Vittoriosa S.-Valletta 0-4

Vittoriosa S: Cini, L. Vella Critien (C. Brincat), O. Sidibe, M. Buttigieg, M. Pereira, M. Camilleri, Siraj Arab (G. Martin), M. Garcia (F. Santaguida), Samir Arab, O. Guerrero, J. Aguiar

Valletta: P. Marino, J. Caruana, S. Borg, R. Fenech, E. Agius, I. Zammit (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), R. Briffa, H. Barry, S. Bajada, D. Dos Santos (L. Cremona), A. Nafti (A. Nyang)

Referee: A.Arciola

Asst.refs: M. Scerri, J. Spiteri

4th official: G. Tonna

Scorers: A. Nafti 26, E. Agius 28, D. Dos Santos 78, A. Nyang 84

Yellow cards: H.Barry, M. Camilleri, G. Martin

Player of the match: D. Dos Santos

TMI top three: 1. E. Agius  2. D. Dos Santos  3. M. Buttigieg

Attendance: 679

This was the chance for Valletta to return to winning ways after their dismal goalless draw against Sliema Wanderers the previous week and this they did against inferior opponents Vittoriosa Stars with two goals in each half to keep the pressure on runaway leaders Birkirkara.

Valletta, who yesterday gave a rare start to Ian Zammit in attack, with injured Jason Vandelannoite out of their squad, in an otherwise unchanged side, laboured in the first 20 minutes, against a Vittoriosa side that showed resilience. But when the Citizens made the breakthrough through  Abelkarin Nafti midway through the half, and Edmond Agius soon after, there was only one outcome.

Agius confirmed his present vein of good form with another superlative performance in an advancved midfield role. The movement of Denni Dos Santos and Nafti around him, together with the distribution of Fenech and Hamza Barry, carried too much class for Vittoriosa, who yesterday had key elements, like Oscar Guerrero and Marcelo Pereira completely subdued.

Vittoriosa, on a high after a good win against Tarxien Rainbows, made two changes. Malcolm Buttigieg and Samir Arab replaced Gilbert Martin and Clive Spiteri. Buttigieg added extra cover in front of the Vittoriosa defence, with Arab partnering Sidibe in central defence.

Vittoriosa countered Valletta’s more flowing football with some defensive solidity and newly-found energy in the initial stages. They failed to capitalise on an early chance when Guerrerero’s cross for Siraj Arab found an opening but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Marino.

Valletta also had a glimpse at goal on 20 minutes. Fenech’s grounder was turned into a corner by the Vittoriosa keeper Sean Cini.

Looking superior at that stage, Valletta broke the deadlock with two goals in as many minutes, midway through the half, to take the macth beyond their opponents. On Bajada’s cross, Abdelkarim Nafti nodded the ball past the keeper. The Stars barely had time to reflect on the undoing of their good work as two minutes later, Denni delivered a low cross from the right for Edmond Agius to stop the ball inside area, turn and beat keeper Cini with a low diagonal drive.

Vittoriosa could have pulled themselves into the game on the half hour. Some hesitation between Valletta’s defenders Caruana and Bajada, on Guerrero’s cross, allowed Siraj Arab to shoot from edge of area but keeper Marino saved. On 39 minutes, Nafti’s shot from a tight angle was saved by keeper Cini. On the other end, Guerrero fluffed a good chance for the Stars. Put clear by Pereira, he had ample space inside the Valletta area but hesitated too long and was eventually blocked.

Already facing an uphill struggle, Vittoriosa put in Gilbert Martin six minutes into the second half and towards the half hour, a penalty claim by Vittoriosa, after Buttigieg shot hit Agius’ arm inside the area, sparked a loud uproar and some commotion among the Vittoriosa supporters when the police dismissed one fan for shouting abuse.

And on 70 minutes, the Vittoriosa coach Oliver Spiteri was also dismissed from the bench for passing some remarks to the fourth official.

Valletta kept up the pressure but failed to score that reassuring goal. On 77 minutes, Denni’s glancing header on an Agius free kick was saved by keeper Cini.

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza’s inclusion for Zammit in the late stages, enabled Valletta to raise their tempo and find more fluency. His contribution was three assists that resulted in two more goals and an effort against the woodwork.

On 78 minutes the Valletta substitute put Denni through to hit past the Vittoriosa keeper. Denni damaged his hamstring in the process and had to be substituted. Briffa nearly wrought further damage  four minutes later as he connected with another Mifsud Triganza cross from the right, but his shot was deflected by keeper Cini, who pushed the ball against the upright.

Six minutes from time, Mifsud Triganza’s cross from the left cut the entire Vittoriosa defence and Nyang could score with a routine header.