Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1019057
29 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 AUGUST 2018 SPORTS FOOTBALL THE first match at the Vic- tor Tedesco Stadium saw the teams of Pieta and Birkirkara facing off each other. After beating Balzan, the Stripes started the match as clear favourites to register a win against the newly promoted side. Despite this, they were up against a group of players that were eager to win their first points following their 2-1 de- feat against Hibernians. In fact, Pieta opened the score on the 22nd minute. Ga- briel Mensah delivered a cross in the direction of Jan Busuttil whose low shot gave Kristijan Naumovski no chance. Birkirkara replied on the 29th minute. Kurt Zammit received the ball from Marcelinho de Siquiera Henrique and fired a shot that sailed slightly wide. Zammit's side kept on insist- ing and lost a golden oppor- tunity one minute from half- time. Michael Mifsud saw his header being pushed away by Jacob Chircop. The ball went into the path of Jake Grech whose close range shot forced a great save from Pieta's goal- keeper. The Stripes started the sec- ond half on the attack in their attempts to equalise and went close immediately. Follow- ing a free-kick, Marcelinho de Siquiera Henrique served Thiago Brito de Souza, but the latter's finish was cleared off the line. Birkirkara's efforts paid off on the 69th minute. Emerson Marcelina sent a cross towards Michael Mifsud who finished home from close range. Cain Attard scored Birkirka- ra's second goal two minutes later. From a corner, Marcelin- ho de Siquiera Henrique deliv- ered the ball towards the Mal- tese player who finished inside an open goal. Attard was also sent off on the 86th minute as he received his second yellow card of the match due to time wasting. However, Pieta didn't have enough time to react as they suffered their second consecu- tive 2-1 defeat. Pieta Hotspurs Jacob Chircop Takaki Ose Dylan Agius Paul Chimezie Jan Busuttil Gabriel Mensah Juan Manuel Artiaga Christian Grech Ayrton Mizzi Shunsuke Nakamura Tony De Queiroz Machedo Neto Birkirkara Kristijan Naumovski Danilo Quipapa Chapoval Azevedo Mislav Andjelkovic Paul Fenech Jake Grech Kurt Zammit Mancha Ferreira dos Santos Michael Mifsud Cain Attard Marcelinho de Siquiera Henrique Thiago Brito de Souza Pieta Hotspurs Birkirkara 1 2 Jan Busuttil 22' Michael Mifsud 69', Cain Attard 71' WARREN ZAMMIT Referee: Eman Grech Assistant Referees: Thomas Debono, Darko Stankovic Fourth Official: Matthew Degabriele BOV Player of the Match: Marcelinho de Siquiera Henrique (Birkirkara) Two goals in the space of two minutes were enough for Birkirkara as they came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Pieta Hotspurs Two goals in two minutes give victory to Birkirkara over Pieta PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG