Balzan Y 2
Valletta 7
Valletta carried too much ammunition for poor Balzan Youths yesterday, as they were ripped apart by the power play of the league leaders who mercilessly piled up seven goals against them.
While Balzan have achieved their ambition, that of retaining their Premier League status, and understandably, although not excusable, lacked motivation, Valletta harbour different aspirations. This win keeps their league primacy intact, whatever the outcome of Hibernians’ match against Sliema Wanderers today.
Valletta made changes to the side which drew against Floriana in the previous match, dropping both Panandetiguiri and Michael Mifsud and giving starts to Gilbert Agius and William Barbosa as Alfred Effiong was ruled out by suspension.
Valletta had their work finished early as they were already leading their opponents by three goals just past the half hour.
Edmond Agius had put them in front after seven minutes when he picked a Balzan clearance, on Barbosa’s effort, to beat keeper Camilleri.
But they had to weather Balzan’s immediate response after that. Grima ran inside the Valletta area but keeper Hogg rushed out to block, before Calcado’s free kick from the left took a wicked deflection and fell to the unmarked Pace, whose header was blocked by Hogg.
Valletta collapsed to concede Balzan’s equaliser on 25 minutes. Calcado beat Hogg at the near post with a low menacing free kick from the edge of the area.
But Valletta soon stepped up a gear to score three times in quick succession. On the half hour, Caruana failed to connect on a Denni corner from the left but William Barbosa followed up to knock the ball in from close range.
Hardly two minutes later Denni advanced, played the ball wide to Aleksandr Cekulajevs to take it in his stride, before shooting past the helpless Balzan keeper.
And on 34 minutes, Barbosa’s shot rebounded in the path of Cekulajevs to beat keeper Camilleri again with his low drive.
With the keeper out of his line, Gilbert Agius headed Denni’s cross over as Valletta dominated the rest of the half.
One minute into the second period, Valletta scored their fifth. Gilbert Agius beat a hesitant Balzan backline, advanced unhindered and finished off with a low strike.
Tasic came up with a long range effort going off target for Balzan.
With the match already reduced to a training spin, Gilbert Agius hit just over as he spotted the Balzan keeper off his line, in what would have been a spectacular goal.
Valletta scored again though on 55 minutes. Edmond Agius played a free kick from the right and Oussain Zongo headed in at the near post.
Past the hour, Terence Scerri made a substitute appearance, returning for Valletta after a long suspension and Italian defender Filippo Scozzese also made his debut for the new club as the champions effected a double substitution.
Balzan also effected all three substitutions and pulled some consolation through Pedro Calcado’s second menacing free kick of the night on 75 minutes, as he beat reserve keeper Cini, who had just gone in for Hogg.
There was still time for Valletta to score their seventh, with seven minutes remaining. They were awarded a penalty, after Bondin felled Denni inside the area and Terence Scerri stepped up to beat keeper Camilleri from the spot to complete the formalities.
Balzan Y M. Camilleri, J. Francica, B. Guga, Y. Camilleri, G. Bonello (B. Bondin), C. Ciantar. N. Tasic, J. Pace, D. Grima (S. Ciscaldi), P. Calcado, M. Deanov (M. Ciantar)
Coach I. Zammit
Valletta A. Hogg (Y. Cini), J. Caruana (F. Scozzese), S. Borg, W. Barbosa, G. Agius, A. Cekulajevs (T. Scerri), I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa, E. Agius, O. Zongo, D. Dos Santos
Coach J. Zerafa
Referee K. Azzopardi
Asst.refs J. Camilleri, T. Debono
4th official G. Tonna
Scorers E. Agius 7, P. Calcado 25, 75, W. Barbosa 30, A. Cekulajevs 32, 34, G. Agius 46, O. Zongo 55, T. Scerri 83 pen
Yellow cards P. Calcado, S. Borg, W. Barbosa, C. Ciantar, J. Francica, B. Bondin
Player of the match William Barbosa (Valletta)
TMI top 3 1. W. Barbosa 2. G. Agius 3. P. Calcado
Attendance 725