishaya Irimiya Jalo, Antonio Orlando de Queiroz Macedo Neto.
Subs not used: Miguel Abela, Liam Mckay, Clyde Bouvet, Ayrton Mizzi.
Coach: Ramon Zammit
Asst. Coach: Mark Vella

MOSTA Andreas Vella, Alessio de Cerchio (71′ Kurt Zammit), Kei Hirose (86′ Dexter Xuereb), Massimo Sammartino, Tyrone Farrugia, Steve Bonnici, Mattia Vicaroni (46′ James Brincat), Zachary Brincat, Juri Cisotti, Romeu Pericles Romeo, Falou Ndiaye Samb.
Subs not used: Craig Abdilla, Aleandro Sultana, Luca Gatt, Jurgen Grech.
Coach: Enrico Piccioni
Asst. Coach: Jason Camenzuli

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Thomas Debono, Duncan Spencer
Fourth Official: Mario Apap
Yellow Cards: Nakamura, Brincat, Bartolo, Cisotti, Takaki, Farrugia, Samb
BOV Player of the Match: Jan Busuttil