Marsaxlokk-Valletta 0-1

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, C. Mamo, G. Sciberras, R. Conceicao, B. Said, K. Sammut, P. Pullicino, J. Alcorse (C. Camilleri), W. Camenzuli (M. Licari), M. Pereira, C. Cassar (M. Barbara)

Valletta: N. Vella, J. Grioli, K. Scicluna, L. Dimech, S. Bezzina, J. Pace, E. Agius, G. Agius, D. Falzon (J. Muscat), N. Priso Doding (D. Grima), S. Monesterolo (P. Massaro)

Referee: K. Azzopardi asst.refs: P. Agius, A. Camilleri 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: D. Falzon

Yellow cards: J. Pace, N. Vella, C. Mamo

Player of the match: Dyson Falzon (Valletta)

TMI top three: 1. G. Agius 2. D. Falzon 3. P. Pullicino

Vastly superior to their opponents for almost the entire game, Valletta nearly failed once again to secure the win their supremacy richly deserved through some profligacy in front of goal and some ill luck. It was only thanks to a penalty save by their young second choice goalkeeper Nicky Vella that denied Marsaxlokk a late draw which looked beyond them at that stage.

At the end, they won courtesy of a well struck Dyson Falzon goal before the break to close the gap on leaders Hibernians to only three points, having played a game more. Handicapped by the absences of the suspended midfielder Roderick Briffa and striker Ian Zammit, besides regular keeper Andrew Hogg, Valletta were only one goal up at halftime but could have had their work finished early already during a dominant first 45 minutes. They spurned opportunities galore, besides being denied by the goalkeeper and the woodwork (on three occasions), as they began like an express train, hurtling forward en masse.

Monesterolo twice went close in the initial stages when he mishit Falzon’s cross and then shot wide after Edmond Agius had played the ball back in his path.

On 22 minutes Monesterolo beat the offside trap, outpaced Said but failed to put his diagonal shot on target. Then again Gilbert Agius cross from the left cut the Marsaxlokk defence and Edmond Agius thumped the ball against the underside of the bar. The same player headed Falzon’s cross wide soon after as Valletta’s explicit superiority started to show

But on minute into added time, Valletta finally broke the deadlock. Dyson Falzon took the ball in his stride, cut towards the middle and beat the Marsaxlokk keeper with a defiant strike at the top corner. It was more than Valletta deserved.

Marsaxlokk effected a double substitution as Camenzuli and Alcorse did not turn up for the second half.

Valletta however remained the more potent attacking force and a Gilbert Agius shot rebounded off the bar.

On the other end, keeper Valletta repelled Sammut’s shot as Marsaxlokk tried to venture more into enemy territory.

Valletta put in Massaro for the erratic Monesterolo on 55 minutes, in their persistent but inaccurate search for a second and more reassuring goal.

But past the hour, a Mamo powerful free kick from the right was parried by keeper Vella but substitute Camilleri failed to connect on the loose ball.

Valletta increased their efforts. Priso’s shot on Edmond Agius’ pass was blocked by the Marsaxlokk defence and then a Massaro central shot clipped the upright. With the Marsaxlokk defence looking uncomfortable, Priso ran inside area on Massaro’s pass and avoided the keeper but Conceicoa managed to save into a corner.

Marsaxlokk were handed a lifeline eight minutes from time, when Camilleri ran inside the Valletta area on a Sammut through pass and was felled by the keeper to earn his side a penalty. But Vella earned his spurs when he stretched himself to hold out Carlo Mamo’s ensuing penalty and preserve his side victory. The youngster even won all the applauses from the City fans at the end of the match.