Valletta: N. Vella, S. Bezzina, S. Borg, L. Dimech, J. Cruyff, R. Briffa (D. Falzon), K. Sammut, G. Agius (E. Agius), J. Pace, D. Priso (T. Scerri), M. Mifsud.

Floriana: B. Paris, B. Said, J. Briffa (C. Ciantar), J. Borg (S. Lijeskic), R. Darmanin, C. Caruana, M. Ghebru, S. Borg )M. Spiteri), P. Doffo, O. Anonam, O. Bugeja.

Referee: C. Lautier Asst. refs: P. Agius, I. Spiteri. 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: M. Mifsud (3), P. Doffo,

Yellow cards: J. Briffa, J. Borg, M. Mifsud, G. Agius, C. Caruana,

Red card: E. Agius

Valletta became the proud owners of the National League 100 Anniversary Cup yesterday evening after a convincing victory over their rivals Floriana.

Three goals by international striker Michael Mifsud, early in each half, and another near the end tamed the Greens in a match which promised to be keenly contested, but which ended in a one-sided contest. Just before the third goal, Floriana had shocked the citizens by scoring a goal to come back into contention, but their joy was shortlived as Valletta quickly re-established their two-goal lead and went on to clinch another Cup on a very long-term basis 100 years in fact.

Mifsud has injected new life in this Valletta side. His scoring prowess has come back to the fore – it was his second consecutive hat-trick after scoring thrice in the league match against Tarxien last Saturday.

Floriana started the match with the best team available for mentor Popovic, while City’s Dutch coach Ton Caanen surprisingly dropped regular goalie Andrew Hogg, preferring the young Nicholas Vella. He also left Kenneth Scicluna on the bench giving Jordi Cruyff the onus of partnering the returning Luke Dimech in central defence.

In the first half, after a great start by Floriana, Valletta quickly took the lead and from then on, they administered the match quite comfortably.

With Dimech and Cruyff dominant in defence and with Agius, Sammut and Pace in control of midfield, Valletta held the upper hand throughout.

But although they enjoyed possession for long periods, the best chances fell Floriana’s way in their fewer counter-attacks. But the Greens failed to profit and the final first half whistle found the citizens enjoying that slim lead.

Floriana were expected to come out fighting for an equaliser in the second half, but they barely had the chance to breathe as Valletta doubled the score soon after the start.

From then on, the Greens appeared to be demoralised as Valletta started playing their best football this season. Near the end, when Floriana hit back to score a goal, Valletta appeared shocked, but only for a brief moment – until Mifsud scored his third goal soon after.

The match had an electrifying start and there was drama in the opening three minutes.

Floriana went straight on attack and in the opening two minutes had already created two occasions. In the first instance, Caruana had his freekick turned to corner with difficulty by Vella. From the resultant corner kick, Ryan Darmanin’s header was cleared from over the line by Kevin Sammut.

Immediately afterwards, at the other end, Valletta opened the scoring! In a fast break, the ball went to Michael Mifsud who beat Briffa and goalkeeper Paris and scored with a low shot from an acute angle.

On the 28th minute, Floriana had a good chance when Ghebru went round Dimech and crossed over to the unmarked Caruana who hesitated and was robbed of the ball before having a pot at goal.

Six minutes later, the Greens fans were already shouting ‘goal’ when Ghebru had the better of Bezzina in a tackle for the ball off a long pass from Darmanin. He lobbed over the onrushing Vella, but the ball just missed the post, hitting the side rigging to the relief of the Valletta clan.

In added injury time, Valletta finally threatened again, but from a Steve Borg good cross, Priso headed wide. At the other end, the Greens went agonisingly wide to an equaliser as a shot from Joseph Borg just missed the target with Vella beaten.

Valleta doubled the score in the 47th minute and it was again Michael Mifsud who did the trick. He was in an ideal place to kick the ball home after Paris had only partially saved a Jamie Pace humdinger.

In the 51st minute, Mifsud had a chance to obtain a hat-trick, but he lifted the ball well over the bar from the edge of the area. Four minutes later, as Valletta insisted, Priso had a shot going just wide.

In the 67th minute, Floriana should have scored. From a Lijeskic cross, Vella fumbled the ball and Ghebru saw his shot being blocked to a corner – he should have done much better.

With four minutes remaining, Floriana were back in contention when Pablo Doffo hit a great 30-metre low shot into the net which surprised the young Vella.

Barely two minutes later, Valletta were again in total control as they sealed the issue with a third goal. And again, it was Mifsud who killed all the Greens hopes with an excellent goal.

Substitute Dyson Falzon made all the spadework before he crossed low for Mifsud to hit first time past a helpless Paris.

At the end of the match, Dr Joe Mifsud, MFA president, presented the trophy to Valletta captain Gilbert Agius, amidst the celebrations by the team’s numerous fans.