Ħamrun Spartans 1
Calabretta 28;
Valletta 3
Zammit 16; Barbosa 70, 84;
When Valletta encountered Ħamrun Spartans in the first round of the championship, the Whites were firing on all cylinders but their fortunes, and form, have dwindled significantly since they handed their old rivals an 8-2 drubbing.
Winless in their last five matches, Valletta will have been wary of meeting a Spartans side who, in spite of their own league woes, were certainly keen to redeem themselves with an improved showing.
The Spartans will have gleaned inspiration from a gutsy first-half performance but the pattern of the game changed on the resumption as Valletta were a different beast.
William Barbosa encapsulated his team’s revival with a well-taken brace to put the Spartans to the sword as Valletta won 3-1 to breeze into the last 16 of the Trophy.
The relief of the City fans was palpable at the end of the match as they launched into ‘We love you Miller’ and ‘Victor Sciriha’ to show their support for the coach and president in this somewhat turbulent period for Valletta.
Miller’s starting XI showed three changes from the 1-0 loss to Mosta as goalkeeper Yenz Cini was preferred to Manuel Bartolo, Ian Zammit replaced Leandro and Brazilian defender Ricardo was drafted back into the first team to fill the void left by the injured Jonathan Caruana.
Michael Mifsud, the Spartans’ executioner in the first-round match with a six-goal haul, was an unused substitute as he was not fully fit.
Valletta lined up in 4-2-1-3 fashion with Denni and Ryan Fenech giving the width and Zammit deployed in the central striking spot.
Gianluca Calabretta, back from a one-match ban, was one of three changes in the Spartans’ line-up from the 2-0 upset to Floriana.
Lyubomir Vitanov and Adrian Borg were also given a starting role by Stefan Sultana who opted for 4-2-3-1 with Ryan Spiteri, Daniel Zerafa and Calabretta operating behind Terence Vella.
Valletta pressed forward from the off. After eight minutes, Andrea Cassar, the Ħamrun goalkeeper, tamed a shot by Brazilian forward Denni.
The Citizens’ brisker start produced a breakthrough on 16 minutes. Dyson Falzon arrowed a teasing cross from the left and Zammit’s header wrongfooted Cassar.
The Spartans soon fashioned a chance but Vella’s lob finished over.
The Citizens continued to enjoy more possession without extending the Spartans defence. On 27 minutes, Sultana’s men stunned their opponents by levelling the score.
A through-ball from Spiteri caught the City defence high up the pitch and Calabretta outpaced Ian Azzopardi before chipping the ball over Cini.
Given their brittle confidence, Calabretta’s goal was a knock-back for Valletta who struggled to regain their composure.
Four minutes from half-time, Valletta would have put their noses in front but for a wonderful save from Cassar who beat away Denni’s well-struck free-kick.
Early in the second half, Ryan Fenech’s humdinger crashed against the crossbar. There was a sense of renewed purpose and urgency about Valletta’s play.
Fenech again went close with a curling shot that was off target.
Amid Valletta’s increasing pressure, Roderick Fenech did well to anticipate Edmond Agius in the box.
Gabriel was high with a long-range effort. It was all Valletta now. They should have scored when Denni was first to Barbosa’s raking ball before crossing for Agius but the latter’s acrobatic volley ended over.
Twenty minutes into the second half, Cassar did well to paw away Barbosa’s screamer.
The young Spartans ’keeper could do nothing to stop Barbosa’s angled strike with 20 minutes remaining after the Brazilian had been teed up by Zammit.
Ricardo then skied his shot after receiving from Zammit.
Having replaced Gabriel, Leandro poked the ball home from a Briffa cross but the Brazilian was offside. Six minutes from time, Valletta delivered the coup de grace as Barbosa’s free-kick rolled past Cassar.
In stoppage time, the Spartans nearly pulled one back when substitute Nikolay Bozhov touched David Camilleri’s corner into the path of Fenech but the defender blasted over.
Ħamrun Spartans
A. Cassar, A. Ivanov, L. Vitanov, R. Fenech, A. Vergilov. D. Zerafa, M. Grima, A. Borg (70 D. Camilleri), G. Calabretta, R. Spiteri (73 N. Bozhov), T. Vella (86 G. Azzopardi).
Valletta
Y. Cini, D. Falzon, I. Azzopardi, W. Barbosa, E. Agius (87 K. Magro), R. Fenech (67 S. Bajada), Denni, Gabriel (63 Leandro), R. Briffa, I. Zammit, Ricardo.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow cards: Briffa; Falzon; Denni.
Attendance: 825.
Last 16 draw
The draw of the U*Bet FA Trophy fourth round, to be made this afternoon, will feature the following 16 teams:
Balzan, Birkirkara, Floriana, Gudja United, Gżira United, Hibs (holders), Lija Athletic, Marsaskala, Mqabba, Nadur Youngsters, Qormi, Rabat Ajax, Sannat Lions, St Andrews, Valletta, Żebbuġ Rangers.