Valletta 2
Falzon 47; Tourè 50;
Sliema Wanderers 0

A berth in next season’s Europa League was not the real prize for Valletta yesterday.

The Lilywhites treated this match as if its outcome might reverberate for the coming months and the result could impinge on next season.

This encounter with Sliema provided an antidote of fortunes, albeit both sides were level on 30 points in third place. The Wanderers were flying high with enthusiasm under Alfonso Greco’s guidance while Mark Miller’s men have been engulfed in a season of tumult.

Surely, victory strengthened Valletta’s position in third but above all, at the end of the match, the rancour of the Valletta supporters was briefly forgotten as a spirited performance restored a sense of normality in the City clan.

Valletta comprehensively won the battle in midfield. With Dyson Falzon, William Barbosa and Edmond Agius looking composed in the central positions, they kept the ball better throughout as Sliema’s holding midfielder Paltemio Barbetti was an increasingly peripheral figure.

With Ryan Fenech a late addition to Valletta’s injury list that included Steve Borg and Roderick Briffa, and Abubakar Bello Osagie only fit to start on the bench, Miller will have been heartened by the return of Jonathan Caruana and Jason Lee Vandelannoite, who missed the 6-1 win over Mosta because of suspension.

For Sliema, Ian Zammit and Mark Scerri were suspended yesterday. Italian forward Luigi Ruggiero deputised for Zammit, while, in Scerri’s absence, Beppe Muscat was given a rare start in midfield.

It was Valletta who looked more adventurous in the opening minutes in a 4-1-3-2 set-up which had Barbosa in front of the defence, behind Gabriel with Falzon on the left side of midfield and Agius on the right.

Valletta’s approach confused Sliema who had Barbetti sitting deep and distributing the ball but there was too much space between defensive line and the advanced midfield trio made of Beppe Muscat, Shawn Bajada and Matias Muchardi.

Michael Mifsud and Ian Azzopardi revelled in the open spaces on the flanks. The nippy Mifsud was the fastest out of the blocks. He only took 60 seconds to prise open the Blues rearguard with a swerving shot that smacked against the post after a mazy run down the left.

The energetic Azzopardi had the pace to advance on the left flank and provide more width.

After seven minutes, he surged forward, played a quick one-two with Falzon and stroked the ball across Clifford Gatt Baldacchino to Mifsud but Stefano Bianciardi cleared the danger.

In the 19th minute, Mifsud was close to a goal when, after beating John Mintoff and Glenn Zammit, his teasing dipper skimmed the top of the bar.

Valletta surrendered their grip on the proceedings midway through the first half and Sliema had their chances during what was a sustained effort after 24 minutes.

But Ruggiero’s composure deserted him as his attempt to lift the ball over Yenz Cini was blocked by the on-rushing goal-keeper and Muchardi hit wide from rebound.

After that, it was all Valletta.

On the half-hour mark, Gabriel’s point-blank header was saved by Zammit. Five minutes later, Mifsud produced another fine run that ended with the striker’s long-range shot being saved at full stretch by Zammit.

Three minutes into the second half, Valletta were in front when Vandelannoite’s right-wing cross landed at the feet of Falzon at the far post and he did well to fire past Zammit.

A frustrating afternoon for Sliema turned into a disastrous one when Falzon turned provider to dink a perfect assist for Mifsud who headed the ball into the path of Demba Tourè. The Senegal lad raced into the box and headed the ball past Zammit.

Toure, however, required medical attention after colliding with the keeper in the action and was substituted by Bello Osagie.

Greco swapped Alain Faccini for Ruggiero and Luca Martinelli for Mintoff. The Italian striker might have handed his side a lifeline after 62 minutes but his headed goal from Alex Muscat’s cross was ruled out for offside.

Hopes that this move woud spark an improvement in Sliema’s performance were almost brus-quely extinguished moments later as Bello Osagie surged clear on the left flank before unleashing a grounder but Zammit did well to push aside.

After that, Valletta switched to cruise mode as the Wanderers rarely troubled their opponents to concede their second defeat in a row following the previous week’s 1-0 upset to Birkirkara.

Valletta
Y. Cini-6.5, J. Caruana-6 (81 L. Cremona), I. Azzopardi-6, Gabriel-6, E. Agius-7.5, M. Mifsud-7, W. Barbosa-7, D. Tourè-6 (53 A. Bello-Osagie-6), D. Falzon-7 (63 D. Bogdanovic-5), J. Vandelannoite-6, L. Dimech-6.5.

Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-6, A. Muscat-5, P. Barbetti-5, J. Mintoff-5 (59 L. Martinelli-4), L. Ruggiero-5 (59 A. Faccini-5), C. Gatt Baldacchino-5, I. Woods-4, S. Bajada-4, M. Muchardi-6.5, B. Muscat-5 (75 M. Ciantar), S. Bianciardi-6.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Mifsud; Caruana; Bajada.

BOV player of the match: Dyson Falzon (Valletta).

Attendance: 723.

Standings