The final result does not reflect the true difference between the two teams as Valletta were the better outfit throughout the whole 80 minutes as they created much more occasions than Sliema.

The Blues left too many gaps in midfield and this created an easy task for the Valletta fast forwards, but they played the off-side game to perfection and the Valletta forwards were caught no fewer than 11 times in the trap.  

Valletta threatened first with Glenn Casar serving Llewlyn Cremona but he missed the upright from inside the area. 

In the 13th minute Valletta forged ahead. Shawn Galea Licas served Isaac Zammit in the area and after Sliema keeper Kane Cutajar partially saved his shot ,the ball finished behind the fatal line.

After this early setback Sliema reacted and mounted two actions in a row. Aaron Chircop served Glenn Chircop with a cross from the right and Valletta keeper Yenz Cini was forced to dive and turn the ball to a corner. Then Roderick Zerafa was fouled outside the area from the free kick by the same player the ball was headed away by a defender.

The pressure from Valletta resumed and they went close when a one-two between Cassar and Siraj Arab finished with the former hitting the crossbar from inside the area with Cutajar beaten. Isaac Zammit was then fouled outside the area, Cremona floated a high ball in the area from the free kick and Samir Arab missed the upright with his header. Siraj Arab served Isaac Zammit in the area but Cutajar denied him with a diving save. 

The second period was also dominated by Valletta. After Samir Arab headed just over the bar, Galea Lucas served Cremona on the right flank and Cutajar neutralised the ball from his cross.

In a Sliema rare attack, Dale Micallef served Glenn Chircop in the area but Cini foiled him with a timely sortie.

At the other end, Cassar dribbled past an opponent on the right flank and crossed to Siraj Arab in the area but he drove over the bar with only Cutajar to beat. 

Sliema also had a chance when Zerafa served Glenn Chircop with a cross from the left but he headed over the bar from inside the area.

Five minutes before the end Valletta were denied a second goal by the woodwork when Cassar served Isaac Zammit in the area, and from his shot the ball hit the upper part of the crossbar and finished out. 

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele

Player of the match: Isaac Zammit (Valletta)