Valletta-Mosta 1-0

Valletta were back in the groove yesterday after their reverse against Hamrun which kept many City fans away from Ta’ Qali.

The Citizens, eager to improve on their previous dismal performance, had Agius and Zammit starting the match as the suspended Forace was missing.

They were given a tough run by Mosta, themselves in dire needs of points to halt their recent slump of three consecutive defeats. Mosta had Attard, Chibueze and Bilocca missing.

Ian Zammit’s only goal scored in the first half’s added time, decided the match, but Valletta, who go temporarily up to fifth place in the standings, were guilty of squandering too many chances, including a second half penalty, which could have seen them more comfortable winners.

The woodwork also denied Valletta in the early stages.

For the first half hour the teams were evenly balanced, with half chances on both ends but very little of real goalmouth action.

Valletta went closest after ten minutes play as Agius beat the Mosta rearguard with a resourceful run that ended with his diagonal shot thumping against the foot of the post with keeper Farrugia beaten.

But gradually Valletta began to find some rhythm and pace to start giving the organized Mosta defence some real uncomfortable moments.

On 38 minutes Chukunyere charged through the middle but Farrugia blocked his final shot with his feet and then, as the loose ball was picked up by Agius to put Bondin clear on the right, the Mosta keeper saved Bondin’s close-range effort into a corner.

Valletta kept pressing and three minutes before the break, a teasing Grima free-kick forward put Chukunyere clear but the Mosta keeper reached out first for the ball.

Agius had another effort saved by Farrugia but there was no denying Valletta deep into four minutes of added time.

Agius sent a deep cross from the right and Ian Zammit stooped low to head Valletta into the lead.

Mosta tried to regroup themselves after the re-start and on 51 minutes the Valletta keeper Sullivan was put under real test as he turned Nwoko’s powerful drive into a corner.

Past the hour, Grima and Agius combined well on a dead ball situation but the Valletta captain failed to put the ball on target.

On 65 minutes, from a Grima free-kick on the right, the referee noticed a push on Nisevic inside the Mosta area and awarded Valletta a penalty which Massimo Grima failed to convert, sending his shot wide.

Mosta nearly drew level on 70 minutes when Bartolo nipped in behind his opponents but his goal-bound effort was palmed out by Sullivan.

Valletta failed to settle the issue with three minutes remaining when Chukunyere went past Spasic but when challenged by the keeper played the ball too long towards the by-line and the chance went begging.

And after Mosta’s substitute Cilia volleyed tamely Falzon’s cross, Valletta missed another sitter through their late substitute Ani as he failed to flick in Agius’ perfect pass.

Valletta: S. Sullivan, J. Bondin, S. Pace, B. Nisevic, S. Bezzina, M. Galea (A. Debono), K. Fenech, M. Grima (D. Zarb), N. Chukunyere, G. Agius, I. Zammit (J. Ani)

Mosta: M. Farrugia, S. Borg (L. Cilia), R. Newell, M. Spasic, J. Caruana, P. Sciriha (M. Borg), M. Bartolo, D. Okonkwo, P. Camilleri (R. Deguara), U. Nwoko, D. Falzon

Referee: A.M. Sant, asst. refs: J. Camilleri, K. Borg, 4th official: C. Pisani

Scorer: I. Zammit

Yellow cards: M. Farrugia, K. Fenech, U. Nwoko, J. Bondin

Player of the match: Gilbert Agius (Valletta)

TMI top three:1. G. Agius 2. U. Nwoko 3. M. Bartolo