Leaders fire a blank as Marsaxlokk make point

Valletta 0
Marsaxlokk 0

‘Valletta out to avoid the blues’ read the headline of The Times preview ahead of this clash between the Citizens, the tearaway leaders, and Marsaxlokk.

Twelve points to the good at the summit of the table, Valletta had been regarded as favourites to extend their winning sequence to seven matches but Marsaxlokk’s tenacious performance in their 2-0 defeat of Birkirkara ought to have served as an eye-opener for the Citizens.

As it turned out, Valletta partially avoided the blues yesterday as they failed to sparkle in a generally uninspiring match in which the well-oiled Marsaxlokk relied on their fighting qualities and tactical cohesion to stymie their opponents’ renowned flair as the game ended goalless.

After a dismal opening half, in which Valletta had been a pale shadow of their usual selves, the pace-setters improved in the second period but they could not break down Marsaxlokk’s resistance which was epitomised by Andrew Spiteri who effected two vital goal-line clearances late in the game.

The stalemate pleased Marsaxlokk most as the southerners have made an important step towards clinching a place in the Championship Pool.

Despite their opaque showing, Valletta should be satisfied to have taken a point from a difficult match as the result preserved their unbeaten record and also took them 13 points clear, albeit having played a game more than Floriana and Tarxien Rainbows.

Andrew Hogg reclaimed Valletta’s no.1 jersey after suspension kept him out of last week’s 2-0 defeat of Tarxien. The return of the Malta goalkeeper was not the only change in Jesmond Zerafa’s initial XI as midfielder Jamie Pace was also back in the fray after recovering from a minor injury, filling the void left by the absence of injured captain Gilbert Agius.

There was no first-team recall for Brazilian defender Ramon as Zerafa resisted the temptation to push Roderick Briffa from right-back to midfield while confirming the central defensive partnership of Steve Borg and Jonathan Caruana.

With Clive Brincat ruled out by injury, Marsaxlokk coach Patrick Curmi was compelled to make one alteration to the team that outsmarted Birkirkara in their last league outing.

Veteran midfielder Peter Pullicino was drafted back into the first team as Bulgarian Rumen Galabov dropped to centre-back to replace Brincat.

Marsaxlokk’s 4-1-4-1 formation had Nigerian Alfred Effiong as its attacking spearhead but the likes of Gareth Sciberras, Martin Deanov and Trevor Templeman were encouraged to push forward in support of their lone striker.

There were no tactical surprises from Zerafa who again favoured a 4-4-1-1 approach with Brazilian Denni playing off Terrence Scerri.

The game was just over three minutes old when Caruana sliced his header wide of the far post after reaching a right-wing cross from Kevin Sammut.

The early exchanges were short of creative football as the two teams struggled to make inroads up front.

Marsaxlokk won their first corner on 27 minutes after Borg deflected Effiong’s cross from inside the area. Deanov’s set-piece cross sailed towards Licari who headed wide.

Forlorn shouts of ‘Come on Whites’ were intended to encouraged Valletta to shake off their early rustiness. Two minutes short of the half-hour, Sammut powered his way through down the inside-right channel before serving Scerri whose first-time volley was easily saved by Reuben Gauci, the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper.

Despite offering little going forward, Marsaxlokk were doing a good job of negating Valletta’s attacking threat.

The southseasiders came closest to taking the lead on 33 minutes when Effiong won a header inside the box with the ball falling to Florent Raimy whose first-time grounder grazed the far post.

Further proof of Marsaxlokk’s potential to cause Valletta problems in attack came moments later when Effiong set off on a diagonal run before hitting a dangerous shot that was repelled by City left-back Ian Azzopardi.

A free-kick by Deanov was deflected away for a corner as Marsaxlokk remained the more dangerous side.

At the other end, Sammut squandered a gilt-edged chance to fire Valletta ahead, the Malta midfielder scuffed his effort wide and high from point-blank range after being picked out by Scerri.

Sammut was more effective at the back as he nudged the ball away from Templeman as the latter was shaping up to connect with Effiong’s cross.

Valletta tried to up their rhythm at the start of the second half but they almost got caught on the counter.

Having cleared a Valletta corner, Marsaxlokk were quick to get the ball to their midfielders, Deanov sped through before directing a forward pass to Effiong who raced clear only to rush his shot which was easily blocked by Hogg.

A City attack released Scerri but his central strike posed no danger to Gauci. On another occasion, Caruana’s header from Sammut’s free-kick was cleared away by the Marsaxlokk defenders as the game showed signs of coming to life.

Denni’s floated pass threatened to prise open the Marsaxlokk defence as Sammut closed in on goal but out came Gauci to fist the ball away.

The versatile Briffa had been subdued in the first half but he increased the frequency of his surging runs down the right after the change of ends.

Borg’s lofted ball from a free-kick unhinged the Marsaxlokk defence but Gauci reacted quickly to avert danger before Denni could reach the ball at the far post.

With 20 minutes remaining, Agius teed up Briffa who mustered a fierce drive but Gauci saved in two attempts.

Zerafa was forced to make his first substitution 16 minutes from time after Pace succumbed to a thigh injury. The introduction of Ramon necessitated a positional change as Borg switched to right-back and Briffa moved to midfield.

Denni’s dipping effort from a long-range free-kick was stopped by Gauci. The incoming Dyson Falzon delivered a low cross from the left but Scerri’s attempt to surprise Gauci with a back-heeled effort failed as his attempt was too weak.

Seven minutes from time, Spiteri, a solid performer on Marsa-xlokk’s left wing, frustrated Valletta with two providential clearances, both from Denni.

In the first instant, Denni accelerated into the box from the left and flicked the ball past Gauci but Spiteri was on hand to hook the ball off the line. From the ensuing melee, Denni was on the receiving end of a cross but his far-post header was again blocked by the well-placed Spiteri.

As the end of the game loomed large, Valletta stormed forward with renewed urgency.

Ian Zammit, who had just rep-laced Sammut, stooped to get on the end of Briffa’s cross but his diving header was off target.

Marsaxlokk almost snatched a dramatic winner when Ryan Darmanin, who had come on for Effiong, intercepted Borg’s poor throw-in just outside the Valletta box but his shot hit the post.

Valletta: A. Hogg-6, J. Caruana-6, S. Borg-6, I. Azzopardi-6, R. Briffa-6.5, E. Agius-6, J. Pace-6 (72 Ramon-6), K. Sammut-6.5 (84 I. Zammit), O. Temile-5 (73 D. Falzon), Denni-6.5, T. Scerri-5.5.

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci-6.5, M. Licari-6, A. Spiteri-7.5, E. Yantchev-7, F. Raimy-7, G. Sciberras-6, P. Pullicino-6, R. Galabov-6, M. Deanov-6.5, T. Templeman-5.5 (70 G. Caruana-5), A. Effiong-6 (87 R. Darmanin).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Temile; Templeman; Raimy; Galabov; Deanov.

BOV player of the match: Roderick Briffa (Valletta).

Attendance: 2,225.