Valletta’s hopes of making it to the third round of the UEFA Europa League were ended after they lost the second leg 3-1 against Utrecht. It was a deserved win from the Dutch side as expectedly their were superior than Valletta, but it was only in the last 15 minutes that they closed the game.
Despite being eliminated, Valletta had a good showing in both legs against a much more quoted side, a team that finished fourth in last season’s Eredivisie. Popovic kept the same squad that finished 0-0 at the Hibernians Stadium and had a good performance, but failed to be dangerous enough to create problems for their opponents’ defence.
Utrecht opened the score on the 18th minute when from a cross from the left by Yassine Ayoub, the ball finished in direction of Sean Klaiber who fired past Henry Bonello with a brilliant first-time shot. Utrecht almost doubled ten minutes from the end of the first half as Simon Makienok received a good through-ball but his low shot from the edge of the box finished inches wide.
Despite being a goal down, Valletta kept their composure and they had two actions that they could have scored from. First on the 56th minute, Michael Mifsud tried the impossible shooting low from a very difficult position after controlling bravely from a long ball. Five minutes later, Valletta had the best chance as Uchenna Umeh came close with a good dangerous diagonal shot, that Jensen tipped into a corner with difficulty.
After this chance, Utrecht seemed to increase their rhythm and a minute later, appealed for a penalty as Steve Borg seemed to foul Makienok in the penalty but the referee waved play on. Two minutes later a shot from central position by Zakaria Labyad finished a bit wide.
Utrecht continued to attack and on the 66th minute, Henry Bonello had to save into a corner a shot from close range by substitute Dessers after a pass by Labyad. A minute later Makienok, went close with a shot from the box after another corner.
Valletta were still hoping that they could snatch a goal, but Utrecht closed the affair. It was on the 77th minute when from a corner from the right side, Willem Janssen took advantage from an indecision by Henry Bonello and scored with a header. Erik Ten Hag’s managed also to score the third goal on the 83rd minute. This time, Bonello couldn’t do anything as Zakaria Labyad fired a fierce shot from the side line of the big box into the top corner.
Zoran Popovic’s side scored at least a consolation goal on the 88th minute as Santiago Malano headed past Jensen after a corner from the left side. Utrecht will face Lech Poznan in the third round.