BIRKIRKARA-2, VALLETTA-2

 

Valletta captured the first honour of the 2011/12 season after a 2-2 draw with Birkirkara sealed top spot for the champions in the three-team Euro Cup this evening.

After going ahead early on, Valletta were pegged back by the improving Birkirkara but back came the Citizens to score an equaliser that earned them the cup and a psychological boost ahead of the first leg of their Champions League first qualifying round against San Marino’s Tre Fiori on Tuesday.

The champions finished on top with four points, two ahead of Birkirkara and three clear of Floriana.

Valletta opened the scoring after 10 minutes. Ian Zammit delivered a precise crossfield pass to Roderick Briffa on the right. The latter headed the ball into the box and towards Brazilian striker William Barbosa who blasted past Jorge Mora.

Brazilian Denni came close to increasing Valletta’s lead with an excellent overhead kick that soared over Mora but bounced just wide of the near post.

Birkirkara had struggled in the opening stages but they improved as the first half moved on. They were awarded a penalty on 27 minutes after Argentine trialist Victor Rena, whose initial shot had been saved by Andrew Hogg, was deemed to have been pushed by City defender Steve Borg.

Alan Tabone converted the penalty to level matters for Birkirkara who continued to show the better ideas.

Hogg denied Birkirkara a second goal when pushing away Rowen Muscat’s strong drive but Patrick Curmi’s team moved ahead three minutes from half-time, Tabone hitting a firm shot past Hogg after receiving from Paul Fenech.

Valletta had been on the ropes in the final stages of the first half but they raised their game after the interval. Their efforts yielded an equaliser 10 minutes into the second half thanks to Denni’s close-range header.

Urged on by their fans, the champions pushed forward. Zammit headed the ball into the net but the striker was in an offside position. Minutes later, the inspirational Denni surged past three players before passing to Barbosa whose first-time flick was kept out by Mora.

The Citizens remained on top. Kevin Sammut, a second-half substitute for Zongo, was  twice denied by Mora after being set free by Barbosa. Borg then fired wide after getting on the end of Sammut’s cross and Denni sent his acrobatic volley over the bar from Ryan Fenech’s cross.

Mora blocked a central effort by Barbosa and, at the other end, Hogg saved Terence Vella’s header.

As the match moved into stoppage time, Sammut wasted a golden chance to seal the issue for Valletta as his first-time effort from Kurt Magro’s low cross flew straight at Mora. Birkirkara almost struck from their next attack but Shaun Bajada’s shot sailed over the bar.

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