Valletta 1

Balzan Y. 0

Valletta: Y. Cini, J. Caruana, S. Borg, S. Mady Panandetiguiri, I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa, E. Agius, O. Zongo, D. Dos Santos (A. Cekulajevs), W. Barbosa, M. Mifsud (T. Scerri)

Balzan Y: M. Camilleri, R. Farrugia, R. Forace, B. Guga, J. Francica, N. Tasic, B. Bondin, J. Pace, D. Grima (L. Micallef), G. Bonello (M. Ciantar), M. Deanov (M. Borg)

Referee: M. Apap

Asst.refs: W. Debattista, P. Apap

4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: W. Barbosa 7

Player of the match: W. Barbosa (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. O. Zongo 2. B. Guga 3. B. Bondin

A William Barbosa scorcher, scored in the opening minutes, separated Valletta from Balzan Youths at the end of this one-sided match in which there were few attacking moments to celebrate.

Taking a laid back approach and showing defensive organisation throughout, Balzan were never highly troubled and were only narrowly beaten by the league leaders, who, on their part, now widen the gap to nine points over Hibernians before the latter’s match against Sliema today.

Bouyed by their win against Hibernians the previous week, and the return from suspension of Steve Borg in defence, Valletta went into this match as clear favourites to clinch their 22nd win of the season.

The gulf in class between the two teams was always in evidence. In truth, it was a stroll for the champions as they dominated possession but rarely broke sweat after the early lead, although they were themselves guilty of some profligacy.

As expected, Balzan stayed composed, especially after the 7-2 drubbing they got in the previous round. Bereft of the injured Calcado and Yessous Camilleri, they defended in numbers, putting nine and even ten men behind the ball, handing all the initiative to their opponents.

Valletta turned the ball around inside Balzan’s half with training ground easiness, but it was difficult to exploit any spaces at the back.

William Barbosa resolved that after only seven minutes with a soaring dipping shot at the top corner, from some 30 metres out, that left keeper Camilleri hooked to his line.

Valletta still lacked any hint of penetration after that, as they were often stifled on the edge of the crowded Balzan area, with the Youths looking reluctant to move out of their defensive shell.

Mifsud could not find a way to beat the offside trap. Towards the quarter hour, Briffa’s shot was deflected by Zongo in the path of Denni who shot wide.

The latter again had his shot saved by the grounded keeper Camilleri on 34 minutes and two minutes later, Mifsud ran in after some hesitation between Guga and his keeper, but was blocked into a corner.

The pattern did not change in the second half, although the ratio of shots on target increased. Valletta, in flashes, tried to up the tempo, in search of that second assuring goal.

On 52 minutes, Zongo went past Farrugia but his pass to the advancing Mifsud was long and keeper Camilleri rushed off his line to block.

Barbosa came up with another shot from the edge of the area on 56 minutes, but this time it was well over.

On 66 minutes Zongo ran down the left flank past two opponents and delivered a testing cross for Mifsud to place wide with a free header.

Balzan carved out their only decent chance three minutes later. Forace chased a long ball forward by Tasic, but his diagonal low drive from inside the area was ably turned into a corner by keeper Cini, who was deputising for the suspended Hogg in the Valletta goal, but otherwise had a most quiet afternoon.

Valletta put in Terence Scerri for Mifsud and later Cekulajevs for Denni, but the closest they went to increase their lead was ten minutes from time. Scerri headed a sailing Zongo free kick towards Borg, whose effort was well blocked by keeper Camilleri.