Melita 1

Valletta 5

Melita: M. Sapiano, D. Gravino, I. Tufegdzil, M. Borg, L. Sammut (N. Rizzo), J. Galea, M. Sierra Camacho, L. Micallef, A. Caruana Scicluna (K. Micallef), H. Negrin (R. Alhinho), J. Vukanic

Valletta: M. Bartolo, S. Borg, I. Azzopardi (M. Mifsud), J. Caruana, R. Barreto, R. Briffa, S. Bajada (D. Falzon), J. Gabriel, D. Dos Santos, R. Fenech, L. Almeida (W. Barbosa)

Referee: K. Azzopardi

Asst.refs: C. Francalanza, P. Apap

4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: J. Gabriel 15, 89, J, Vukanic 17 pen, M. Mifsud 66, 68 pen, I. Tufegdzic 75 og

Red card: J. Vukanic

Player of the match: Michael Mifsud (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. M. Mifsud 2. D. Dos Santos 3. I. Tufegdzic

Attendance: 1,169

Football can be brutal and Melita will know how unforgiving the Premier League can be for newcomers. They had played with great spirit and had matched the more expereinced Valletta for more than an hour.

Then, with the score tied at 1-1, Valletta put in Michael Mifsud and within two minutes, the international forward gave his side a two goal cushion before Melita, down to ten men for the last 12 minutes, collapsed to concede two more goals, including an unlucky own goal.

Melita played with a reshuffled defence yesterday, with coach Martin Gregory making more changes to his starting line-up after the match against Hibernians. There were starts to Matthew Sapiano in goal, Ivan Tufegdzic and Matthew Borg at the back, with Manuel Sierra Camacho making his return in front of the back four. Valletta’s failure to capitalise on long periods of possession, almost cost them dearly though. In fact Melita left the pitch with heads held high at halftime, with the score tied at 1-1 and they themselves fluffing the game’s best chance minutes before the break.

Valletta relegated Dyson Falzon, William Barbosa and Michael Mifsud to the bench but with Gabriel playing in an advanced role, supported by Denni and Almeida and Ryan Fenech wide on the right, they were expected to inflict damage to the Melita rearguard, bereft of Rudi Alhinho.

After making the early running, Valletta broke the deadlock on the quarter hour. Fenech’s cross from the right was missed by Almeida, the ball fell to Denni who shot against the underside of the bar and Joao Gabriel was quick to head in the rebound from close range.

But hardly a minute later, Melita won a penalty as Azzopardi felled Julian Galea inside the area and Jovan Vukanic tucked it away past keeper Bartolo to restore equilibrium.

Valletta remained on second gear. Melita were never pressurised undulyFenech’s inviting ,low cross from the right found nobody to connect to.

Borg tested keeper Sapiano with a header on Bajada’s free kick on 49 minutes. Valletta’s much awaited double substitution on the hour finally turned the tide in Valletta’s favour. Michael Mifsud and William Barbosa went in for Azzopardi and Almeida.

Mifsud soon made his mark. On 66 minutes he capitalised on a Melita defensive erratic clearance from a Gabriel corner, picking his spot from outside the area and beating keeper Sapiano with a low drive.

Two minute later, Mifsud scored from a penalty after Melita defender Vukanic handled Gabriel’s cross inside the area and was eventually sent off.

Alhinho went in too late for Melita after that. Down to ten men and with the champions firmly in the driving seat, the boys in red collapsed to concede the fourth goal after 75 minutes. Denni’s shot was deflected off Tufegdzic’s outstertched leg into his own goal.

There was still time for Valletta to hit a fifth goal. With one minute remaining, Mifsud prompted Denni on the right and his cross was well met by Joao Gabriel to score his brace on a night that ended in misery for Melita.