Buoyed by their three-goal lead from the first leg in Serravalle last week, champions Valletta yesterday went into the return match at the Hibs Stadium with self belief, sensing themselves close to qualification into the next round against inferior opponents from San Marino.

However Valletta were forced to work hard for their win, which albeit richly deserved, came in the dying minutes.

In fact Valletta had to fight back from a first half deficit, courtesy of a penalty on 20 minutes, as they turned the tables in the second half. They drew level with another penalty soon after the restart, before downing the gallant Tre Fiori reduced to ten men after the equalisier, with a late winner.

Brazilian forward William Barbosa, who made way for Zongo in the staring line-up, but came off the bench shortly before the hour, was Valletta’s protagonist in the second half as he posed a constant threat to the vistors’ defence, going close on several occasions before finally hitting in the winner.

Valletta had a makeshift defence, with Roderick Briffa and Jonathan Caruana sitting on the bench, both spared the risk of collecting a second yellow card which would have had them unavailable for the next round.

Kenneth Scicluna and Steve Borg were the central defensive pair, with Edmond Agius and Dyson Falzon wide on the flanks.

The presence of Effiong, Zammit, Denni and Zongo in attack carried too much firepower for the Tre Fiori defence and Valletta, created two good chances within the first quarter hour, but were unable to take an early lead.

Clearly technically superior to their opponents from San Marino, Valletta carved out the first scoring opportunity with hardly two minutes on the clock. Denni’s low angled shot from inside the six-yard box, was superbly held out by the Tre Fiori reserve goalkeeper Gianluca Cola. The latter was only given a start yesterday, it being his 39th birthday.

On the quarter hour, Gilbert Agius, deployed in front of the defence, played a long ball for Denni to chase but was again foiled by the onrushing keeper Cola who blocked at his feet.

A noteworthy episode on seven minutes had Tre Fiori denied what looked a legitimate penalty after Simoncini was floored by Falzon inside the Valletta area. But the referee cautioned the San Marino player for simulation instead.

There was no denying Tre Fiori though on 20 minutes in what looked a harsher decision as Giunta was tackled from behind and fell inside the area. Their most technical player, Altin Lisi tucked away the penalty to give the visitors the lead and some fresh hope.

In fact Tre Fiori started to move the ball much better after that and Lisi had another effort going over.

Valletta remained composed though. They threatened again on 36 minutes when Denni played a deft one-two with Effiong inside the area, turned and shot straight on the keeper who was off his line to block. Denni got injured upon impact and had to be substituted by Ryan Fenech.

Before half time, keeper Cola fisted out an insidious Edmond Zammit cross from the right. Both Zongo and Efiong failed to connect to Fenech’s testing cross from the left in the half’s added time.

Three minutes into the second half, keeper Cola parried Pace’s powerful drive but Zammit was caught offside on the loose ball as Valletta pinned their opponents inside their own half.

Tre Fiori soon collapsed to concede a soft penalty, in what looked another harsh refereeing decision when Zammit fell in an aerial challenge with Vendenimi. The San Marino defender was cautioned and then sent off for protesting too long. Meanwhile Ian Zammit beat the keeper from the spot to level matters.

Brazilian forward William Barbosa, who went in as a substitute for Zongo after the equaliser, gave the Malta champions some much needed impetus as they started to exploit their numerical superiority.

On the hour, keeper Cola saved the Brazilian’s firm header on Zammit’s cross and then Barbosa again headed Effiong’s cross against the bar.

Barbosa netted on 68 minutes but Zammit was ruled offside when providing the cross. And earlier, Pace fluffed another good chance, hitting wide from close range on Effiong’s pass.

Valletta kept pushing forward relentlessly but were frustrated time and again by Tre Fiori’s offside trap.

Ten minutes from time, a Gilbert Agius meaty free kick from the edge of the area forced keeper Cola into a smart save at top corner. From the resultant Zammit corner, Pace’s header skimmed the bar as the ball was frantically cleared off the line as Valletta were so close to a winning goal.

That came with four minutes of normal time remaining. Edmond Agius’ deep cross from the right fell behind a Tre Fiori defender right in the path of William Barbosa who fired in past the helpless keeper.

It was more than Valletta deserved as they move into the next round with a comfortable 5-1 aggregate, but a stiffer challenge from Lithuinia’s Ekranes now looms for the Malta champions.

Valletta: A. Hogg, E. Agius, S. Borg, K. Scicluna, D. Falzon, G. Agius, J. Pace, D. Dos Santos (R. Fenech), I. Zammit, O. Zongo (W. Barbosa), A. Effiong (K. Sammut)

Tre Fiori: G. Cola, M. Andreini, M. Baizan, N. Canarezza, A. Lisi, M. Simoncini, F. Vannoni, M. Vendenimi, F. Amici (G. Zenunai), A. Giunta (F. Stolfi), N. Grini

Referee: B. Pashaj (Albania)

Scorers: A. Lisi 20 pen, I. Zammit 55 pen, W. Barbosa 86

Yellow cards: M. Simoncini, A. Lisi, M. Vendenimi, M. Andreini

Red card: M. Vendenimi

Attendance: 1,740