Priso powers unbeaten Citizens

Qormi 0
Valletta 2
Priso 49; Agius 74

Rain had forced the postponement of the first ever Premier League encounter between champions Valletta and newcomers Qormi last month.

At the time, this fixture was viewed as a tricky one for the Citizens in light of their somewhat unspectacular start to the season.

Qormi had not exactly set any houses on fire until then but had had some positive results in their opening games but not so can be said of their recent outings.

Coming into this match after three morale-sapping defeats and with chief striker Alfred Effiong sidelined with a foot injury, Qormi were acutely aware that they faced a monumental task to take something off the Citizens, on a high after collecting 10 points from their previous four matches.

Jesmond Zerafa yesterday packed his midfield in a bid to negate Valletta's attacking panache and his team held out for the first 45 minutes but once their resistance was breached soon after the restart, there was not a shred of doubt where the three points were heading to.

Doding Priso was the catalyst of Valletta's victory as he scored the opening goal and set up Gilbert Agius for the second which secured a victory that sent the Whites top of the table, level with Birkirkara on 20 points.

A glance at Qormi's starting XI showed the presence of three ex-Valletta players, Anatole Debono, Keith Fenech and Massimo Grima. Before kick-off, Grima gave the Valletta fans a bouquet of flowers.

Zerafa settled on a 4-5-1 formation with Brazilian Josivan Da Silva leading their attack while Zammit kept faith with 4-4-2.

Agius, yesterday tasked with providing flair in Valletta's midfield, did what was expected of him when, with 13 minutes gone, he released Priso on the right but the Cameroon striker took a touch too many instead of shooting.

Minutes later, Kenneth Scicluna made a good run down the right but his cross-cum-shot was a let-down.

Prudence was the order of the day for Qormi as they seemed content to sit back and weather the pressure.

Operating in front of the back four, Grima showed his determination to prove a point to his former employers with a series of timely interceptions.

Three minutes past the half hour, Da Silva used his pace and skills to run at the City defenders. The Brazilian's progression unnerved Valletta, forcing Luke Dimech to chase him into the box where Da Silva tumbled under the challenge. Qormi felt that Dimech's intervention warranted a penalty but referee Paul Caruana saw nothing wrong.

Despite their cautious plan, Qormi's work ethic and the rapidity with which they transferred the ball from defence to attack kept the Citizens on high alert.

Seven minutes from half-time, Justin Grioli's looping header from Scicluna's centre almost caught Qormi goalkeeper Reuben Gauci unawares but the latter managed to tip the ball away for a corner.

Valletta screamed handball when the ball ricocheted off Ramon Dos Santos onto Grima in the box but the referee waved away their claims.

At half-time, Zammit tried to augment his team's attacking play by introducing Cleaven Frendo for Scicluna.

Early in the second half, Fenech did well to direct a forward pass to but the latter's tame shot was easily saved by Andrew Hogg.

The second half was less than four minutes old when Valletta seized the lead. Grioli's cross from the right was headed into the goalmouth by Josef Mifsud and Priso was on hand to tuck the ball home.

Agius then set up Zammit but the latter's grounder ended wide of the far post.

The young City striker squandered another glorious chance to increase his team's lead. Dyson Falzon made headway on the left before releasing Zammit, unmarked in the centre of the area, but the latter's timid attempt was blocked by Dos Santos.

With 17 minutes left, Jamie Pace, on for the subdued Zammit, hit wide from the distance.

But a minute later, the champions made the game safe. Dimech set off on a strong run down the right before chipping the ball forward for Priso who crossed low for Agius to tap home at the far post.

Qormi might have narrowed the deficit had Grima not headed just wide from Ciantar's corner but the Citizens strolled through the remaining minutes to extend their unbeaten run.

Valletta trial

Valletta will have two South American strikers training with the first-team squad on a trial this month.

Brazilian Paulo Massaro, 27, is expected to arrive this afternoon on a flight from Rome while 29-year-old Argentine Sebastian Aset, who last played in Chile, is due in tomorrow.

Playing today: (Centenary Stadium) 6.30 p.m. Hibs vs Tarxien.

Suspensions: The following were banned one match yesterday: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara); Clyde Camoin (Floriana); Gaetan Spiteri (Ħamrun) and Ivan Carapic (Tarxien).

Qormi
R. Gauci-6.5, J. Saliba-6, R. Dos Santos-7, M. Grima-7.5, A. Debono-6 ('77 C. Nwoko), K. Fenech-6, J. Chetcuti-6, R. Sammut-6.5, J. Da Silva-6.5 ('54 S. Tellus-4), P. Camilleri-6, A. Ciantar-6.

Valletta
A. Hogg-6.5, J. Grioli-6, J. Mifsud-6.5, L. Dimech-7, S. Bezzina-6.5, K. Scicluna-6 ('46 C. Frendo-7), D. Camilleri-6.5, G. Agius-6.5, D. Priso-8, I. Zammit-5 ('67 J. Pace-5.5), D. Falzon-6 ('78 J. Bondin).

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Zammit; Camilleri; Dimech.

BoV player of the match: Doding Priso (Valletta).