Fc Minsk 2
Valletta 0
(Fc Minsk Win 3-1 On Aggregate)

Valletta’s run in this season’s Europa League came to an end yesterday when they conceded two second half goals to go down to FC Minsk 2-0 at Torpedo Zhodino Stadium and bow out 3-1 on aggregate.

After a 1-1 draw in last week’s first leg at the National Stadium, Valletta had harboured hopes of prog-ressing to the next round.

The Citizens did manage to share the exchanges with FC Minsk for much of the first half but the Belarus team stepped up a gear after the interval hitting two goals in the space of seven minutes to seal the tie.

In the third qualifying round FC Minsk will play St Johnstone, of Scotland, who ousted Norway’s Rosenborg 2-1 on aggregate.

Valletta started brightly and managed to control proceedings in the opening stages with Denni and Barry Hamza seeing their efforts blocked by the Minsk defence.

However, it was the hosts who came close to an opener as on 20 minutes Vitali Kibuk hit a fierce drive that just missed the target.

Six minutes later Valletta goal-keeper Pietro Marino came to his side’s rescue when he produced a fine save to keep out an effort from Roman Begunov.

Valletta threatened on 29 minutes when Hamza’s shot flew just wide.

However, the hosts quickly regained the initiative and Marino again distinguished himself with timely blocks on Begunov and Dmitri Gorbushin.

The Citizens were dangerous again five minutes from the break when Dyson Falzon was fouled just outside the area and from the resultant free-kick Hamza saw his shot flash wide.

On the restart, Mark Miller, the Valletta coach, withdrew Ian Azzopardi and roped in Shaun Bajada in a bid to add more steel to his midfield.

Minsk came close to taking the lead on 52 minutes when Marino kept out Gorbushin’s shot.

At the other end Denni could have put Valletta ahead but fired wide from an inviting position.

A minute later, Minsk got the breakthrough when Kibuk released Vasilyuk who hit the ball past Marino.

Valletta tried to force a reaction and almost drew level on 59 minutes when Hamza unleashed a firm drive that was pushed away by goalkeeper Vladimir Bushma.

Minsk all but wrapped up the tie with a second goal on the hour when Vasilyuk this time turned provider to set up Kibuk who doubled his team’s lead.

Valletta tried to get back in the match and on 65 minutes they were awarded a free-kick from the edge of the area but Ryan Fenech’s shot flew just wide.

On 72 minutes Bajada came close to pulling a goal back for Valletta but hit badly from a good position.

Nine minutes from time, Nikita Bukatkin almost hit a third for Minsk but Marino again stood out with a fine save.

Hamza had a late opportunity for Valletta to pull a goal back but saw his hot going wide to cap a frustrating evening for the Citizens.

FC Minsk: V. Bushma, A. Sverchinski, R. Begunov, S. Sosnovski, A. Sachivko, M. Rnic, S. Kozeka, D. Gorbushin (57 A. Buloychik), V. Kibuk (78 Rozhok), N. Bukatkin, R. Vasilyuk (89 A. Makas).

Valletta: P. Marino, J. Caruana (69 R. Antoneli), I. Azzopardi (46 S. Bajada), J. Vandelannoite, L. Dimech, R. Feench, R. Briffa, B. Hamza, Denni, D. Falzon, A. Obaje (77 I. Zammit).

Referee: Alexander Kostadinov (Bulgaria).

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