Mifsud goals boost City optimism

Valletta 3
Mifsud 36, 68 pen., 81;
Floriana 0

The overriding perception that Valletta are a stronger team this season with striker Michael Mifsud in their fold was further reinforced last night.

Uplifted by his brace in Malta’s 2-1 friendly win over the Central African Republic last week, Mifsud went one better as he conjured up a hat-trick to steer the champions to a 3-0 victory over Floriana in the Super Cup clash, the curtain-raiser of the season.

His speed and lethal finishing shone through as City got their domestic campaign off to a flying start, in the process earning a boost before their league opener against Tarxien at the weekend.

The champions deserved their win as they fashioned the better chances against battling opponents who tried hard to stay in the game but were ultimately undone by Mifsud’s brilliance and the collective flair and technique of Valletta.

It will take more than this for Valletta to banish the memories of their last-gasp defeat to Floriana in last May’s FA Trophy final but this win was nonetheless one to cherish for their fans whose optimism of another trophy-laden year can only have been strengthened by this success.

Chants of ‘Ole, Ole Michael Mifsud’ echoed around the stadium as referee Chris Lautier blew the final whistle. City had to wait longer than expected to see their captain Gilbert Agius being presented with the Super Cup by MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo as the organisers took some time to set up the podium but that did not dampen their enthusiasm.

As is their wont, hundreds of Valletta fans made their way to Ta’ Qali hours before kick-off. They thronged their side of the Millennium Stand while the Floriana faithful also increased in numbers as kick-off approached.

Brazilians Denni and William Barbosa were the only two foreign players in Valletta’s starting formation as Nigerian Alfred Effiong and Burkina Faso winger Ousseni Zongo were kept in reserve by coach Jesmond Zerafa.

Floriana coach Michael Woods could only bank on one foreigner, Argentine midfielder Pablo Doffo.

Ghanaian keeper William Amamoo was again conspicuous by his absence while new Nigerian signing Boris Odwong is still awaiting his international transfer certificate.

The only newcomers in Woods’s initial selection were goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo and winger John Mintoff.

Hardly 42 seconds from the start of the game had elapsed when a left-wing cross from Ryan Fenech spread panic in the Floriana box as Bartolo failed to punch clear. Denni’s downward header was blocked and Barbosa’s follow-on drive was repelled by the keeper.

The Greens survived another scare seconds later as Mifsud cut inside Duncan Pisani and un-leashed a stinging drive that cannoned off the post.

Valletta threatened again on 14 minutes. Latching on to Fenech’s through-pass, Denni sped clear but his attempt was pushed away by Bartolo. The loose ball fell to Barbosa but Tyrone Farrugia twice denied the Brazilian with well-timed blocks.

Floriana created their first glimmer of a chance on 21 minutes when Ivan Woods’s grounder was dealt with by Hogg.

Zerafa was then forced to make his first substitution as Denni was unable to continue after picking up a thigh injury. He was replaced by Effiong.

Mifsud twice had the ball in the net but on both occasions, the ‘goal’ was chalked off for offside.

A minute past the half-hour, Christian Caruana drifted infield from the left and served Christian Cassar whose shot was too central to worry Hogg.

A sequence of abrasive challenges threatened to send tempers soaring.

Mifsud should have put City ahead as he breezed into the box to reach Barbosa’s inviting ball but his drive skimmed the upright.

Floriana’s relief was palpable but their respite was temporary as, barely two minutes later, Mifsud struck. Once again, he made a perfectly-timed run into the box to collect Gilbert Agius’s pass before slotting past Bartolo.

Six minutes before half-time, Floriana thought they had equalised when Doffo’s corner was met by Farrugia whose header nearly surprised Hogg who just managed to keep the ball out. The Greens claimed that the ball had crossed the line but the match officials deemed otherwise.

Encouraged by their instant reaction, Floriana began to present more problems to the Valletta defence.

A long-range shot from Thomas Paris was stopped by Hogg.

In the opening minutes of the second half, the score should have become 2-0 for Valletta when Effiong made headway through the middle before squaring to Mifsud whose piledriver crashed against the bar.

When Floriana were awarded a free-kick just outside the box, memories of the goal that won the Greens the FA Trophy must have flooded the minds of the City fans.

Woods took the kick but this time his effort was neutralised by the alert Hogg.

On 67 minutes, Floriana’s hopes appeared to suffer a dead blow as Valletta were awarded a penalty after Doffo clattered into Mifsud inside the box.

The City striker hit the net after a series of body swerves in the run-up but the referee ordered a re-take. This time, Mifsud elected to shoot low and hard but the result was the same as the ball flew past Bartolo.

Woods squandered a gilt-edged chance to haul Floriana back into contention when nodding wide from Mano Micallef’s service.

The Greens missed an even better opportunity to narrow the deficit as, from a corner, Micallef’s drive looked destined to reach the net but the ball hit team-mate Caruana and rolled wide.

Floriana worked up a head of steam as their opponents eased off.

Hogg saved Valletta when producing a fine save to tip away substitute Joseph Borg’s effort. The Valletta keeper pulled off another top save to push Cassar’s high-riser over the bar but from the ensuing counter-attack, Valletta wrapped up their win.

Roderick Briffa’s excellent pass set Mifsud on a run and the Malta captain shrugged off Owen Bugeja before firing past Bartolo.

Valletta came close to a fourth goal when substitute Dyson Falzon swooped at the far post but his strike came off the underside of the bar.

Last 10 winners
2011 Valletta; 2010 Valletta; 2009 Sliema; 2008 Valletta; 2007 Hibernians; 2006 Birkirkara; 2005 Birkirkara; 2004 Birkirkara; 2003 Birkirkara; 2002 Birkirkara.

Valletta
A. Hogg, J. Caruana, E. Agius, R. Briffa, I. Azzopardi, G. Agius, S. Borg, Denni (23 A. Effiong), R. Fenech (74 D. Falzon), W. Barbosa, M. Mifsud (83 O. Zongo).

Floriana
M. Bartolo, D. Pisani, M. Micallef, T. Farrugia, O. Bugeja, P. Doffo, C. Cassar, C. Caruana (78 J. Borg), J. Mintoff (57 C. Borg), T. Paris (69 R. Darmanin), I. Woods.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: E. Agius; Borg; Falzon.

Attendance: 3,800.