The Malta Independent on Sunday
Late Mensah goal gives Pieta first point of the season
Chris Cassar Gabriel Mensah scored a late goal to hand Pieta their first point of the season in a 2-2 draw against Qormi in a clash between the two promoted sides from the First Division.
The match had a very boring start and only came to life with Qormi’s opener on the half hour. From then onwards the game was very interesting, with Qormi having more of the ball and the better scoring chances, but Vela in the Pieta goal proved to be a hard nut to crack, even saving a penalty that could have sealed the issue in Qormi’s favour.
Pieta however never threw in the towel and were rewarded with a late and deserved equaliser.
For Pieta apġart from goalkeeper Vella, Macedo Neto played a solid game in defence apart from scoring a great goal in the first half, and Mensah was one of the best for his side and eventually gave then a vital point.
Qormi had the first attempts with an Arrieta drive blocked by a defender and with the Pieta goalkeeper Vella blocking Gusman with a well timed sortie. On 21 minutes Pace Cocks attempted a shot from the edge of the area but his effort was very weak and easily saved.
On 30 minutes Qormi broke the deadlock. Iven Zammit had a good run on the left flank, winning a couple of dribblings before passing towards the completely unmarked Mano Micallef on the far post, and the Qormi player made no mistake drilling the ball home.
Two minutes later Qormi almost doubled the score when a quickly taken freekick was not cleared away by the goalkeeper Vella and Yankam was unlucky when his shot hit the upright. On 39 minutes Pieta were back on level terms when from a Neil Pace Cocks freekick, Macedo Neto headed home.
Sixty seconds later Pieta missed a sitter and could have easily taken the lead when Gabriel Mensah was put through in front of goal but failed to dribble past the goalkeeper. On 42 minutes a Lubos Adamec central freekick was blocked Vella.
Eight minutes into the second half Qormi were back in front with a great goal.
Tensior Gusman won possession of the ball in midfield and fired a beauty from the edge of the area with the ball in the top corner of the net.
Pieta had a Jan Busuttil freekick well blocked by Azzopardi and on 62 minutes Qormi were awarded a penalty when Arrieta was pulled down inside the area by Christian Grech, but from the penalty spot the same Arrieta failed to score with his central drive blocked by Vella.
On 68 minutes Qormi close again with a close range header from Mansi brilliantly saved by Vella. In the last quarter of the game Pieta pushed everything forward in search fo the equaliser, with Qormi having now open spaces for their breaks.
On 89 minutes Pieta’s pressure yeilded the desired effect as Ramon Zammit’s side obtained the equaliser when Gabriel Mensah received the ball at the edge of the area and with Azzopardi charging out of position slotted home with a low drive.
Pieta continued to insist and almost snatched a winner in stoppage time but Chimezie’s goal from close range was disallowed.