Scerri's double steers City past Stripes

Birkirkara 1
Comvalius 38
Valletta 3
Den Ouden 27; Scerri 57, 69

A season that promises great things for Valletta started on a perfect note as the Whites inflicted a 3-1 defeat on rivals Birkirkara.

High on confidence after their fine showings in the Europa League and a headline-grapping transfer campaign, Valletta were seen as favourites to get their league trek off to a winning start but the prospect of taking on rivals Birkirkara must have caused some apprehension in the City ranks.

After all, Birkirkara have earned a reputation as a hard-to-beat team, especially when they face the Whites, and the appointment of Paul Zammit, formerly of Valletta, as their new coach lent extra spice to the occasion.

For a time it looked as if Birkirkara were set to frustrate their opponents after Sylvano Comvalius cancelled out Geert den Ouden's opener but Terrence Scerri, making his debut for Valletta, came to the fore in the second half with a well-taken double to give his new team a deserved 3-1 win.

Birkirkara had been more than a match for Valletta in the opening period but they fell apart after Ron Hartvig's mistake was punished by Scerri early in the second half.

Thereafter, the Citizens used their superior resources to good effect as they dominated Birkirkara who clearly need more reinforcements if they are to challenge for the title.

Scerri, signed from Hibs in the close season, was Valletta's attacking fulcrum with Den Ouden granted freedom to lurk behind him as Valletta coach Ton Caanen favoured a 3-5-1-1-cum-4-4-1-1 formation.

Left-back Steve Bezzina was left out of Valletta's initial XI. The riches at Caanen's disposal are such that Justin Grioli was not even named in Valletta's 18-man squad. Kevin Sammut, the latest addition to Valletta's squad, was ruled out by suspension.

Paul Zammit handed a debut to newly-signed Spanish goalkeeper Jorge Mora. Comvalius, another newcomer at Birkirkara, led the team's attack with Trevor Cilia and Michael Galea detailed to supplement the Stripes' attacks from the wings.

In the early stages, Dyson Falzon, yesterday deployed as wing-back on Valletta's left, set up Den Ouden but the latter's grounder was stopped by Mora.

Birkirkara survived a scare when, with 16 minutes gone, Doding Priso made headway into the box and his cross ricocheted off the grounded Joseph Zerafa.

The ball sailed dangerously towards goal as Luke Dimech, sporting a black-and-red Mohican hairstyle, swooped at the far post but the Birkirkara defenders managed to clear the danger.

On 26 minutes, Jordi Cruyff floated a perfect pass to Scerri who summoned a half-volley but Mora repelled his effort. This proved to be the prelude to Valletta's goal which arrived a few seconds later.

Cruyff released the dynamic Priso on the right and the latter's inviting cross was headed home by the unmarked Den Ouden who thus went down as the scorer of the first goal of the 2009/10 BOV Premier League.

Birkirkara's next attack had the City defence in a tangle as the ball reached Cilia inside the box but the latter's cut-back was deflected away for a corner.

A strong volley by Cilia was high but, eight minutes before the end of the first half, Birkirkara levelled matters.

Galea was the provider with a swerving cross and Comvalius stole in the far post to head past Hogg to the delight of the Birkirkara faithtful who regard Valletta as their biggest rivals.

Soon after the restart, Valletta threatened to restore their lead but Den Ouden headed wide from Falzon's set-piece cross.

Caanen made his first five minutes into the second half, Bezzina coming on for Falzon.

Bezzina's introduction indicated a willingness on Caanen's part to revert to a more a conventional approach with players deployed in their favoured positions.

Valletta showed the better ideas in the early stages of the second half but they rarely threatened to beat Birkirkara's defence. That was until Hartvig made a hash of clearing a seemingly harmless Bezzina cross, leaving Scerri with time and space to drill a low shot past Mora.

It was not the turn of the vocal Valletta supporters to goad those of Birkirkara.

Zammit's response was to rope in Alan Tabone for Mallia.

Their confidence buttressed by Scerri's goal, Valletta established a firm grip on the match.

Agius, now given more freedom to push forward as Cruyff dropped back to marshall the defence, flicked high after receiving from Bezzina.

Valletta all but sealed victory when Scerri blasted home from close range after getting on the end of a pass from Roderick Briffa. Birkirkara claimed that Scerri was in an offside position but their appeals fell on deaf ears.

As Birkirkara's heads dropped, Valletta stayed in control. Priso might have increased Valletta's advantage but he sent the ball wide after receiving from Briffa.

Agius did likewise while Angus Buhagiar, who had just replaced Bajada, hit wide after being teed up by Galea.

Scerri came close to scoring his third goal when finishing off a solo run with a fierce shot but the Birkirkara rearguard deflected his effort away for a corner.

Birkirkara
J. Mora-6, A. Scicluna-6, T. Paris-5, P. Fenech-5.5, T. Cilia-6.5, M. Galea-5.5, R. Hartvig-5, S. Comvalius-6.5 ('68 C. Pulo-5), S. Bajada-5.5 ('84 A. Buhagiar), J. Zerafa-6, G. Mallia-5.5 ('58 A. Tabone-5).

Valletta
A. Hogg-6, R. Briffa-6.5, K. Scicluna-6.5, L. Dimech-6.5, G. Agius-6, J. Pace-6, J. Cruyff-6.5 ('76 S. Giglio), D. Falzon-5 ('50 S. Bezzina-7), D. Priso-7, G. Den Ouden-6 ('66 E. Agius-6.5), T. Scerri-7.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Bajada; Priso; Cruyff; E. Agius.

BoV player of the match: Terrence Scerri (Valletta).