Valletta 1

St Patrick 1

This game was played at a very fast pace and both sets of players played methodical football with precise passing which was a delight to watch. Both teams created many occasions throughout the whole 80 minutes.

Valletta applied the early pressure as they mounted the first two actions. Llywelyn Cremona was fouled on the left edge of the area, he served Leon Gauci with a short free kick pass but he drove off target from outside the area.

Later, a one-two between Kurt Borg and Cremona finished with the latter missing the upright from outside the area.

In St Patrick’s first action after eight minutes they opened the score. Chris Tanti was fouled outside the area, Dion Fava floated a perfect high ball in the area and in the melee that ensued, Shalon Diacono scored with a low shot past City keeper Luke Pecorella.

The Yellow/Blacks kept pressing and mounted two further actions. After a well-taken flag kick by Clayton Camilleri, Reno Vella headed slightly out from inside the area.

Fava was then fouled on the right flank and Pecorella saved the free kick by the same player.

Valletta then won a free kick in midfield and Saints’ keeper James Pisani saved the hard drive by Gauci. Minutes later, Daniel Suda served Kurt Drakary in the area but he drove over the bar from a very ideal position, while at the other end, after a well-taken flag kick by Fava, Pecorella had to dive and save a header by Ian Grech.

In another action by Valletta, Suda served Cremona with a cross from the right flank and Pisani saved his half volley in two attempts.

In the 31st minute, Samuel Buhagiar should have doubled the score for St Patrick but he drove out with only the keeper to beat after a Fava perfect cross.

St Patrick produced the first action after the resumption. Fava served Buhagiar in the area and Pecorella foiled him with a timely sortie as he dived at his feet.

Dario Zampa served Cremona with a long throw-in in the area and Pisani denied him with a diving save. 

Valletta equalised in the 52nd minute when Luke Scicluna served Cremona with a through ball in the area and after he was tripped the same player, he made no mistake from the penalty spot. 

St Patrick then had two actions in a row. Fava dribbled past two opponents on the right flank who then executed a perfect cross but found no takers and from a free kick by Fava the ball was partly cleared and from the rebound by Tabone the ball hit Pecorella in his face who was injured but resumed play after being attended to by the nurse on duty.

In another action by Valletta, Cremona was fouled outside the area and the ball was cleared away from the free kick by Zampa.

The last two actions before the end were created by St Patrick. Josmar Farrugia was fouled on the right flank, Fava floated a high ball in the area and Pecorella saved a header by Buhagiar.

The same player was then fouled outside the area and from Fava’s free kick Buhagiar headed over the bar.

Referee: Joseph Vella

Player of the match: Llywelyn Cremona (Valletta)