Sliema W. 2

Valletta 5

Sliema W: H. Bonello, R. Grech (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), M. Scerri, D. Mitev, S. Bezzina, C. Gatt Baldacchino, R. Fenech, R. Galabov, R. Bajada, E. Lattes, B. Muscat (A. Muscat)

Valletta: A. Hogg, S. Borg, I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa, G. Agius, D. Dos Santos, W. Barbosa (E. Agius), M. Mifsud, J. Caruana, A. Effiong, D. Falzon (O. Zongo)

Referee: K. Azzopardi

Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, R. Vella

4th official: E. Azzopardi

Scorers: D. Mitev 3, 17, E. Agius 50, O. Zongo 60, 78, M. Mifsud 66 pen, A. Effiong 88

Yellow cards: R. Grech

Red card: S. Bezzina

Valletta came from behind to overcome a two-goal deficit and score five times after the interval, enabling them to demolish Sliema Wanderers and knock them out of the Trophy competition.

The Wanderers looked like pulling a surprise win as they led 2-0 by halftime, with

Valletta showing a lethargic approach, bereft of any composure and ideas. In fact the poverty of the opposition was the bigger talking point for impartial observers as Valletta drew the ire of their own disgruntled fans for the first 45 minutes.

But the league leaders came out strong in the second half and with some dramatic improvement they ripped apart Sliema’s rearguard, as the Wanderers were also reduced to 10 men for the last 25 minutes after Steve Bezzina’s dismissal.

Sliema were two goals to the good just past the quarter hour, courtesy of two direct free kicks, ably executed by their Bulgarian midfielder Daniel Mitev, who yesterday partnered Emiliano Lattes in the Wanderers’ attack in the absence of Mifsud Triganza.

With only three minutes on the clock, Sliema won a free kick outside the Valletta area. Mitev left keeper Hogg hooked to his line with his exquisite shot that also hit the inner side of the post.

That gave Sliema the best of starts. And on 17 minutes Daniel Mitev again beat the Valletta custodian for power with an unstoppable shot from another direct free kick some 25 metres out to double the lead.

Valletta tried to regroup but lacked cohesion, giving away possession too cheaply.

Ominously for their opponents, Sliema’s confidence was boosted. Lattes chased a long ball and hit from a distance with keeper Hogg slightly out of his line.

On 28 minutes Mifsud’s low shot was blocked by the grounded keeper Bonello, in his first serious intervention.

Past the half hour, Valletta deemed it fit to make a double substitution. Out went Barbosa and Falzon to make way for Edmond Agius and Zongo.

But with Sliema seeking defensive security, Valletta found few openings, although towards halftime they began to have more possession. They could only test keeper Bonello with a Michael Mifsud free kick from the edge of the area on the right. The Sliema custodian was up to task and saved.

Valletta were a transformed side after the interval. It took them only five minutes to reduce the arrears when Edmond Agius picked the ball from outside the area and beat keeper Bonello with a low drive at the far corner.

They even restored equilibrium on the hour mark. Sliema failed to clear a Denni cross from the left, the ball fell to the unmarked Ousaine Zongo who hit in from close range.

Sliema were suddenly back pedalling. They put in Alex Muscat for Beppe Muscat.

But on 66 minutes Bezzina, playing as centre back instead of Josef Mifsud, felled Michael Mifsud as he ran towards goal, to concede a penalty, with the Sliema defender also shown the red card.

Michael Mifsud dusted himself to tuck away the penalty and give Valletta the lead for the first time in the match.

Valletta’s dominance when in numerical superiority showed for the latter part of the match.

On 77 minutes the ball rebounded off both uprights on a Michael Mifsud shot.

Hardly a minute later, with the Sliema defence completely in disarray, Ousaine Zongo hit an exquisite curling shot from the left to beat keeper Bonello at the far post.

There was still time for Valletta to score their fifth two minutes from the end. Mifsud delivered a measured cross from the right and Alfred Effiong beat Bonello at the near post with a low stooping header as the citizens ended up convincing winners.