Valletta-Rabat A. 6-1
Valletta: Y. Cini, J. Caruana, S. Borg, R. Fenech, E. Agius (I. Azzopardi), R. Briffa, H. Barry (L. Cremona), AC Nyang, S. Bajada, L. Elford-Alliyu (JP Mifsud Triganza), A. Nafti.
Rabat Ajax: P. Velimirovic, S. Gauci (Z. Tanti), D. Azzopardi, D. Falzon, I. Carapic, P. Borg, D. Carrillo Pendas, J. Caruana, R. Micallef, S. Oproiescu, M. Licari (J. Bajada).
Referee: G. Tonna
Asst refs: P. Apap, J. Spiteri
4th official: P. Farrugia
Scorers: A. Nafti, L. Elford-Alliyu, R. Micallef pen., R. Briffa, E. Agius, JP Mifsud Triganza 2,
Yellow cards: R. Briffa, D. Falzon, S. Gauci,
Player of the match: A. Nafti
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Nafti; 2. R. Briffa; 3. S. Bajada
Attendance: 780
Valletta easily disposed of bottom placed Rabat Ajax yesterday to put pressure on leaders Birkirkara who will be in action this evening.
The citizens, however, made sure of their victory in the second half after having led 2-1 at the interval.
It was the best morale-booster in view of next Sunday’s fixture against Birkirkara.
The win enabled them to reduce the gap to three points, although the Stripes are firm favourites to beat Tarxien this evening to re-establish their six-point lead.
Valletta coach Mark Miller had three regulars missing in the form of Denni Rocha dos Santos, Luke Dimech and Jason Lee Vandelannoite. Lateef Elford-Alliyu was making his first starting appearance, but he was substituted late in the first half, probably for an injury.
For Rabat, Sorin Oproiescu was making his debut while Pelaez was ruled out through injury.
It was obvious that Valletta were missing the services of Denni Rocha dos Santos in midfield. The team disappointed in the first half and never found a true rhythm.
The citizens were superior and deserved their 2-0 lead before Rabat reduced the arrears just before the interval following the award of a second penalty – Valletta had earlier missed an 11-metre kick.
The second half had no story. It was a one-way traffic affair with the citizens piling up four goals to add to Rabat’s misery.
Not a minute had passed and Rabat were unlucky not to open the scoring when a Malcolm Licari shot hit the crossbar with Cini beaten.
At the other end, Valletta missed a good chance to open the scoring when Lateef Elford-Alliyu missed a penalty awarded for a handling infringement in the Rabat area. His shot was well saved by Velimirovic.
Rabat replied with an Oproiescu header off a Carrillo Pendas cornerkick going wide.
Valletta opened the scoring on the 25th minute when a Nafti shot was deviated by a defender into his own net.
The score became 2-0 three minutes later when following a Nafti freekick, it was Lateef Elford who headed against the post with the ball rebounding into the net off Rabat goalie Velimirovic’s back.
On the 42nd minute, Rabat were also awarded a penalty when Caruana was deemed to have pushed Patrick Borg in the area. From the spotkick, Ryan Micallef made no mistake to reduce the arrears.
The second half started with Valletta on the attack and Ryan Fenech had a 25-metre effort going just wide.
In the 48th minute, Valletta added a third goal – a real gift from goalkeeper Velimirovic. The Rabat goalie aimed his pass at teammate David Azzopardi. Instead he miskicked the ball and Roderick Briffa had the easiest of tasks to lob over the Montenegrin goalie and into the empty net.
Five minutes later, it was Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who had an attempt going wide. As Valletta insisted on attack, a Bajada effort was turned to corner by Velimirovic, following which Edmond Agius scored with a fine rising shot from the edge of the area.
On the hour, Nyang hit well over the bar from an ideal position following a good cross from Nafti.
And on 62 minutes it was 5-1. From a Briffa quickly taken freekick, Nafti crossed low for Mifsud Triganza to conclude into an empty net.
Valletta’s dominance was now more in evidence and it was no surprise that they added another – the sixth – on the 69th minute through Mifsud Triganza.
On 82 minutes, a Roderick Briffa cross-shot hit the upper part of the crossbar and went over, while moments later, Velimirovic thwarted young Llywelyn Cremona with a fine save.
With five minutes to go, Bajada almost scored from half pitch, but Velimirovic, out of his place by a few metres, managed to turn the ball to a corner.