Pieta’ Hotspurs edge past ten-man Xewkija

First Division side Pieta’ Hotspurs secured a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy thanks to a 2-1 win over ten-man Xewkija Tigers at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.

The Hotspurs, who had eliminated Mqabba from the third round therefore brought to an end Xewkija’s journey in the competition after they had defeated Gozitan sides St. Laurence Spurs and Gharb Rangers and Second Division duo Birzebbuga St. Peter’s and Mgarr United.

Clyde Bouvet put the Hotspurs ahead on the 39th minute, hitting home off a cross from the left by Kilian Amehi.

One minute from the end of the first half, Jose Lucas Caetano da Silva converted a penalty for Pieta’ to double the score after Rodney Buttigieg handled the ball inside the area.

Rodney Buttigieg received a second yellow card for Xewkija in three minutes just before half-time and was therefore sent off.

However, on the hour, Claudio Antunes Pavlidis pulled one back for Xewkija when served by Jose Carlos Noguiera Junior.

In the dying minutes, Xewkija still ended with eleven players as Manwel Xerri entered the field of play – an incident which somehow went unnoticed by the match officials.

PIETA’ Miguel Chetcuti, Neil Pace Cocks, Dejan Vukovic, Clyde Bouvet (72′ Clive Gauci), Christian Sammut, Jose Lucas Caetano da Silva, Kilian Amehi, Quincy Bregman (32′ Travis Bartolo), Liam Mackay, Ishaya Irimiya Jalo, James Scicluna (74′ Nicholas Pisani).
Subs not used: Jacob Chircop St John, Jake Ghio, Sheldon Pisani, Sheldon Mizzi.
Coach: Brian Spiteri

XEWKIJA Mark Grima (23′ Leonard Camilleri), Manwel Tabone, Joseph Mario Vella (73′ Johnny Camilleri), Jackson de Lima, Claudio Antunes Pavlidis, Rodney Buttigieg, Jose Carlos Nogueira Junior, Martin Hrubsa, Dylan Mercieca, Milos Stojanovic, Claudio Daniel Frances.
Subs not used: Omar Xuereb, John Axiaq, Tristan Grech, Manwel Xerri, Charles Hili.
Coach: Jesmond Zammit

Referee: Daniel Portelli
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Chris Francalanza
Yellow Cards: Tabone, Hrubsa, Frances, Buttigieg, Sammut, Mercieca, Stojanovic, Nogueira
Red Cards: 45′ Rodney Buttigieg