Denni steers City into final

Tarxien Rainbows 0
Valletta 1
Denni 115;

(after extra-time)

Champions Valletta moved closer to winning a treble of honours yesterday as an extra-time goal from Brazilian forward Denni edged them past Tarxien Rainbows and earned them a place in the U*Bet FA Trophy final for the third successive year.

It was a moment of brilliance from the former Tarxien livewire that swung this tie Valletta’s way just five minutes from the end of extra-time after a goalless stalemate in the regular 90 minutes.

Valletta deserved their success yesterday as they had been the more enterprising side. They created the better chances but were twice denied by the woodwork as well as some stout defending by the Rainbows.

Having battled hard to prevent their more-quoted opponents from scoring, Tarxien will feel hard done by the final outcome but credit goes to Noel Coleiro’s side for their bold performance.

Not only did Tarxien defend well, they came close to snatching what would have been a dramatic winner late on when Brazilian forward Daniel Mariano Bueno twice hit the bar in the space of 60 seconds.

The Trophy final, scheduled for today week, promises to entice a bumper crowd to the National Stadium as Valletta will will meet either Floriana or Birkirkara.

Valletta coach Jesmond Zerafa was forced to do without skipper Gilbert Agius who is nursing a hamstring injury. His place was taken by Ryan Fenech while Nigerian winger Omonigho Temile was handed a starting berth on the right flank at the expense of Kevin Sammut who began on the bench.

Terrence Scerri was also left out of the starting formation as Zerafa deployed Brazilian forward Andrade Antunes as his team’s attacking spearhead.

Coleiro, the Tarxien Rainbows coach, was without Brazilian defender Everton, suspended. His void was filled by the returning Orosco Anonam who partnered Lee Galea in the heart of defence.

Justin Grioli was omitted from the first XI with Luke Vella Critien starting at left-back while the returning Ryan Mintoff was deployed in central midfield. Brazilian Sergio started in his familiar right-wing position.

Tarxien quickly sent out a warning that they were not overawed by the occasion when, after four minutes, Gianluca Calabretta served Bueno who unleashed a powerful drive that flew just over. Valletta’s response arrived two minutes later when from a Fenech corner, Jonathan Caruana headed the ball over from a few metres out.

After that early flurry, we had to wait until the 18th minute for the next scoring opportunity when Ian Azzopardi’s cross found Fenech who tried an audacious first-time volley with the ball just missing the target with David Cassar beaten.

On 23 minutes, Valletta protested for a penalty when Fenech’s cross looked to have hit the arm of Galea in the area but referee Kevin Azzopardi waved play on.

On the half hour, the woodwork thwarted Valletta when Denni sprinted towards the Tarxien area and his attempt to pass to Andrade came off Mintoff. The ball fell kindly to Denni whose low shot sailed past Cassar but the ball came off the upright before the Tarxien keeper blocked.

Tarxien replied a minute later. From Sergio’s free-kick, Cristiano was first to the ball but his header was too central to trouble Andrew Hogg, the Valletta goalkeeper.

Denni’s speed was hurting the Tarxien rearguard and six minutes from the break, the Brazilian ace ran past two defenders before firing a low drive that skimmed past the upright.

On 42 minutes, Temile controlled the ball on the left and whizzed past Vella Critien and Galea but his curling drive was blocked by Cassar.

The match remained balanced after the interval with the Citizens enjoying more possession while Tarxien looked to hit their opponents on the break through the speed of their Brazilian trio of Sergio, Bueno and Cristiano.

Valletta almost struck on 54 minutes when Fenech sped into the area and his attempted low cross was cleared in time for a corner by Mintoff.

On 65 minutes, Bueno was first to a long clearance and headed the ball towards Cristiano who, with only Hogg to beat, failed to make contact as he was put under pressure by Steve Borg.

With just under 20 minutes remaining, Zerafa tried to boost his attack when he withdrew the tiring Temile and roped in Scerri.

Fifteen minutes from time, Scerri did well to race clear on the right before sending a teasing cross towards Denni who headed just wide.

Valletta were again left to rue their ill-luck when, 11 minutes from time, Fenech’s through-ball was met by Scerri who powered his way past an opponent before seeing his low shot hit the upright with Cassar beaten.

Five minutes from the end, the Valletta fans shouted ‘penalty’ when Scerri’s powerful incursion looked to have been stopped illegally by Galea but the referee saw nothing untoward.

Two minutes from time, the woodwork denied Tarxien a winner when from a Sergio free-kick, Bueno’s backheader came off the bar. From the rebound, Mintoff headed wide.

Sixty seconds passed and the Brazilian forward was again denied by the woodwork as his rasping drive from outside the area smacked against the bar, much to the relief of the stranded Hogg.

With the score locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes, the game moved into extra-time.

In the first 15 minutes of extra-time, it was Valletta who constructed the better chances with Scerri and Agius trying their luck with low shots that were blocked by Cassar.

During the second half of the additional 30 minutes, Tarxien seemed content to absorb Valletta’s pressure in a bid to take the tie to a penalty shoot-out while the Citizens continued to press for a winner. The largely ineffective Andrade made way for Ian Zammit.

But, the Rainbows’ plan backfired as Valletta struck the winner on 115 minutes. Azzopardi’s long ball into the area was controlled by Denni who swept past his marker before hitting an excellent shot that gave Cassar no chance amid the joy of the City fans.

To add to Tarxien’s woes, seconds before the final whistle Mintoff was sent off for aiming a kick at Valletta midfielder Edmond Agius as the latter lay grounded.

Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar, G. Calabretta, Ricardo, Cristiano, Sergio (88 J. Grioli), D.M. Bueno, L. Vella Critien, J. Vella (106 S. Sadowski), O. Anonam (116 A. Farrugia), R. Mintoff, L. Galea.

Valletta
A. Hogg, R. Briffa, J. Caruana, S. Borg,I. Azzopardi, E. Agius, J. Pace, Denni, O. Temile (72 T. Scerri), R. Fenech(99 K. Sammut), Andrade (112 I. Zammit).

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Vella Critien; Calabretta; Mintoff; Agius; Borg; Denni.

Red card: Mintoff (T) 120. Attendance 2,079.