[attach id=245961 size="medium"]Michael Mifsud (top) hit a brace for Valletta yesterday. Photo: Paul Zammit Cutajar[/attach]

Valletta 6
Barbosa 48 pen, 90+; Mifsud 49, 57; Denni 89, 90;
Mosta 1
Mitev 61 pen;

With their title defence bid seemingly in tatters after three successive defeats, Valletta needed to win to stop the rot and restore some lost pride.

Despite missing a host of players due to suspension and injuries, Valletta were still fancied to overcome a Mosta side who have been massive let-down in the Championship Pool, losing all five of their top-six games so far.

On paper, it looked a straightforward task but, as Valletta have discovered to their cost this season, their favourites’ tag is no guarantee for success unless they impose their superior technical qualities on their opponents.

Low on confidence after their 4-2 defeat to Hibs, Valletta edged a goalless first half but showed little urgency in their play with the battling Mosta doing well to keep their opponents at bay.

The Citizens’ failure to find the net in the first half will have done little to lift the flailing spirits of the loyal fans who turned up for the match despite their frustration at the team’s stuttering form.

But, their loyalty was rewarded in the second half as Valletta hit six goals, three each in two spellbinding spells just after the break and towards the end, to overwhelm Mosta who have now conceded a staggering 11 goals in their last two meetings with the Citizens.

It will take much more than a resounding win over Mosta for Valletta to make up for their failures of late and win back the faith of the supporters who, to their credit, applauded the players at the final whistle but at least, this win helped the Citizens keep their slim title hopes alive, in the process turning up some pressure on leaders Birkirkara and title contenders Hibs and Sliema Wandererers who will be in action today.

Three of the five changes in Valletta’s starting XI were enforced on Miller by the suspension of defenders Jason Lee Vandelannoite and Jonathan Caruana, and injury to captain Roderick Briffa.

Luke Dimech, back after serving a one-match ban, alleviated Miller’s defensive problems as the Malta centre-half partnered Ian Azzopardi in the heart of Valletta’s rearguard with the recalled Dyson Falzon taking up the left-back role.

Gabriel replaced Vandelannoite while goalkeeper Yenz Cini got the nod ahead of Manuel Bartolo and Abubakar Bello-Osagie started ahead of Denni.

Bello-Osagie was one of Valletta’s three advanced midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation that was spearheaded in attack by Michael Mifsud, handed the captain’s armband in the absence of Briffa.

Mosta coach Danilo Doncic made one change from the 1-0 loss to Sliema as midfielder Ryan Grech was preferred to Alex Cini.

Three minutes into the game, Mitev dispossessed Falzon on the wing and sped through but his cross-cum-shot was blocked by Cini. The Bulgarian went closer as his effort from the edge of the box flew wide of the near post after Valletta had partially cleared a header by Bruno Chikwado Mbonu.

The Nigerian was deployed at the tip of Mosta’s 4-2-3-1 formation with Mitev, Carlos Campagnoli and Mano Micallef providing support from behind.

Valletta nearly broke the deadlock at their first attempt as Mifsud turned well inside the Mosta box but his grounder grazed the far post.

Coming from a depressing run of five consecutive defeats, Mosta knew that they had to raise their game by several notches if they were to stand a chance of taking something from their clash with the faltering champions.

Their early enterprise augured well for Mosta, Ferdinando Apap headed over from Fabio Vignaroli’s free-kick and Micallef was wide from outside the penalty area.

As the first half gained pace, Valletta began to enjoy more possession. They should have nosed ahead when Gabriel’s astute pass rolled through the crowded Mosta defence and into the path of Toure but the Senegalese striker’s mishit shot was too weak to trouble Jeffrey Farrugia in Mosta’s goal.

Eleven minutes from half-time, Mifsud sped clear of Bryan Agius but his diagonal strike was wide. The Valletta striker was then left to curse his ill-luck as his first-time flick from Toure’s inviting ball came off the near post.

When Valletta conceded a free-kick just outside the box, for a foul on Micallef, danger loomed for the Citizens as it was in perfect Mitev territory but the Bulgarian curled his shot wide.

The second half was less than two minutes old when Valletta won a penalty after Fenech’s drive from outside the box glanced off Apap’s left hand. The Mosta defender was cautioned and William Barbosa drilled his penalty shot past Farrugia.

Valletta didn’t have to wait long to increase their lead as, barely a minute later, Mifsud advanced on the right before mustering a strong shot that took a deflection off Tyrone Farrugia on its way in.

The Whites all but sealed the win 12 minutes into the second half. Barbosa was the architect as his excellent through-ball dropped to Mifsud who accelerated into the box before prodding past Farrugia.

Three goals to the good, Valletta were in control but they were quickly handed a wake-up call as Micallef got behind the dithering City defence and swept past Cini before being nudged off the ball by Dimech.

Arciola pointed to the spot and Mitev’s powerful shot gave Cini no chance.

Mosta’s goal served to refocus the minds of the Valletta players. Mifsud tried his luck from the distance but his shot was stopped by Farrugia.

After the flurry of goals early in the second half, there was a distinct drop in the intensity of the game. Cini saved Valletta from a potentially dangerous situation when blocking a dangerous cross by Mitev that was intended for Micallef.

With four minutes remaining, substitute Jojo Ogunuppe had a good opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet after being released by Toure but the Nigerian’s shot was repelled by Farrugia.

The up-and-coming Lewelyn Cremona, who had come on as a substitute, hit wide after receiving from Toure but, a minute from time, Denni, who had just entered the fray, made an instant mark as his looping shot from outside the box had the better of Farrugia.

Denni got his second moments later, this time with a close-range header from Toure’s cross. The deluge continued as, in stoppage time, Barbosa completed the scoring with a trademark shot from the distance.

Valletta
Y. Cini-6, I. Azzopardi-6, Gabriel-7 (87 Denni), R. Fenech-6, E. Agius-6, M. Mifsud-7 (83 L. Cremona), W. Barbosa-7, D. Toure-6.5 A. Bello-Osagie-6 (66 J. Ogunuppe-6), D. Falzon-6, L. Dimech-6.

Mosta
J. Farrugia-5, F. Apap-4, T. Farrugia-5, B. Agius-5 (55 S. Bezzina-4), M. Micallef-6, R. Grech-5, D. Mitev-6.5, K. Magro-5.5, C. Campagnoli-4, F. Vignaroli-6 (83 A. Cini), B.C. Mbonu-4.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Yellow cards: Apap; Grech; Dimech; Denni.

BOV player of the match: Michael Mifsud (Valletta).

Attendance: 665.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Birkirkara	27	16	7	4	58	21	34
Hibernians	27	17	3	7	57	30	32
Valletta	28	15	8	5	64	25	30
Sliema	27	14	6	7	38	22	30
Tarxien	27	13	6	8	45	38	26
Mosta	28	11	1	16	42	58	17
Floriana	27	9	10	8	38	36	25
Qormi	28	12	4	12	47	44	25
Balzan	27	8	9	10	42	45	20
Rabat	28	3	9	16	25	56	13
Ħamrun	27	5	5	17	29	69	12
Melita	27	3	8	16	23	64	10