Marsa-Valletta 0-3
Marsa: J. Debono, E. Yanchev, E. Mbong, D. Vella, K. Scerri, A. Ewurun, K. Cassar, B. Zammit (J. Dalli), G. Martin (D. Cucciardi), N. Fasinelli (JP. Zammit), V. Bellia
Valletta: M. Montfort, J. Bondin (M. Barbara), M. Grima, B. Nisevic, S. Bezzina, D. Camilleri, U. Edafe, D. Zarb (K. Magro), I. Zammit, S. Monesterolo ( B. Bonnici), G. Agius
Referee: A. Arciola, Ass. Referees: K. Borg, K. Frendo Cumbo, 4th Official: A. Azzopardi
Scorers: B. Nisevic, G. Agius, K. Magro
Yellow cards: V. Bellia, A. Ewurun, S. Moesterolo, E. Mbong, J.P. Zammit
Red Card: A. Ewurun
Player of the match: Gilbert Agius (Valletta)
TMI best three: 1. M. Grima 2. D. Vella 3. G. Agius
Two consecutive wins enabled Valletta to climb up the table as they continue to bowl along nicely in the slipstream of the leading group.
Yesterday’s against lowly Marsa, was an expected victory although Valletta were to blame for some excessive profligacy which could have earned them a more emphatic win.
On their part, Marsa, who had scored only four goals in their previous seven matches, were severely handicapped by Eruwun’s dismissal towards the hour when they were still trailing by one goal.
After last week’s victory against Sliema, coach Zammit still saw fit to make two changes in his starting line-up as Montfort played in goal and Zarb was preferred to Fenech.
An early lead after five minutes put the Citizens in command. Branco Nisevic reached out for Camilleri’s teasing cross from the right to flick the ball past keeper Debono.
Many expected a goal deluge but that did not materialise because Valletta were highly profligate in the face of an organised Marsa rearguard in an appalling first half.
They wasted a good opportunity past the quarter hour when Zarb lofted the ball as he ran in from the blind side to connect on Agius’ free-kick. A couple of direct free-kicks missed the target.
Gradually, Marsa, who had Bellia back in the side after suspension and substituted Martin with Cuccardi past the half hour, started to move out of their defensive shell but Ewurun and Cucciardi failed to combine to telling effect.
Valletta started the second half in more lively fashion and by the hour Edafe and Monesterolo had severely tested the Marsa keeper with long range efforts.
Towards the hour Marsa suffered another setback as they were reduced to ten men. Ewurun fell inside the Valletta area when challenged by two opponents and was booked for an apparent simulation. It being his second yellow card, he was dismissed in what looked a very harsh refereeing decision.
Valletta took long though to exploit their numerical superiority, missing several easy chances until Gilbert Agius atoned for a previous spurned chance. On 71 minutes he latched onto Grima’s through ball when standing in a dubious offside position but the flag stayed down and the Valletta skipper beat the keeper with a low drive.
Substitute Kurt Magro made it 3-0 on the stroke of time when he tapped in the loose ball after Grima’s direct free-kick had rebounded off the upright.