Valletta faced tough opposition against Lithuanian champions for the past three seasons, FK Ekranas in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round.

A home defeat has dented their high hopes of making it to the next round for the first time and Valletta must now lower their expectations.

Their fears of conceding goals at home before the match, turned into a nightmare as Ekranas scored three goals in the first half that had a significant bearing on the end result.

The first 45 minutes proved disastrous for Valletta as they were completely dominated by superior Baltic opponents, exhibiting better physical fitness and technique.

Thankfully, the Maltese champions pulled one back before the interval through debutant Michael Mifsud and that might have helped them to improve beyond recognition in the second half.

Although Ekranas defended stoutly after the interval, they were never allowed any comfort on the ball and they conceded a late penalty which makes the final scoreline more respectable for Valletta and their task in the return match in a week’s time less arduous, although equally difficult.

Valletta strengthened their defence with the return of Jonathan Caruana, Roderick Briffa and Ian Azzopardi, who had all skipped the home encounter against Tre Fiori in the previous round. Denni Dos Santos was unavailable due to injury but newcomer Michael Mifsud was making his European debut with Valletta from the start. Mifsud supported lone striker William Barbosa as the Malta champions took a very cautious approach, with Edmond and Gilbert Agius, Ryan Fenech and Jamie Pace remaining composed in midfield, always ready to track back when the need arose.

That initial set up handed Ekranas the initiative in the early stages, as they stroked the ball around with a mixture of short and long passes. Kucys proved a pillar of strength in font of the defence, cutting most of the long balls played towards Mifsud, while Andjelkovic and Brazilian Alonso took a stranglehold in midfield.

Ekranas Nigerian Umeni Uchenna looked dangerous on the right flank. After eight minutes he cut towards the middle and put his first shot on goal. Valletta keeper Hogg did well to turn the ball into a corner.

But Hogg was rendered helpless towards the quarter hour when Uchenna darted inside the Valletta area, controlled well, beating Borg with some neat footwork to strike low.

Valletta looked rattled. Ekranas knew that the match was theirs for the taking, and tried to capitalise on Valletta’s unsettled rearguard.

On 20 minutes Ekranas won a corner after Hogg saved on Radavicius, who had gone in dangerously from the left. Valletta’s shoddy defending from the ensuing corner, enabled the Ekranas captain Daimius Gleveckas to shoot pat Hogg and give the visitors an early two-goal cushion.

Valletta visibly suffered from a mental collapse. So much so that past the half hour, the experienced Gilbert Agius missed a sitter, when put clear by Barbosa. Everybody expected the assistant’s flag to go up but when it did not, the Valletta captain lobbed the ball over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

Ekranas piled up more misery on tetchy and nervous Valletta on 39 minutes. The locals gave away possession on the edge of their area. Uchenna darted inside the area and was felled by Caruana’s late tackle to win a penalty. The Valletta defender was lucky to escape with only a yellow card which would however keep him out of the return leg. Ramumas Radavicius stepped up to make it 3-0 from the spot kick.

Valletta were handed a lifeline three minutes before the break as Michael Mifsud beat keeper Zubas at the top right hand corner with an intelligent lob from the edge of the area on the right.

Valletta changed a little in the second half. They went out with three forwards, putting in Alfred Effiong wide on the let instead of midfielder Jamie Pace. Briffa advanced in midfield as Edmond Agius retreated to right back. The Citizens played in a more lively fashion as they harassed their opponents, forcing them into some erratic passing.

Valletta’s best chance came on 65 minutes. Mifsud went past two opponents through the middle but found the keeper up to task, to neutralize his effort.

A goal then, could have rekindled some hopes. Instead Ekranas were allowed to defend their lead with minimal difficulty until Valletta again jerked into shape in the dying minutes.

Shortly before normal time, Mifsud, in a regular position, chested Briffa’s long ball and shot at goal, with keeper Zubas deflecting the ball against the cross bar. The keeper again held out a Mifsud fierce shot.

On the other end, Vertelis’ low drive was deflected into a corner by keeper Hogg.

Valletta’s efforts were somehow rewarded in added time as they won a penalty after Gleveckas handled inside the area. William Barbosa tucked it away to instill courage into the Maltese champions, who despite all their frantic efforts in a final blitz, could not avoid a home defeat.

Ekranas were jeered off the pitch by the Valletta supporters at the end as some water bottles were also thrown on the pitch.

Valletta A. Hogg, E. Agius, S. Borg, G. Agius, J. Pace (A. Effiong), R. Briffa, J. Caruana, W. Barbosa, R. Fenech (K. Sammut), I. Azzopardi, M. Mifsud

FK Ekranas E. Zubas, A. Joksas, D. Gleveckas, I. Dedura, D. Matovic, A. Kucys, M. Alonso (A. Velicka), M. Andjelkovic, R. Radivicius (M. Sfinderis), C. Umeni Uchenna (T. Markevicius), A. Vertelis

Referee P. Radovanovic (Montenegro)

Scorers C. Umeni Uchenna 14, D. Gleveckas 20, R. Radavicius 39 pen, M. Mifsud 42, W. Barbosa 90+ pen

Yellow cards I. Dedura, M. Alonso, J. Caruana, E. Agius, W. Barbosa, D. Gleveckas

Attendance 1,560