Valletta made Maltese football proud yesterday night in Iceland when they held Keflavik 2-2 to qualify 5-2 on aggregate, after the splendid 3-0 victory in Ta’ Qali last week.

Now Valletta will be back in action next week as they face St Patrick Athletics of Ireland in the second round.

It was a glorious night for local soccer with Birkirkara also going close against Slaven.

Valletta took the lead through Falzon before the break but Keflavik bounced back with two second half goals. Priso levelled for Valletta eight minutes from time.

As expected Keflavik went out in search for an early goal and Samuelsen tried his luck with a freekick and Sutej’s shot went wide. On six minutes Samuelsen tested Hogg and seven minutes later Keflavik went close with a Holm shot.

Valletta's first attempt at goal came on 14 minutes through Yordi Cruyff, and minutes later Valletta tested the Keflavik goalkeeper with shots from Gilbert Agius and Priso.

Valletta continued to control their opponents and continued to test the opposing goalkeeper with shots from Camilleri and Priso.

On 40 minutes Keflavik went close with a shot from Thorsteinsson and a minute later Valletta forged ahead for an important away goal scored by ex-Mosta player Dyson Falzon. Just before the break Keflavik went close through Antoniusson.

On the resumption Keflavik tried desperately to recover and managed to obtain the equalizer on 55 minutes through Eysteinsson.

Keflavik coach Kristjan Gudmundsson made two substitutions with Arnarson and Johann Gudmondsson coming in for Gudnason and Thorteinsson respectively.

On 72 minutes Keflavik took the lead when substitute Johann Gudmundsson scored from a freekick. Six minutes later Valletta coach Tom Caanen made the first change to the side with Justin Grioli coming in for Dyson Falzon.

Ten minutes from time Priso was the first player to be booked, but two minutes later the same player obtained Valletta's equaliser to put City's qualification beyond doubt.

In the dying minutes newly signed Steve Borg made his debut for the Lillywhites when he went in for Kenneth Scicluna, and another youngster Dylan Grima was romped in for Priso.

Gilbert Agius made the last attempt for Valletta in stoppage time, but after 95 minutes Welsh referee Mark Whitby blew the final whistle, with Valletta moving to the second qualifying round of the Europa League 5-2 on aggregate, where they will now face Ireland's St. Patrick Athletics.

Keflavik - Jorgensen, Sutej, Antoniusson, Gudnason, Jorgensen, Eysteinsson, Sveinsson, S. Samuelsen, Thorsteinsson, Einarsson, Holm

Valletta - Hogg, G. Agius, Briffa, Bezzina, Scicluna (Borg), Pace, Falzon (Grioli), Camilleri, Priso (Grima), Dimech, Cruyff

Referee - Whitby (Wales)