Red Star 2
Valletta 1
Red Star: Kahriman, Ibanez, Phibel, Cvetkovic, Le Tallec, Rendulic, Donald, Mouche (Srnic 65 min), Kanga (Ruiz John 85 min), Vieira (Sikimic 71 min), Katai.
Valletta: Bartolo, Borg, Caruana, Gill, Azzopardi (Umeh 79 min), Briffa (Cremona 90 min), Pani, Aguirre, Romeu (Santiago 72 min), Jhonnattann, Mifsud.
Referee: Tore Hansen (Norway)
Scorers: J. Caruana 10 min, M. Donald 30 min, Katai 76 min
Yellow cards: Phibel, Briffa, Borg, Katai, Cremona.
Valletta’s gallant display was not enough in Belgrade against once mighty Red Star, with the Citizens going down fighting losing the second leg by the same margin of the first one for a final 2-4 aggregate.
Like in Kordin seven days ago, Valletta took the lead thanks to a great Jonathan Caruana goal after only ten minutes play. After this goal Valletta had a very good patch, easily controlling the match and missing a glorious chance through Jhonattann, with Red Star obtaining the equaliser on the half hour.
The second half was balanced too with Red Star having more of the ball, but with Valletta having three clearcut scoring chances with Michael Mifsud twice, and Jhonnattann missing in front of goal. Bartolo made some good saves too, but could do nothing to stop Katai from scoring the winner 14 minutes from time.
Valletta were certainly unlucky especially at the Hibs Stadium, losing striker Falcone and having a clearly regular goal disallowed for an inexistent offside. However Valletta gave a very good account of themselves against the former European champions, and with some luck and more precision in front of goal could have even obtained a stunning qualification.
Coach Paul Zammit fielded almost the same 11 that played in the first leg, with the exception of goalkeeper Henry Bonello who was replaced by Bartolo who had a very good performance, and with veteran striker Michael Mifsud playing instead of the injured Falcone. Mifsud gave his all and gave the Red Star rearguard some anxious moments.
Red Star pushed forward in the opening minutes with Phibel blasting over the bar following a melee in front of goal after barely three minutes play. Some minutes later goalkeeper Bartolo and defender Ian Azzopardi failed to communicate with Mouche heading incredibly wide with an open goal at his mercy.
On ten minutes Valletta forged ahead when from a Jhonnattann corner, Jonathan Caruana headed beautifully home on the first post completely deceiving goalkeeper Kahriman. This goal boosted Valletta’s hopes as Red Star were now panicky at the back.
Jhonnattan was floored just outside the area by Phibel, but the same Jhonnattan failed to take advantage from the resulting freekick. Valletta should have doubled the score on 22 minutes when Jonathan Caruana’s long ball found Jhonnattann completely unmarked, but the Valletta striker missed a sitter with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Valletta paid dearly for this miss as Red Star drew level on 30 minutes when Mitchell Donald scored a beauty with a scorcher from a distance that left Bartolo standing. The same Bartolo was outstanding however minutes later when he saved an Ibanez shot from the edge of the area.
There were no changes by both coaches for the second period with Valletta going close through Michael Mifsud on 56 minutes with the Red Star goalkeeper making a great save to deny Malta’s top marksman.
On the hour Red Star were unlucky when a Katai freekick slammed against the upright and from the rebound Hugo Vieira hit the side netting. On 67 minutes Valletta had another glorious opportunity when Jhonnattann beat a couple of opponents but failed to beat Kahriman with his angled shot just going wide.
Fourteen minutes from time Red Star forged ahead when Katai finished off in style a Srnic inch-perfect pass. Valletta however did not throw in the towel and should have obtained an equaliser eight minutes from time when Michael Mifsud dribbled his way inside the area but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Kahriman.
In the dying stages with Valletta in search of the equaliser, the Serbian chances had some good scoring chances to seal the issue but Bartolo kept his guard and blocked everything that came his way.