VALLETTA –                  1

RED STAR BELGRADE –   2

Valletta: H. Bonello, J. Caruana, I. Azzopardi (U. Uchenna), S. Borg,  J. Cruz, R. Briffa (L. Cremona), F. Falcone (S. Malano), C. Pani, L. Aguirre, Jhonnattan, R. Romao

Crvena Zvezda: D. Kahriman, A. Lukovic, D. Le Tellec, G. Kanga, A. Katai (J. Ruiz), M. Cvetkovic, D. Mitchell, S. Smic (N. Mouche), H. Da Costa Oliveira (P. Sikimic), L. Ibanez, T. Phibel

Referee: A. Harkam (Austria)

Scorers: F. Falcone 15, A. Katai 65, P. Sikimic 74

Yellow cards: H. Da Costa Oliveira, A. Katai, C. Pani, G. Kanga

 

Valletta suffered two second half goals when beaten at home by a technically superior side Red Star of Belgrade in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying Round.

Amidst a cheerful and noisy atmosphere, with several Serb supporters present at the Hibernians Stadium yetserday, the Malta champions played an excellent first half, and even took an early lead through Federico Falcone but then succumbed to concede twice after the restart when Red Star showed all their superiority and wore down the home side.

Valletta executed a very intelligent game plan in the opening half.

They were composed with four men in defence. Jonathan Caruana and Juan Gil the centre backs with Steve Borg and Ian Azzopardi the wide backs. Romeu Romao on the right and Leandro Aguirre on the left, provided cover whenever Valletta lost possession.

Claudio Pani and Roderick Briffa played in front of the back four, with Jhonnattan in an advanced role , supporting the only striker Federico Falcone.

That mitigated much of Red Star’s aggressive start. In flashes, the guests  looked threatening through the footwork of Katai and Da Costa Oliveira but for most of the first half the Valletta custodian Henry Bonello was hardly ever severely tested. Red Star raked high balls inside the Valletta area and won some corners which the Valletta rearguard capably dealt with.

Valletta began confidently enough and were galvanised when taking the lead after a quarter hour. Aguirre whipped a long ball from the left for Federico Falcone to chase, control and hit past the helpless keeper Kahriman at the far post.

Falcone netted again past the half hour following a quick move between Briffa and Jhonnattan, but the goal was disallowed for a millimetrical offside position.

With halftime looming, Red Star tended to step up a gear and put some sustained pressure on Valletta, who lived dangerously at the back. But the Citizens soon regained some measure of control only to suffer a setback on 40 minutes. Falcone had to be substituted, after suffering some muscle strain and Santiago Malano went in instead. 

Nothing changed tactically in the second period. Valletta carved out the first opportunity when Malano beat the offside trap and ran inside the Red Star area from the left, only to be denied by the onrushing goalkeeper.

Red Star took a more direct approach and Katai continued to be the most mobile and threatening player on the pitch. Towards the hour, his low shot was well saved by keeper Bonello, who produced a superb save soon after off a shot by substitute Mouche.

Valletta were beginning to struggle to hold on to possession and defended deep as Red Star continued to deliver a series of menacing crosses without managing to pick out a finisher.

In a rare Valletta foray, Jhonnattann tested keeper Kahriman from some distance.

But the goal came on the other end on 65 minutes as Aleksander Katai lobbed a cross over keeper Bonello to draw level.

Briefly Valletta tried to hit back. An Aguirre shot took a wicked deflection into a corner.

But Red Star regained the initiative and pinned Valletta inside their own half. On 74 minutes, Red Star even scored their second. Katai was again the provider with a low cross from the left that cut the entire Valletta defence, including the goalkeper, for Predrag Sikimic to toe poke the ball over the line. 

As the match drew to a close, Valletta were left chasing the game despite the introduction of Cremona and Uchinne. A tame shot by Malano did not trouble keeper Kahriman as both teams await the outcome of the return leg in Belgrade. And that will be a tall order for Valletta for sure.