Valletta yesterday crowned a memorable season as they beat Birkirkara in the FA Trophy final to lift the FA Trophy for the fourteenth time in their history to make it a double after clinching the 24th Championship victory two weeks ago.
In front of over seven thousand spectators, the best this season, Valletta dominated the first half missing several scoring opportunities and even hitting the post through Joseph Zerafa. Valletta took a deserved lead through a rather soft goal scored by Kyrian Nwoko who scored with a header following a corner action.
In the second half Valletta continued to hold the upper hand, but Paul Zammit’s double substitution early in the second part, changed the tide as Birkirkara grew in composure and the match was now balanced.
But in the Stripes’ best patch, Santiago Malano scored a great goal after a solo run to give Valletta a double lead. The final become tense as Birkirakara reduced the arrears on 87 minutes with a Rolovic deflected freekick.
In the five minutes stoppage time Birkirkara pushed desperately forward but the champions held on to their slender lead to make it a memorable double.
Valletta clinch their seventh double in their history
BIRKIRKARA 1
VALLETTA 2
Birkirkara: K. Naumovski, C. Attard (A. Attard 90’), N. Vukanac, F. Barbosa, K. Zammit, M. Andelkovic, J. Grech (T. Agius 61’), R. Scicluna, E. Herrera, C. Alberto da Silva (O. Rolovic 61’), W. Acosta
Valletta: H. Bonello, E. Pena Beltre, J. Cruz Gill, R. Camilleri, J. Zerafa, R. Muscat (N. Pulis 85’), M. Alba (D. Rocha dos Santos 69’), S. Malano, R. Saleh, M. Piciollo, K. Nwoko (J. Borg 81’)
Yellow Cards: C. Attard 11’, N. Vukanac 59’ (B), M. Alba 63’, E. Pena Beltre 75’, J. Zerafa 90’ (V)
Scorers: K. Nwoko 41’, S. Malano 80’ (V), O. Rolovic 87’ (B)
Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Thomas Debono
Additional Assistant Referees: Malcolm Spiteri, Matthew Degabriele
Attendance: 7011
Valletta clinched their seventh double in their history after they defeated Birkirkara 2-1 in the final of the Boost FA Trophy. This was the 14th time that Valletta won the competition, in a match that they dominated in the first half, and stayed in control in the second half, with the final minutes being the only minutes in which they had to defend.
Matteo Piciollo and Santiago Malano stood out for Valletta. Birkirkara failed to create enough danger throughout the game as they had to chase their opponents for most of the game.
Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit made two changes from their semifinal win against Sliema. Captain Nikola Vukanac and Carlos Alberto da Silva returned from suspension to start instead of Lucas Maia and Ognjen Rolovic. On the other hand, Valletta coach Danilo Doncic gave a starting berth to Juan Cruz Gill as defender Steve Borg was suspended.
Valletta dominated the first half from start to finish. They managed to take the lead but also could have built a comfortable lead. The citizens tested Naumovski in the first part of the game with shots from distance by Miguel Alba and Rowen Muscat, while had a free-kick by Malano and another shot by Matteo Piciollo that finished off target.
The first clear opportunity arrived on the 21st minute. Miguel Alba stole a ball from Ryan Scicluna and caught the Birkirkara defence on one foot in a 2 on 1 situation. The Argentinian decided to advance but took the wrong direction and his shot was saved by Naumovski.
Valletta continued to be the better team with several attempts on goal. Before the half hour mark, Naumovski saved into a corner a low shot from the right by Malano after an intelligent pass by Enmy Pena Beltre.
Six minutes later, the Birkirkara shot stopper saved an effort by Kyrian Nwoko and a few seconds later Raed Saleh hit the side netting.
Valletta broke the deadlock four minutes before the end of the first half. Kyrian Nwoko managed to put the Valletta supporters in a festive mode as he surprised Kristijan Naumovski with a header that hit the ground before finishing into the net.
Doncic’s almost doubled in the last action of the half. Joseph Zerafa managed to create a personal action of his own and beat Naumovski with a grounded shot but was denied by the upright.
The beginning of the second half reduced its rhythm despite that Valletta still stayed in control. Matteo Piciollo was having another good day on the pitch with several personal runs that caused trouble to Birkirkara. After the hour mark, the Italian had an action of his own but his low diagonal shot finished off target.
Birkirkara produced their first danger of the game a minute later. Striker Waldemar Acosta tested Henry Bonello with a shot from a central position, but the Valletta goalkeeper parried the shot. The Stripes gained more momentum as time passed by, while Valletta dropped more in defence. Fifteen minutes from the end, Cain Attard crossed from the right to Ognjen Rolovic, but his header finished over the bar.
Valletta look to have closed the game four minutes later. Santiago Malano entered the penalty are from the left, made space for his own action by dribbling past two defenders, and slotted past Naumovski on the first post.
Birkirkara entered back in the game on the 87th minute. A low free-kick by substitute Ognjen Rolovic was deflected by the Valletta wall and beat Bonello. This goal changed the game, as Birkirkara pushed their players in attack and consequently put Valletta in defence.
In the stoppage time, Birkirkara had another free-kick from a dangerous position. Rolovic tried again but this time his shot finished centimetres over the bar.
After the final whistle, celebrations for Valletta started. But there was a twist as after a handful of Valletta supporters jumped in the pitch, a gate was left open and a majority of the supporters finished in the pitch. After a good number of minutes, the Valletta supporters stayed on the pitch, while captain Ryan Camilleri raised the FA Trophy.
Photo: Andrew Grima