Valletta   2

Birkirkara   1

A very large crowd watched this game at the Luxol Ground and were surely pleased by the performance of both sets of players.

Referee Manuel Grech had a very difficult encounter to control which he did admirably.

Valletta now lead the standings on 50 points from 21 games while Birkirkara are second on 46 points from 20 games.

The early pressure came from Valletta. Samir Arab was fouled on the right edge of the area and the ball was cleared from the free kick by Seybell Zammit.

In Birkirkara’s first attack, Ryan Camenzuli dribbled past an opponent and served Dylan Aquilina in the area but City keeper Yenz Cini foiled him by diving at his feet to smother the ball.

Valletta went close after Isaac Zammit was fouled on the right flank. The Stripes ‘keeper Jonathan Martinelli saved the free kick by Seybell Zammit.

Antoine Borg was then fouled on the right flank and Cini saved the free kick by Leon Muscat. Ayrton Mifsud was then fouled on the left flank and the ball was cleared away after the free kick by McAlister Clinch.

Valletta opened the score in the 35th minute when Cassar served Isaac Zammit in the area who capitalised on a defensive indecision by Antoine Borg and Martinelli and shot in an empty net.

Just before the half time whistle Birkirkara equalised. Bernard Borg served Camenzuli who was fouled just outside the area. Aden Galea took charge of the free kick and scored with a rising shot in the top left hand corner.

The first three actions after the restart were created by Valletta. Cassar served Miguel Attard in the area but he drove out from a very ideal position.

The same player then dribbled past three opponents but he hit wide from outside the area and Siraj Arab then entered the area and missed the far post with a good effort.

In the 66th minute Valletta re-established their slender lead when Siraj Arab served Isaac Zammit with a through ball in the area who, after out-speeding a defender, scored with a hard grounder. 

Cassar was then fouled by Clinch who was shown the yellow card and Martinelli saved the ball from the free kick by Thorne.  

Valletta were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute when Isaac Zammit was tripped in the area by Clinch who was shown the red card. Cini took charge of the spot kick but Martinelli partially saved the ball it was cleared to safety. 

In the 74th minute Valletta were denied by the woodwork when Siraj Arab was fouled outside the area and the ball hit the base of the upright from the free kick by Cremona. 

At the end of normal time Siraj Arab was shown the red card after a second booking.

Referee: Manuel Grech

Player of the match: Isaac Zammit ( Valletta).