Marsaxlokk 0

Valletta 2

Valletta are not yet playing with the swagger of champions but they again sit at the top of the BOV Premier League this morning after being bailed out by two second half goals against understrength Marsaxlokk.

The Valletta side, featuring two forwards and plenty of width, although leaving the not fit Michael Mifsud on the bench, was meant to prey on the supposed vulnerability of their ailing opponents, going through a serious financial and administrative crisis.

But Marsaxlokk, with no guidance from the bench, allowed few openings and their teenage goalkeeper Christian Cassar, playing for regular Rueben Gauci, in particular, was able to extinguish the danger with hair-raising saves, mostly in the first half.

Valletta took control from the start but it was often a nervy kind of supremacy.

It takes some imagination to break down a side like Marsaxlokk, who went into the match to defend and precious little else, and in the first half it was that kind of imagination that Valletta badly lacked.

Towards the hour, captain Gilbert Agius, who played the entire 90 minutes, broke the stalemate and after that the champions seemed to settle into an uncomfortable mediocrity.

The second goal came late through substitute Oussain Zongo but that had little bearing on the final outcome.

Marsaxlokk, already depleted by the departures of their two foreigners, Florent Raimy and Carlos Campagnoli, were handicapped further without the presence of Rueben Gauci and Malcolm Licari in their starting line-up.

Their reshuffled defence included keeper Christian Cassar, with Brincat and Xerri their central defenders and Valeriani and Mamo as wide backs.

Three times Valletta had put the ball into their opponents’ net during the first 20 minutes. Every time the goal was disallowed for offside as Marsaxlokk frustrated the champions time and again to subdue their early flurry, during which Effiong had also deflected Denni’s low cross against the foot of the post.

On 22 minutes, Edmond Agius whipped one of his free kicks but Gilbert Agius’ firm header was smartly saved by keeper Cassar into a corner. The Marsaxlokk custodian rushed out to thwart Effiong’s incursion inside the area from the left and towards the half hour, as Denni tried to control Briffa’s cross inside the area, the alert keeper blocked his effort. Barbosa shot the loose ball against the upright.

On 36 minutes, Briffa advanced down the right but his shot was easily saved by the keeper.

Marsaxlokk were not without a threat of their own, although few and far between. Past the quarter hour Obiefule failed to profit from a Jonathan Caruna slip at the back and with keeper Hogg out of place, he missed the target.

Midway through the half, Lattes and Obiefule chased Caruana’s through ball as they beat Valletta’s offside trap. Keeper Hogg rushed out to block at Lattes’ feet.

Three minutes before the break there were half chances by both teams at each end. Obiefule was stopped by Borg after going past three opponents inside the Valletta area and then Effiong ran clear past Valeriani, only to be thwarted by keeper Cassar.

It was still goalless at halftime.

Valletta still kept up the pressure after the interval but failed to step up a gear. Many of their passes went astray and shots from a distance, from Effiong and Denni, lacked precision.

Finally the deadlock was broken on 58 minutes. Gilbert Agius ran unmolested to tap in Fenech’s inviting cross from the left and put Valletta in front.

Valletta should have doubled their lead eight minutes later. Barbosa’s long ball to Denni was chested down for the unmarked Effiong who shot tamely in the keeper’s safe hands.

With Marsaxlokk somewhat tiring out and Valletta showing no urgency, play became more disjointed.

Marsaxlokk however summoned enough effort to move forward with an Obeifule run on 70 minutes. He played the ball to substitute Farrugia who shot wide.

And after Effiong’s central shot skimmed the bar, Valletta put in Oussain Zongo for the innocuous Denni for the final ten minutes.

Valletta’s substitute soon made his presence felt. On 88 minutes he was denied by another good save from keeper Cassar, following a fast break after Farrugia had carelessly lost possession in midfield.

But the Marsaxlokk keeper was rendered helpless on the stroke of full time as he was caught slightly off his line and was beaten by Zongo’s low diagonal strike from the left to cement Valletta’s victory.

Marsaxlokk C. Cassar, M. Valeriani (J. C. Vella), J. Xerri, C. Brincat, C. Mamo, S. Eboh, P. Borg, D. Kokavessis (J.P. Farrugia), E. Lattes (S. Borg), G. Caruana, O. Obiefule

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

Coach J. Zerafa

Referee P. Caruana

Asst.refs M. Debono, C. Francalanza

4th official M. Spiteri

Scorers G. Agius 58, O. Zongo 90

Yellow cards S. Eboh, R. Fenech, W. Barbosa, J. Xerri

Player of the match Christian Cassar (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top 3 1. C. Cassar 2. J. Caruana 3. C. Brincat

Attendance 978