Valletta 3

Mosta 1

Valletta join the last four teams in the U*BET FA Trophy after a convincing 3-1 win over other Premier side Mosta. Aleksandrs Cekulajevs scored their opening and third assuring second-half goal after Mosta had reduced the arrears after trailing their opponents by two goals in the first half.

Mosta can be commended for their determined and committed performance that has typified their recent improvement in the Premier League but Valletta’s strength in depth was more than good enough to bring their progress in this season’s competition to an end. Mosta had beaten Msida SJ and Xewkija Tigers in the previous rounds but Valletta were undoubtedly a sterner test for them in the quarter finals.

The pace of the game was set early in Valletta’s favour as they took the lead with only three minutes on the clock. Aleksandrs Cekulajevs picked Pandetiguiri’s pass and sent a cross shot from the right that ended behind the Mosta keeper.

Shocked by this early setback, Mosta, who had coach Steve D’Amato and central defender Ossok both suspended, tried to regroup, but they could hardly make inroads against a watertight Valletta rearguard.

Valletta’s network of passes kept Mosta on the defensive. Midway through the half, Cekulajevs was tripped by Mosta keeper Zammit as he ran inside the area to win a penalty.

Michael Mifsud tucked it away to double Valletta’s lead.

Valletta kept up the initiative. On 38 minutes Mifsud ran in well inside the Mosta area but his cross was cleared into a corner by Borg before Denni could connect.

Mosta managed to pull one back three minutes before the break though. Kibona’s cross from the left looked harmless but when the ball was squeezed by keeper Hogg and Azzopardi, it rolled straight into the path of the unmarked Obinna Obiefule who slotted it into an unattended goal.

The goal sapped some of Valletta’s brittle confidence after the interval. They still held the possession but became rather erratic in their final pass. On 51 minutes Denni ran in well for Agius’ whipping free kick from the right but lofted the ball over the bar.

Only a goal down, Mosta were still in the game and it was some consolation for them that the second half was slightly less a one-sided affair, with substitute Terence Vella more effective than Kibona. On the counter, Mosta could move the ball as effectively as their opponents. They looked dangerous past the hour with Vella’s corner. Raimy headed the ball inches wide. On 66 minutes, Denni’s pas fell to Briffa who shot over.

But there was no denying Valletta on 72 minutes. Denni persisted on the left, his low cross from near the byeline was deflected into the path of Cekulajevs who beat keeper Zammit from close range.

That goal killed all of Mosta’s flickering hopes and the final minutes turned into a shooting practice for Valletta, who put in Roderick Bajada and Gilbert Agius as substitutes in the late stages.

Denni’s shot on Azzopardi’s cross was cleared by defender Borg, as shots by Bajada, Gilbert Agius and Barbosa were all blocked by the crowded Mosta defence in a chaotic finish.

Valletta A. Hogg, J. Caruana, S. Borg, S. Panandetiguiri, A. Cekulajevs, I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa (R. Bajada), E. Agius (G. Agius), O. Zongo (W. Barbosa), D. Rocha Dos Santos, M. Mifsud

Mosta G. Zammit, A. Borg, K. Farrugia, L. Martinelli, F. Raimy, J. Bajada (G. Martin), K. Magro, P. Mirceta (S. Grech), I. Zammit, Z. Kibona (T. Vella), O. Obiefule

Referee A.M. Sant

Asst.refs M. Scerri, J. Camilleri

4th official M. Spiteri

Scorers A. Cukulajevs 3, 72, M. Mifsud 25 pen, O. Obiefule 42

Yellow cards G. Zammit, J. Bajada, S. Borg, L. Martinelli, S. Panandetiguiri