Subsitute Rowen Muscat scored a much needed goal which proved to be the winner for Valletta against Zejtun Corinthians.

For Valletta this was a first win in five matches, a win which puts them in 7th place on level points with rivals Birkirkara though the Stripes have a game in hand.

On the other hand Zejtun Corinthians though given a good run to every opponent are still lying four places from bottom with twelve points in their bag. In fact a quick analysis of this match confirms that Zejtun must consider themselves rather unlucky to have left the Centenary Stadium empty handed. A point was the least that they deserved.

On 11 minutes a low drive by Aguirre was save with ease by Cassar. Seven minutes later Zejtun responded when Ricardo Silva Faria found Vitor Vieira only for his effort to be blocked by goalkeeper Cini.

In the 26th minute a fierce shot by Shaun Dimech was blocked with some difficulty by Cassar. And minutes later the Lillywhites threatened again when a Mario Fontanella shot ended inches wide.

Just past the half hour mark a low cross by Kemar Ried was just missed by Silva Faria.

On the restart Zejtun went near through a diagonal shot by Jose Gomes which was tipped onto a corner by Cini. The latter was once again in the thick of action on 49 minutes when he saved on Vieira.

Valletta took the lead eleven minutes into the second half when after Lucas Moreira failed to control the ball in came Mario Fontanella who took control of the sphere and fired a shot from the left side which  beat goalkeeper Christian Cassar.

But Zejtun reacted swiftly and after only four minutes they were on level terms. Kemar Reid served Thiago Bonfim whose cross Vitor Vieira and the latters header beat goalkeeper Yenz Cini.

Twenty minutes from the end Reid could have put the Corinthians in the lead when with only Cini to beat the Valletta goalkeeper saved his effort.

When everything seemed that the match was going to end in a draw, four minutes into stoppage time Valletta notched the winner. It was through subsitute Rowen Muscat who after receiving the ball from Leandro Aguirre beat the Corinthians custodian with a shot from the edge of the area.

It was harsh for Zejtun to swallow but that’s what football is all about.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina