Denni’s brace keeps City on track

Vittoriosa Stars 2
Edison 21, Micallef 90;
Valletta 3
Denni 18, 83; Scerri 27;

Three goals and a sending-off were the legacy of an action-packed first half of yesterday’s clash between leaders Valletta and bottom side Vittoriosa Stars.

Fifteen points separated these two teams before their second-round meeting but the early exchanges were not in keeping with expectations of a hassle-free evening for Valletta as the Stars troubled their opponents, especially in the opening 25 minutes, but their hopes were dashed by the early sending-off of Kevin Mifsud.

Facing the star-studded City with 11 men is already a formidable challenge, never mind with 10 players, but to their credit Vittoriosa battled on in the face of Valletta’s relentless pressure.

It says everything about Valletta’s toils to break down the Stars that they needed an 83rd-minute goal from man-of-the-match Denni to rubberstamp their victory, although the leaders should have been home and dry by then as they hit the woodwork on three occasions.

Brazilian defender Ramon and midfielder Jamie Pace were drafted back in Valletta’s initial XI after suspension kept them out of the 2-0 victory over Ħamrun Spartans on Wednesday.

Winston Muscat, the Vittoriosa Stars coach, restored midfielder Edison to the starting line-up, the Brazilian filling the void left by the suspended Leighton Grech.

The game was only two minutes old when Kevin Sammut pounced on a mishit clearance by Karl Sammut just outside the box but his dipping effort was touched away for a corner by Simon Agius.

Moments later, Vittoriosa protested for a penalty when Edison appeared to have been tripped on the edge of the area but referee Paul Caruana saw nothing untoward.

Six minutes into the game, Roderick Briffa strode forward on the right flank before picking out Omonigo Temile who let fly a first-time volley that sailed over.

The Citizens remained the more vibrant side early on and on 16 minutes, Sammut made a jinking run on the right before teeing up Scerri who fired over.

Valletta forced a breakthrough after 18 minutes. Briffa orchestrated the move with another surging run and a perfect cross for Denni who lifted the ball to slip his marker before rifling a low shot past Agius.

If the City players and fans thought that their opener would knock the fight out of Vittoriosa, they soon received a reality check as their opponents needed less than three minutes to level.

Brisk movement by the Vittoriosa forwards forced Steve Borg to clear the ball away for a corner. Karl Sammut’s set-piece cross flew towards the six-yard box where Edison headed past Hogg.

Galvanised by their goal, the Stars kept causing their opponents problems with the intelligent incursions of the likes of Jorge Silva, Edison and Anthony Ewurum.

Valletta were suddenly betraying signs of uneasiness but they received a timely boost when Scerri put them back in the driving seat. Sammut initiated a flowing City move that culminated in Denni sending in a low cross to Scerri who tapped home from routine distance on 27 minutes.

Barely two minutes later, Vittoriosa were hit by another body blow as Mifsud, who had just been booked for a late challenge on Temile, was shown the red card for swearing.

Scerri threatened to pile further misery on Vittoriosa as the towering forward met Briffa’s teasing cross from a free-kick with a first-time flick that dropped inches wide of the far post.

Four minutes into the second half, Vittoriosa’s sights turned to Caruana when the back-tracking Borg barged into the advancing Ewurum but their appeals were waved away by the man in black.

At the other end, Temile should have added a third goal for Valletta when Denni’s pass released the sprinting Nigerian but his flick came off the base of the near post. Agius, the Vittoriosa goalkeeper, then denied Denni when repelling his diagonal effort from inside the area.

The Premier League high-flyers turned the screw. Sammut headed against the far post and Pace’s piledriver was blocked with some difficulty by Agius.

Mifsud’s early dismissal may have undermined Vittoriosa’s task but it certainly didn’t dampen their determination.

Vittoriosa served up a reminder of the attacking threat when Borg and Ramon blocked successive efforts from Ewurum and Edison.

Referee Caruana faced another contentious episode when Ewurum’s pressure forced Borg to cede possession but the Valletta defender regained after jostling with the Nigerian. ‘Penalty’; screamed Vittoriosa but Caruana was unimpressed.

Valletta should have put their minds at rest when Briffa waltzed his way into the box and lifted the ball towards the unmarked Edmond Agius but the latter’s volley crashed against the post.

Pace went close when his rising drive ended over but seven minutes from time, Valletta wrapped up their win.

Cutting in from the right, Sammut drifted into the box and served Denni who hammered the ball past Agius.

In stoppage time, Vittoriosa reduced the deficit when Jorge Silva accelerated into the box and pulled the back for substitute Clayton Pisani who drove home despite Borg’s attempt to clear.

Vittoriosa Stars
S. Agius-6.5, K. Sammut-5, S. Pace-6, J. Chetcuti-6 (89 A. Elkhassasi), C. Campagnoli-6, Edison-6.5, D. Cachia-6 (78 J. Xerri), K. Mifsud, Jorge Silva-6.5, A. Ewurum-7 (87 C. Pisani), S. Wellman-6.

Valletta
A. Hogg-6, R. Briffa-6.5, Ramon-4, S. Borg-6, I. Azzopardi-5.5, E. Agius-6, J. Pace-6.5 (86 G. Agius), K. Sammut-7, O. Temile-6.5 (90 J. Okonkwo), Denni-8, T. Scerri-6.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Pace; Mifsud; Denni; Wellman; Temile; Azzopardi.

Red card: Mifsud (VS) 29.

BOV player of the match: Denni (Valletta).