Cekulajevs scores twice as City canter through

Valletta 3
Cekulajevs 3, 72; Mifsud 25 pen;
Mosta 1
Obiefule 43;

Striker Aleksandrs Cekulajevs continued to strengthen his reputation as a lethal striker and a great Valletta signing with a well-taken brace that propelled his team past Mosta and into the semi-finals of the U*Bet FA Trophy, yesterday.

Cekulajevs, who was only making his second appearance for the Citizens, took only three minutes to leave his mark in the match when he put his team ahead with an exquisite goal.

The former Trans Narva goal-poacher, scorer of 46 goals in the eastern European season before his move to the Maltese league, sealed victory midway through the second half to make sure of Valletta’s sixth successive appearance in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy and leave the Whites on course to complete a league and cup double.

Mosta will feel somewhat disappointed to exit the cup competition but despite showing great tactical organisation they seemed to lack that quality upfront to upset their more-quoted opponents and will now have to concentrate on securing their top-flight status in the coming weeks.

Valletta coach Jesmond Zerafa had no injury problems and reconfirmed the same starting formation that featured in the 2-0 defeat of Balzan Youths the previous weekend. Latvian Cekulajevs, who was presented to the media earlier in the day, was again deployed up-front along with Michael Mifsud.

Mosta, on their part, were without coach Steve D’Amato. He was serving suspension and the team was led in the dug-out by his assistant Pio Vassallo.

The Blues had to do without Yannick Ossok who was suspended. Florent Raimy was moved in a centre-back role with Serbian Predrag Mirceta handed a starting role in midfield. Ian Zammit and Kurt Grima were back in the fray after missing the starting line-up in the 2-1 defeat to Hibernians.

Valletta took just a few minutes to break the stalemate and it was a clinical finish from Cekulajevs.

He raced inside the area to control a Saidou Panadetiguiri pass and showed great skill and talent when hitting over the surprised Mosta goalkeeper Glenn Zammit from a tight angle.

That early goal inevitably settled any nerves the Citizens might have had as they started to move around more freely with Mosta working incessantly to try and close all gaps to their goal.

On 17 minutes, Jonathan Caruana pushed forward and unleashed a powerful drive that flashed just wide.

Mosta’s first real chance of the match arrived on 22 minutes when Obinna Obiefule surged inside the area but the Nigerian striker was denied by the onrushing Andrew Hogg, the Valletta goalkeeper.

However, it was City who doubled their lead on 25 minutes when Cekulajevs anticipated keeper Zammit before he was sent crashing down to the turf with the referee immediately pointing to the spot.

From the penalty, Mifsud rammed the ball past Zammit.

Two goals to the good, the Citizens were in complete control now and seven minutes from the break they almost added a third goal.

Mifsud showed great footwork to surge inside the Mosta area before sending an inviting ball towards the far post were Raimy was on hand to anticipate the goal-bound Ousseni Zongo.

A minute later it was Denni who tried his luck from outside the box but his shot flew just over.

With many at the stadium already thinking that the match was over as a contest, Mosta were handed a lifeline on 43 minutes to re-open the issue.

Steve Borg’s attempted clearance ricocheted off Caruana with the ball falling kindly to Obiefule who cooly slotted the ball past Hogg.

The Blues withdrew the ineffective Kibona at half-time and roped in Terrence Vella as they looked to add more impetus to their attacking manoeuvres.

It was Valletta who threatened first as on 51 minutes Denni did well to connect with Edmond Agius’s ball but his effort finished just over the bar.

Mosta came agonisingly close to an equaliser on 62 minutes when they were awarded a free-kick deep into the right channel. Raimy was first to reach Vella’s delivery but his dipping header skimmed the upright with Hogg beaten.

City responded four minutes later as Denni quickly transferred the ball towards Roderick Briffa who found himself in ample space in the opponents’ box but his stinging drive flew over.

Twenty minutes from time, Mosta withdrew Jonathan Bajada and roped in Gilbert Martin in a bid to bolster the forward line.

However, it was Valletta who practically sealed the issue on 72 minutes when Denni evaded the attention of two Mosta defenders before sending in a low pass towards Cekulajevs who hit the ball first-time into the net.

Panadetiguiri almost put his name on the scoresheet a minute from time. His firm volley looked heading into the net but in came Adrian Borg who cleared the City wing-back’s attempt right off the line.

Valletta
A. Hogg, J. Caruana, S. Borg, S. Panadetiguiri, A. Cekulajevs, I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa (86 R. Bajada), E. Agius (83 G. Agius), O. Zongo (76 W. Barbosa), Denni, M. Mifsud.

Mosta
G. Zammit, A. Borg, K. Farrugia, L. Martinelli, F. Raimy, J. Bajada (70 G. Martin), K. Magro, P. Mirceta (80 S. Grech), I. Zammit, Z. Kibona (46 T. Vella), O. Obiefule.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Zammit, Borg, Martinelli, Panadetiguiri.