Valletta-Tarxien 0-0
Valletta: N. Vella, J. Caruana, I. Azzopardi (I. Zammit 66 min), S. Borg, R. Fenech, H. Faria, R. Kooh Sohna (L. Elford Alliyu 82 min), L. Montebello (C. Caruana 59 min), S. Bajada, L. Dimech, A. Nafti
Tarxien R: J. Debono, M. Caruana, O. Bugeja, A. Rodrigues Silva (C. Barbosa Viana 57 min), T. Caruana, W. Lima Silva (K.P. Farrugia 93 min), R. Sammut, A. Cini, M. Tabone (F. Aboulezz 76 min), A. Lopes Pereira, J. Santos Silva.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Ass. Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, David Castillo
4th Official: Adrian Azzopardi
Yellow cards: L. Dimech, R. Fenech, C. Caruana (V) F. Aboulezz (T)
Player of the match: S. Bajada
TMI best three: 1. S. Bajada, 2. W. Lima Silva, 3. J. Debono
Attendance: 768
Champions Valletta are in deep crisis after failing to beat Tarxien in their second match of the season, where Valletta are still in search of their first goal after 180 minutes. Valletta controlled most of the match and had some scoring chances especially in the second half, but something is missing from the side that was crowned champion some four months ago.
The problems are in midfield and in attack where Valletta lack punch, as Raphael Kooh Sohna needs an ideal partner with a scent of goal. But the major problems lie in midfield, where the team lacks in ideas, where only Ryan Fenech and Shaun Bajada seem able to lift the tempo.
Valletta are not using the flanks either as they rarely ventured forward with decent crosses from the flanks. Nafti had some good runs in the second half but it was too little too late.
Tarxien played their decent defensive match and gained their second draw of the season. They played a waiting game but were never outclassed and fully deserved the point earned.
Valletta missed a good opportunity after barely three minutes with Steve Borg hitting wide from close range following a Kooh Sohna cross. On eleven minutes on the other end Jorge Santos Silva tested Vella who saved in style, and from the resultant corner Caruana’s header went over the bar.
With Valletta finding the going hard, Tarxien went close again with a Lima Silva freekick missing the target. Valletta stuttered as they lacked vision of play and could not find a way past Tarxien’s organised defence. Coach Gilbert Agius started with Luke Montebello in attack instead of Lateef Alliyu.
On 22 minutes Lopes Pereira came to Tarxien’s rescue when he anticipated Luke Montebello who had an open goal at his mercy. On 33 minutes Luke Montebello blasted well over the bar a Nafti freekick. Five minutes later Kooh Sohna shot wide in one of Valletta’s rare attempts at goal.
Valletta’s best chance came on 42 minutes following a Tarxien defensive blunder with Tarxien goalkeeper Debono saving Montebello’s point blank effort.
The game continued on the same wavelength in the second half with Valletta unable to produce a decent attacking move. Tarxien were menacing with some fast breaks with Triston Caruana shooting over the bar.
On 67 minutes Valletta finally managed to create a scoring chance with Bajada crossing towards substitute Ian Zammit who failed to connect in front of goal. Five minutes later Valletta came close again when Nafti crossed towards Ian Zammit whose first timer was deflected by Ryan Sammut.
Minutes later Valletta came close again with Dabono denying Christian Caruana from an angle. On 78 minutes another Caruana effort was blocked by a defender as Valletta increased the pressure. But the goal failed to arrive and Valletta had to settle for their first point of the season.