Valletta 1
Denni 50;
Balzan 0
It was mission accomplished for title pretenders Valletta last night as the Citizens secured the three points they needed against Balzan to set up a title decider against Birkirkara on Saturday.
Yet Andre Paus’s team were forced to bank on every ounce of their combative qualities to collect the points at stake against a gritty Balzan side.
It was far from a comfortable outing from the Citizens who were frustrated time and again by the well-organised Balzan defence.
Sensing his team’s difficulties, particularly in penetrating the Balzan’s wall, Paus effected some tactical changes, shifting action on the flanks to see more in attack with Alan da Silva Souza and Denni in particular providing speed and guile on the wings.
Denni’s goal appeared to bring the Valletta team into life as in the final moments they threatened to score on more than one occasion.
In the end, Denni’s goal proved enough as the Citizens moved just two points behind leaders Birkirkara.
Luke Dimech and Jonathan Caruana both returned to the Valletta starting formation after both missed the 5-0 win over Mosta due to suspension. Roderick Briffa was ruled out by suspension as Ian Azzopardi was demoted to the bench.
Balzan coach Jesmond Zerafa made only one change from the 4-4 draw with Hibernians, Justin Grioli taking the place of midfielder Firas Aboulezz who was among the substitutes.
Balzan began the game confidently, threatening to take the lead as early as the 11th minute.
A perfect pass from Pedrinho reached Dylan Grima who stretched his leg to reach the Brazilian’s inswinger but Nukri Revishvili, the Valletta goalkeeper, leapt to his left to push the ball around the post.
Labouring to overcome their inauspicious start to the game, Valletta mustered their first genuine attempt after 21 minutes. Steve Borg directed a header from Abdelkarim Nafti’s flighted ball towards goal only to see his attempt finish just over the bar.
Amid Valletta’s efforts to infuse any fluency into their attack, Pedrinho’s free-kick finished just wide off the far post.
Denni combined well with Da Silva Souza but the latter ran himself into a wall of Balzan defenders.
Fourteen minutes from half-time, a long-range drive from Da Silva Souza signalled the first spell of sustained pressure from the Lilywhites.
Set out in a 5-3-2 formation, Balzan defended diligently to restrict their opponents to a couple of half-chances as Valletta were relying too much on long-range shots.
The Citizens looked a more aggressive side after the restart. The tactical module was 4-1-2-3 with Denni and Da Silva Souza playing either side of Luke Montebello.
Paus’s troops were winning a number of flag-kicks from the right where Balzan looked vulnerable. And it seemed just a matter of time until Valletta made the breakthrough and their opener duly arrived after 50 minutes.
Denni met Da Silva Souza’s teasing cross from the right with a first-time flick that beat Emanuel Bartolo, the Balzan goalkeeper.
In the 68th minute, Grima limped out injured. This was the cue for Zerafa to throw caution to the wind, adding a third striker with the introduction of Ryan Darmanin.
Yet the Lilywhites continued to be the better side, Ryan Fenech passed to Montebello whose drive was deflected away for a corner.
Perhaps, unimpressed by his team’s approach after Denni’s opener and in a bid to kill off Balzan’s hopes, Paus made a double substitution. Elford Lateef-Alliyu replaced Da Silva Souza with Edmond Agius coming on for Montebello.
In the 78th minute, Shawn Bajada made an intelligent run on the left run before trying his luck with a delicate lob over Bartolo which finished just wide.
Five minutes from time, Agius ran menacingly towards goal, using all his power to outmuscle Aboulezz only to flick the ball wide.
Amid Valletta’s insistent pressure, Balzan managed only a single attempt on goal in the second half, when a Steve Bezzina cross-cum-shot flew harmlessly into Revishvili’s hands.
Balzan’s hopes were jolted in stoppage time when Pedrinho was sent off after earning a second yellow card for pushing Fenech.
Seconds later referee Paul Caruana blew the final whistle to the delight of the City fans.
Valletta: N. Revishvili-6, J. Caruana-6, S. Borg-6, R. Fenech-6.5, L. Montebello-5.5 (76 E. Agius), A. da Silva Souza-7.5 (76 L. Elford-Alliyu), S. Bajada-6, Denni-7, I. Maisuradze-7, A. Nafti-5, L. Dimech-6.
Balzan: E. Bartolo-6, J. Grioli-6, S. Bezzina-6.5, A. Scicluna-6, Ramon-6, K. Magro-6, D. Grima-6 (68 R. Darmanin-5), E. Bilbao Zarate-7, Pedrinho, L. Micallef-6 (77 F. Aboulezz), J.L. Armario Negrin-5.
Referee: Paul Caruana.
Yellow cards: Grioli; Dimech; Magro, Bartolo, Pedrinho.
Red card: Pedrinho (B) 90.
BOV Player of the match: Alan da Silva Souza (Valletta).