Dominant Valletta maintain perfect start

VALLETTA-3, QORMI-1

Champions Valletta maintained their perfect start to the season with a 3-1 win over Qormi in this evening's second Premier League game.

The Citizens' victory was never in doubt as they dominated from start to finish to make it three wins from three games, in the process extending their unbeaten run in the league to 36 matches, just one short of Hibs' record.

Valletta created their first chance after eight minutes. Denni powered past Roderick Sammut and Jonathan Bondin before passing to Michael Mifsud who fired wide.

The Citizens were all over Qormi in the opening stages. They opened the scoring on 18 minutes with a picture goal from Jamie Pace. Receiving a pass from Roderick Briffa deep into Qormi's half, Pace unleashed a powerful drive that sailed past the diving Matthew Farrugia and into the top-left corner.

With Qormi struggling to venture out of their half, Valletta remained in control. Qormi goalkeeper Farrugia denied the champions a second goal when pushing away Denni's drive after the latter had received from Barbosa.

Eight minutes from half-time, Nigerian forward Alfred Effiong crossed for Mifusd but the latter headed just wide from inside the six-yard box.

Valletta made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time. Pouncing on a loose ball in midfield, Brazilian livewire Denni sped past a host of Qormi players before placing a low shot past Farrugia.

Early in the second half, William Barbosa was close with a dipping shot that sailed just over. Valletta extended their advantage on 56 minutes, Effiong rifling the ball from inside the area after the Qormi defenders had partially blocked an attempt by Mifsud.

The game looked over as a contest but Qormi managed to reduce the deficit midway through the second half. They were given a penalty after Valletta defender Steve Borg was deemed to have pushed the advancing Jorge to the ground. Qormi captain Joseph Farrugia made no mistake from the spot.

Valletta quickly regained the initiative. Barbosa headed wide from Denni's cross and Gilbert Agius, who had just replaced Briffa, was denied by Steve Sultana, himself a second-half substitute for Farrugia.

Effiong came closer to re-establishing Valletta's three-goal lead but his header from Barbosa's cross dropped inches wide.

Mifsud also fired wide after receiving from Barbosa. With nine minutes remaining, Qormi defender Roderick Sammut denied Valletta a fourth goal when blocking Effiong's close-range effort.

Denni was named BOV player of the match.