Early goal sways tie in champions' favour

Valletta 2
Agius 4, Priso 90
Marsaxlokk 0

After a tricky curtain raiser encounter against Sliema Wanderers, champions Valletta faced another tough assignment yesterday against last season's runners-up Marsaxlokk.

With both teams having only picked up a point from their opening encounters, the heat was on the two teams to deliver maximum spoils from this tie.

An early goal inside the first five minutes from man of the match Gilbert Agius and another from Njongo Priso in stoppage sealed the win for the champions who have now put behind them the disappointing display against Sliema on Monday.

Despite taking an early lead, Valletta struggled to impose their tempo on the match and after the interval Marsaxlokk could have drawn level had it not been for two good saves by goalkeeper Nicky Vella.

But in the end it was the Citizens who took all points to complete a miserable week for the southerners who only managed to pick one point from their opening two matches.

Valletta coach Paul Zammit effected two changes from the team that started against Sliema. Central defender Luke Dimech returned from suspension to replace the unavailable Steve Bezzina while midfielder Edmond Agius was handed a starting role at the expense of striker Ian Zammit who had to be content with a place on the bench.

Marsaxlokk also made two changes to their starting XI. Christian Cassar and William Camenzuli failed to make the cut as Renato Conceicao marshalled the defence and Claude Mattocks was assigned a role in the centre of the park.

If the striking prowess of the Citizens found the going tough against Sliema, yesterday Zammit's lads needed only four minutes to storm into the lead.

Priso sliced a decent cross towards Marcelo Tolomeotti who intelligently drifted the ball into the path of Gilbert Agius who beat the offside trap and disposed of Darmanin with a timely lob.

Hardly a minute had elapsed and the southerners almost drew level. Dimech's miscued clearance was picked up by Sammut who was quick to burst through and send a low cross towards Wellman who squared the ball to Alcorse but the Argentine fired wide.

Past the half hour, Priso broke free on the right and his cross was cleared by Licari into the path of Kenneth Scicluna who only managed to belt a shot over.

With coach Brian Talbot increasingly concerned that his side was not creating any inroads, Wellman was instructed to swap positions with Sammut. The lanky no. 10 was soon in action when his cross found Alcorse who saw his header well saved by Vella.

Close to the end of the first half, Sammut again picked Alcorse and the forward was denied by a timely block from Josef Mifsud.

Early in the second half, Mattocks tested Vella's reflexes with a fierce drive that took a tricky deflection but the young keeper did well to block.

On 55 minutes, Vella was again prominent when punching away Alcorse's header.

Nine minutes from time, Edmond Agius drifted a dangerous cross towards Priso but the Cameroon forward's header was easily blocked by Darmanin.

In the dying minutes, Priso displayed some good skill as he dribbled past three defenders before serving Gilbert Agius who, however, was denied by Darmanin.

Marsaxlokk almost equalised late on when Wellman broke free on the right but instead of serving the unmarked substitute Mark Barbara, he did it alone and saw his shot excellently saved by Vella.

However, the southerners' hopes of a recovery were killed off in stoppage time when Dyson Falzon outpaced past his marker before sending a cross towards Priso who had little difficulty in planting the ball past Darmanin.

Valletta
N. Vella-7, J. Grioli-6, J. Mifsud-6.5, L. Dimech-6.5, K. Scicluna-6, E. Agius-6.5, S. Giglio-6, J. Pace-5.5 ('61 D. Camilleri-5.5), N. Priso-6, G. Agius-7, M. Tolomeotti-6 ('61 D. Falzon-6.5).

Marsaxlokk
S. Darmanin-6, M. Licari-6 ('82 W. Camenzuli), B. Said-5.5, R. Conceicao-6.5, C. Mamo-6.5, G. Sciberras-6, P. Pullicino-7, C. Mattocks-6.5 ('68 M. Barbara-5.5), J. Alcorse-6('66 M. Perreira-5), S. Wellman-6, K. Sammut-6.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Yellow cards: Mamo, Scicluna, Giglio, Agius A, Agius E, Sammut, Pullicino.

BoV player of the match: Gilbert Agius (Valletta).