Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/455578
34 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2015 Sport Pieta H. ............................1 Naxxar L. ..........................1 EDWARD FALZON THE two teams fighting for precious points in their battle against relega- tion shared the points, which served neither of them. Similar to the previous match be- tween Floriana and Tarxien, Pieta were the better team in the first peri- od of the match, with Naxxar show- ing considerable improvement in the second half. After a quiet start, Pieta took the lead on their first attempt when Claudio France got past keeper Az- zopardi with a low shot after a surg- ing run from the right. Before half time, Naxxar drew level through a nice individual run from Angus Buhagiar who after beating a few players hit home a powerful shot past keeper Montfort. Before the break, Pieta could have regained the lead but Charles Newuche headed wide from Frances' free kick. After only two minutes into the second half, a Gilmar free kick was held by Montfort. Naxxar threatened again past the hour mark when Montfort had to pull off another save off another ef- fort from Gilmar. Naxxar were piling the pressure on the blues and had a Pablo Doffo header cleared off the line. With 18 minutes remaining, substi- tute Victor Bellia's effort was blocked by Pieta's Fortunato. Towards the end, Ricardo Costa al- most gave Pieta all three points but his effort went over. BOV Man of the Match: Gilmar Ribeiro. Naxxar: Azzopardi, Scicluna, Ibok, Del Negro, Toure, Falzon (Vella 46') (Bonnici 89'), Gilmar, Doffo, Fenech (Bellia 68'), Buhagiar, Silva Pieta: Montfort, Micallef, Grech, Fortunato, Pisani, Da Silva, Micallef (Agius 78'), Anonam (Cesare 28'), Newuche, Frances (Costa 75'), R.Da Silva Referee: Andre Arciola Pieta, Naxxar share spoils in draw FOOTBALL