Valletta-Vittoriosa 2-1

Valletta: Y. Cini, J. Caruana, R. Fenech, E. Agius, R. Antoneli (J.P. Mifsud Triganza63’), H. Barry, A. Corr Nyang (I. Zammit 90’), S. Bajada, J. Vandelannoite, Y. Camilleri, A. Nafti (D. Dos Santos 63’)

Vittoriosa: J.M. Vella, A. Spiteri, O. Guerrero, M. Buttigieg, C. Spiteri, R. Dos Santos, M. Teurel,Siraj Arab (M. Barbara 55’),  M. Camilleri (R. Mifsud 79’), M. Pereira, Samir Arab

Scorers:Oscar Dario Guerrero 25min (VS), Denni dos Santos 70min (V)Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza 89min (V)

Yellow Cards: Adam Spiteri 26min (VS), Jason Vandelannoite 51min (V), Malcolm Buttigieg 66min (VS), Mark Barbara 69min (VS), Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza 90min (V)

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri

Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Peter Abela

BOV Player of the Match: Aziz Corr Nyang (Valletta)

Attendance: 1059

After their five star performance against Sliema Wanderers in their last outing, Valletta managed to win three important points when they defeated Vittoriosa Stard 2-1 with a good comeback.

Vittoriosa Stars played a good game and they were few minutes from claiming an important point but striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza nailed in the back of the net to open his scoring sheet with Valletta. On the other hand, Valletta had to fight more than expected to win the game but in the end the pressure by the Citizens gave them second place.

Valletta had Jason Vandelannoite and Yessous Camilleri regaining  their first elven position at the expense of the suspended Luke Dimech and the injured Rodreick Briffa. On the other hand the Stars had Felipe Aguilar suspended after recieving marching orders in the last match and Gilbert Martin missing while Siraj Arab and Clive Spiteri started from the first minute.

Valletta started the match with a good chance after three minutes when Nyang crossed on the second post with Nafti’s shot that was denied by the post, the ball finished on Nyang’s foot who crossed again to Nafti with Vella saving his shot and from the rebound Nyang passed to Romulo Antoneli but his shot finished over the bar. On the 24th minute Vittoriosa won a penalty when Yessous Camilleri fouled Marcelo Pereira in the penalty area and referee Malcolm Spiteri pointed to the spot. From the 11 metres Oscar Dario Guerrero converted with Cini only centimetres from saving the ball.

Valletta’s reaction was poor and we had to wait till the 37th minute to see a shot on target when Vella saved with no difficulty a low shot from Aziz Corr Nyang. A minute later Hamza Barry tried his luck but his shot finished over the bar. Vittoriosa could have doubled their lead on the 40th minute when Teurel passed to Guerrero who dribbled Cini but his shot from an angled position was blocked by Hamza Barry Edmond Agius had a shot from distance three minutes but was well saved by Vella.

Valletta started the second half like the first half attacking their opponents and on the 49th minute, Vella had to tip into a corner after a free-kick by Nafti was deflected by Spiteri. Vittoriosa had an occasion on the 66th minute when Teurel fired a left foot shot which Cini replied with a fantastic save. From the subsequent corner Teurel almost made the impossible when his cross finished on the crossbar.     

Valletta managed to equalise on the 70th minute when Aziz Corr Nyang made a good run down the right flank, crossed the ball in the penalty area and Denni dos Santos headed over his opponents to give Valletta a life line. Oliver Spiteri decided to defend his result and substituted Valletta continued to pile the pressure and Vella saved a good header from Corr-Nyang.

Vittoriosa missed a golden chance on the 85th minute when Marcelo Pereira managed to beat the offside trap and after trying to dribble past Cini his shot finished off target. Oliver Spiteri’s team paid the price as Valletta scored the winning goal on the 89th minute when new signing Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza fired a great shot in the penalty area that gave no chance to Vella.