Marsaxlokk stun 10-man champs to clinch Euro spot

Marsaxlokk 4
Valletta 0

It was supposed to be Valletta's crowning moment, the culmination of a season's hard work but Marsaxlokk put a damper on the Citizens' mood yesterday. Needing a win from their final league match to finish runners-up and grab a UEFA Cup spot, Marsaxlokk shrugged off the party atmosphere at the National Stadium to rout Valletta 4-0.

With the title issue long sewn up, the outcome of this match was of little significance for the new aristocrats of Maltese football but needless to say that Valletta were eager to end their league trek on a high.

A 4-0 loss to Marsaxlokk was not the rousing finale Valletta, who played with 10 men for almost the entire second half, had in mind but there's certainly no shame in being caught out of depth once, especially considering the emphatic manner with which the Citizens won the Premier League title.

As Marsaxlokk racked up late goals to go 4-0 up, the atmosphere went somewhat flat but the celebrations resumed after the match when Valletta walked to the podium to receive their medals before captain Gilbert Agius hoisted the glittering trophy to chants of 'we are the champions'.

For their part, Marsaxlokk, the deposed champions, were understandably delighted with their achievement, leaving third-placed Sliema Wanderers and Birkirkara facing up to the now distinct prospect of a decider for the other UEFA Cup spot.

The enclosure of the stadium was transformed into an ocean of red and white as thousands of Valletta fans converged on Ta' Qali for the final league match. Indeed, Valletta's title triumph captured the imagination of the City faithful of all ages and of both sexes.

A two-hour variety programme, featuring the participation of some of the country's leading singers, kept the crowd entertained but the decibel level rose by several notches when the colourful float carrying the Valletta players drove around the gravel track.

After being introduced, one by one, to the jubilant crowd, the City players saluted the fans by holding aloft a banner reading 'Dan il-league għalikom' (this league is for you).

Paul Zammit, the Valletta coach, named a familiar formation minus Frank Temile who was among the substitutes given that the Nigerian starlet has yet to fully recover from the knocks he picked up in Valletta's 2-0 win over Floriana two weeks ago.

It was not before 10 minutes of the game that either side created the first glimmer of a scoring chance. It came from Agius whose shot from the left sailed wide of the near post.

The stalemate was broken six minutes later but it was Marsaxlokk who drew first blood. There seemed little danger for the Citizens when Kevin Sammut picked the ball just outside the area and laid it back for Jamie Pace but the latter's grounder seeped through a posse of players and past the belated dive of goalkeeper Andrew Hogg.

As the opening half approached the half-way point, Marsaxlokk were forced to play with 10 men for a short period of time after midfielder Peter Pullicino suffered what looked like a facial injury and had to leave the pitch.

Valletta upped the tempo but their pressure only yielded a series of crosses which didn't pose much of a problem to Marsaxlokk.

Eleven minutes from half-time, Marsaxlokk might have doubled their lead when Malcolm Licari's low cross reached Julio Alcorse at the far post but the latter's flick from point blank was kept out by Hogg.

At the other end, Sebastian Monesterolo made a jinking run down the left before squaring to Ian Zammit whose central strike was easily saved by Reuben Debono. An attempt by Stefan Giglio was deflected away for a corner as the champions shaded the closing stages of the first half.

On the stroke of half-time, the referee was confronted with a bout of pushing and shoving between several players over a tiff between Alcorse and Grioli. Valletta players had been incensed by Alcorse's reluctance to kick the ball out of play as Scicluna lay grounded but, in fairness, the City defender had been injured well before Alcorse got on the end of a counter-attack by his team.

The verbal exchanges continued after the half-time whistle, prompting Talbot to run onto the pitch and drag Alcorse away as a couple of bottles rained down on the pitch.

Less than two minutes into the second half, Valletta would have equalised but for a fine save by Debono on Zammit, just seconds after Monesterolo had a shot blocked by the Marsaxlokk defence.

A cross by Agius, Valletta's main creative outlet yesterday, was headed away by Renato Conceicao and, moments later, Giglio was clean through but his shot was blocked by Debono.

Valletta now looked a safe bet to equalise but their optimism receded when Marsaxlokk were awarded a penalty after Grioli brought Madzar down in the box as the latter was about to shoot home. Grioli was dismissed as it was his second booking but the Citizens' flailing spirits rose again when Hogg stopped Alcorse's penalty.

Nineteen minutes from time, however, the game was as good as over when Marsaxlokk made it 2-0. Fastening onto a pass by Pace, Steve Wellman, who had earlier replaced Alcorse, sped clear, rounded Hogg and placed the ball into the net.

Things got worse for Valletta when Madzar got on the end of a counter-attack and slipped the ball past Hogg with 14 minutes remaining.

Five minutes from time, Marsaxlokk increased their lead, Wellman rifling an unstoppable shot past Hogg from Madzar's neat lay-off.

Marsaxlokk
R. Debono-7, C. Mamo-6.5, R. Conceicao-6.5, W. Camenzuli-7, M. Licari-6, J. Pace-6, K. Sammut-6, P. Pullicino-6, T. Templeman-6.5, A. Madzar-6, J. Alcorse-5.5 ('66 S. Wellman-6.5).

Valletta
A. Hogg-6.5, J. Grioli, J. Mifsud-6, K. Scicluna-6 ('50 B. Agius-5), S. Bezzina-6.5, D. Camilleri-5, H. Backhaus-5, S. Giglio-6 ('83 D. Falzon), G. Agius-7, I. Zammit-6 ('83 J. Bondin), S. Monesterolo-7.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Yellow cards: Conceicao; Grioli; Alcorse; Agius; Licari.

Red card: Grioli (V) 53.

Scorers: Pace 16; Wellman 71, 85; Madzar 76

Missed penalty: Alcorse (m) 54.

BoV Player of the match: Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk).