Mqabba 2

Valletta 4

Mqabba: K. Calleja, P. Grima, M. Potezica, B. Timotic, M. Briffa ( J.P. Muscat), D. Azzopardi (S. Magro), T. Mazitelli, C. Calleja (R. Duca), R. Sammut, C. Micallef, B. Mamic

Valletta: A. Hogg, J. Caruana (S. Arab), I. Azzopardi, A. Effiong, R. Briffa, J. Pace, E. Agius, D. Falzon, D. Dos Santos, O. Zongo, W. Barbosa

Referee: K. Azzopardi

Asst.refs: C. Francalanza, M. Scerri

4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: O. Zongo 1, M. Briffa 23, W. Barbosa 25, 67, B. Mamic 36, D. Dos Santos 88

Yellow cards: P. Grima, I. Azzopardi, B. Timotic, M. Briffa

Player of the match: William Barbosa (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. W. Barbosa 2. B. Mamic 3. D. Falzon

Attendance: 985

Gallant Mqabba traded equal punches with their opponents for long stretches in the match but were finally undone by two late Valletta goals. This defeat interrupted a positive run of three unbeaten matches for Mqabba but their resilience belies their inexperience as they continue to improve. Some defensive flaws however let them down.

Still 2-2 until the last 20 minutes, understrength Valletta laboured hard to overcome their stubborn opponents and return to winning ways after their defeat against Hibernians, watched by only a few scores of supporters. Two late goals by two of their best players, William Barbosa and Dos Santos finally spared the champions from further embarassment.

Valletta were handicapped by the absences of key players. Suspensions and injuries deprived them of Steve Borg, Gilbert Agius, Ryan Fenech and Michael Mifsud. Their reshuffled defence included Briffa, Caruana, Azzopardi and Falzon, as Edmond Agius was advanced in midfield and Ousseni Zongo was given a rare start.

But that was scant consolation for Mqabba who also have their share of injury problems to defenders Andrew Scicluna and Mauro Bonnici.

Valletta’s perfect start put them ahead after only 35 seconds on the clock. Ousseni Zongo gleefully capitalized on Mqabba’s defensive lapse in front of goal and nipped in to beat keeper Kris Calleja.

It was a sloppy goal to concede but Mqabba regrouped and soon began to venture into enemy territory. Potezica’s long range drive was tipped over the bar by keeper Hogg.

Past the quarter hour, keeper Calleja turned Zongos’ shot into a corner and Barbosa, standing in front of goal, was tackled by Micallef.

Mqabba’s equaliser after 23 minutes, also came from a defensive blunder. Valletta’s keeper Hogg rushed off his line to clear the ball. His kick fell into the path of Marlon Briffa who lobbed into an empty net.

The equilibrium lasted only two minutes. Valletta regained the lead with a spectacular overhead kick by William Barbosa, connecting well to Denni’s testing cross from the left.

But Mqabba failed to buckle and on 36 minutes they won a free kick for Falzon’s handling just outside the Valletta area. Mamic hit the ball exquisitely against the innerside of the top corner, with the ball ending behind the rooted Hogg.

Valletta had to work hard for the points in the second half. Mamic was a constant menace with his darting runs inside their area and posed an aerial threat for the Valletta defenders, who were at pains on Mqabba’s deep crosses. Mqabba went close with a Mamic effort before Denni ran through their defence but keeper Calleja rushed off his line to block.

Jonathan Caruana was substituted by teenager Siraj Arab on 64 minutes and Jamie Pace retreated as centre back.

But although their midfield was weakened, Valletta summoned enough energy to go in front on 67 minutes. Falzon provided the cross from the left for William Barbosa to beat keeper Calleja with a firm header.

Arab was the provider of Valletta’s fourth and assuring goal two minutes from time. His low cross from the left found Denni Dos Santos completely unmarked inside the Mqabba area to hit in via the underside of the bar past the helpless Calleja.