Falzon punishes Valletta again

Ħamrun Spartans 1
Falzon 79;
Valletta 1
Caruana 2;

Expectations of a plainsailing afternoon for Valletta increased when Jonathan Caruana headed the leaders in front inside the opening two minutes of their opening Championship Pool encounter with Ħam-run Spartans.

Such predictions proved misplaced though as the Spartans, knocking down suggestions that they will rest on their laurels after sealing their top-six objective, proceeded to frustrate Valletta who, for long periods, were unrecognisable from the team that had steamrolled virtually all opposition in the preceding six months.

There have been matches this season that Valletta prevailed in despite not showing their best but the leaders, who terribly missed the flair of the suspended Denni, didn’t enjoy that privilege yesterday as Dyson Falzon, who joined the Spartans on loan from the Citizens last month, repeated his levelling act in the corresponding second-round match, when hitting a late equaliser.

Falzon again refused to celebrate but not so can be said of the Spartans fans who greeted the outcome as if they had won an honour.

The rivalry between the two sets of supporters resurfaced in the dying stages and, unfortunately, this also led to some skirmishes outside the stadium but the situation was quickly brought under control by the police.

The sharing of spoils prevented Valletta going eight points clear at the top but they remain firmly in the driving seat, six ahead of Birkirkara.

Yet, on this evidence, the title race is certainly not done and dusted, and the Spartans’ ability to hurt Valletta will surely have provided en-couragement for the chasing pack.

One of the two alterations in Valletta’s initial XI was enforced on coach Jesmond Zerafa by Denni’s ban. Kevin Sammut deputised for the Brazilian while, as expected, Edmond Agius, a solid performer for Valletta whenever called upon this season, replaced the injured Jamie Pace in midfield.

For Ħamrun, Massimo Grima and Dene Shields were back after serving their one-match ban. Lee James Agius and Peter Anizoba were rewarded for their lively cameo appearances in the previous outing with a place in the starting formation as Dylan Kokavessis was only deemed fit to start on the bench.

Marcelo Pereira, jeered by his own fans after missing a second-half penalty in the match against Vittoriosa, was absent after failing to shake off a knock.

Undoubtedly, the most notable absentee for the Spartans, apart from long-term injury victims Martin Hrubsa and Roderick Fenech, was Gaetan Spiteri whose double against Vittoriosa lifted the team into the Championship Pool.

Hardly two minutes had elapsed when Valletta broke the deadlock.

Having partially cleared a corner, the Spartans were still moving out of their penalty area when the ball landed at the feet of Edmond Agius. He duly floated a cross towards Jonathan Caruana who headed into the net.

A terrific start for Valletta but Ħamrun delivered an early warning of their attacking threat when, on seven minutes, Caruana’s blocking act on the advancing Anizoba deflected the ball into the path of the unmarked Shields who rifled just over the bar.

As the first half gathered pace, Valletta’s possession count grew but the no non-sense running of the likes of Shields, Nikolai Chipev and Anizoba meant that the Spartans’ counter-attacking was not to be discounted.

Omonigho Temile’s eagerness to vary the angles of his runs in pursuit of openings made him an awkward opponent for the Spartans.

The Nigerian winger fashioned a central shot that was saved by Borg who also blocked a similar effort from Sammut.

Little had been seen of Andrade in the opening 30 minutes as the Brazilian, playing off main striker Terrence Scerri in a 4-2-3-1 approach, struggled to get into the game.

It was only when Andrade upped his work-rate and began to drop to midfield that his contribution improved.

Two minutes from half-time, he exchanged passes with Sammut but the latter miscued his shot.

Just before the end of the opening half, Valletta had a good opportunity to extend their lead when Scerri outmuscled Grima and turned past Dragan Milovic but his shot was repelled by Borg.

The half-time whistle found Valletta still leading 1-0 but their first-half showing had left something to be desired as it was devoid of the flair and fluidity one has come to expect from the leaders.

Early in the second half, Caruana came close to scoring his second goal as the lanky defender was first to Sammut’s right-wing corner but his close-range header brought an excellent save from Borg.

Sammut’s run from deep inside Valletta’s half saw him converge dangerously on the opponents’ goal but his final effort was warded off .

Midway into the second half, Scerri headed wide from a corner. On another occasion, Sammut volleyed wide after getting on the end of Roderick Briffa’s dipping cross from the right.

Zerafa introduced Ian Zammit for the ineffective Andrade as he looked for more penetration and purpose from his side. Valletta did have the ball in the net 18 minutes from time but Scerri had strayed offside when he powered Briffa’s assist past Borg.

The Spartans now began to ask more questions of the City defence as the second half gathered pace. The growing sense that the game had more to offer was vindicated when, on 79 minutes, the Spartans equalised.

Falzon came back to haunt his former club when hammering a first-time volley past Hogg from Grima’s inch-perfect cross.

The Citizens were shocked. Suddenly, urgency crept into their game. Scerri was denied a goal by Borg who parried away his header and his follow-on flick.

Repositioned as striker following the introduction of Ryan Fenech, Agius rattled the bar with a rising shot. The game opened up as Valletta committed more men forward.

Lee James Agius was thwarted by Hogg and Rupert Mangion foiled Valletta when clearing Scerri’s header off the line.

Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg-8, D. Milovic-6, M. Grima-6.5 (86 J. Vukanic), R. Mangion-7, D. Shields-6, L.J. Agius-6.5, D. Falzon-7.5, N. Chipev-6, D. Camilleri-6, S. Bonnici (23 M.A. Bonnici-6), P. Anizoba-6 (78 M. Mifsud).

Valletta
A. Hogg-7, S. Borg-7, J. Caruana-6.5, I. Azzopardi-4, R. Briffa-5.5, E. Agius-6, G. Agius-6.5, K. Sammut-6 (80 R. Fenech), O. Temile-6, T. Scerri-5, Andrade-4 (67 I. Zammit-5.5).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Sammut; Falzon; Anizoba; L.J. Agius.

BOV player of the match: Dyson Falzon (Ħamrun Spartans).

Playing today (Hibs Stadium)
7.30 p.m. Sliema vs Qormi.