VALLETTA- SLIEMA WANDERERS – 2-1
Valletta: D. Bartkus, J. Caruana, S. Borg (R. Romao), R. Camilleri, M. Mifsud, L. Cremona (J. Borg), C. Pani, U. Uchenna (L. Montebello), L. Aguirre, Jhonnattan, V. Alhino
Sliema W: G. Zammit, A. Muscat, A. Tarlaziz (G. Aquilina), P. Xuereb (R. Spiteri), M. Scerri, R. De Souza, S. Biancardi, J. Mintoff, J.P. Farrugia, W. Salomon, D. Dos Santos
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, W. Debattista
Additional asst.refs: M. Apap, G. Tonna
4th official: P. Abela
Scorers: J.P. Farrugia 21, S. Borg 35, U. Uchenna 45
Yellow cards: A. Tarlaziz, V. Alhino, S. Borg, C. Pani, W. Salomon
Attendance: 1430
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Valletta hauled themselves from a goal down as Steve Borg and Umeh Uchenna gave them a 2-1 win over Sliema Wanderers in the Super Cup final at Ta’Qali yesterday evening.
Valletta thus ended the year on a high, with a second honour,after their title win back in May.
Valletta were the better, more purposeful team, aside from the opening half hour when they fell behind to Sliema’s opener.
After taking the lead through their most dangerous player Jean Paul Farrugia, Sliema failed to seize control and allowed their opponents back into the game too quickly. Undone by two first half goals, Sliema even contrived to miss a penalty in the second half as Alex Muscat had his shot saved by the Valletta custodian Dzugas Bartkus.
Noteable absentees were Valletta’s striker Federico Falcone and Sliema’s workhorse Matias Muchardi, both injured.
Both sides played with four at the back and two players in front. Tarlaziz and Xuereb provided cover in front of the Sliema rearguard, while Alhino and Pani were Valletta’s holding midfielders.
The teams stifled each other in midfield and there were very few openings during a cagey start.
Sliema broke the deadlock in their first meaningful attack. Jean Paul Farrugia picked Denni’s pass, advanced past Borg down the left flank, cut inside the area and beat keeper Bartkus.
Valletta, who had won this trophy ten times before, steaded themselves, pulled up their sleeves and were down to business. Jhonnattan ran inside the Sliema area on a Mifsud flick. Bianciardi’s timely tackle halted his incursion.
Valletta were level on 35 minutes. A Jhonnattann corner from the right was cleared poorly by the Sliema defence, the ball fell freely to Steve Borg who drove it low past the helpless keeper Zammit.
The goal instilled confidence in the Valletta side. Alhino forced the Sliema keeper to stretch himself and turn the ball into a corner. Alhino, who was always mostly involved, showed some exquisite interplay with Cremona to put Jhonnattann clear but Mintoff blocked into a corner.
Valletta’s sustained pressure took the wind out of Sliema’s sails although Bartkus was called to save a Farrugia low drive with little difficulty.
Valletta struck again on the stroke of halftime. A quckly-taken Aguirre free kick set Jhonnattann going down the left. His cross was well met by Umeh Uchenna who mustered a stirring finish with a low drive.
The break might have given Sliema the time to regroup. There was more urgency about the Wanderers immediately after halftime, even because Valletta took a more laid back approach.
The Wanderers could have even levelled matters when awarded a penalty past the hour, the referee spotting a Borg holding on Farrugia inside the area. The Valletta keeper turned protagonist as he dived the right way to deny Alex Muscat from the spot.
The game lost some of its composure after that. Sliema were unable to create many chances and Valletta again began to build up a head of steam. They showed up with a couple of efforts as Mifsud’s cross shot hit the junction and, in the late stages, when Sliema increased their eforts, substitute Montebello took too long and was blocked inside the area.
But that mattered little. Valletta were still leading and ended up worthy winners.