Valletta 4
Elford-Alliyu 32; Terra 63; Azzopardi 86; Montebello 90;
Qormi 0
Valletta are finding their feet... and their scoring boots.
Having struggled to show their best in their opening four games, the champions have claimed back-to-back wins for the first time this season after overcoming Qormi yesterday.
On a high after their 5-0 destruction of Sliema, Valletta encountered some stiff resistance from Qormi, who were looking to snap a four-match winless run, but the Citizens’ class told in the end.
There had been instances when Qormi, like they did in their 2-0 loss to Birkirkara, had Valletta on the backfoot, especially when Frank Temile, eager to impress against his former club, roared forward but there was never any doubt where the points were heading for once man-of-the-match Lateef Elford-Alliyu put the Whites in the driving seat just past the half-hour.
The game became a formality in the second half as Valletta, fully exposing Qormi’s defensive flaws, took command, adding three more goals to put further gloss on their win.
Once again, coach Gilbert Agius will have taken many positives from this match, not least the solid defending of Ryan Camilleri and Luke Dimech, Roderick Briffa’s overlaps on the right and Brazilian Alex Terra’s lively display on the wing.
As was to be expected, Agius kept faith with the same team and tactical approach that yielded an impressive 5-0 win over Sliema.
Adrian Zahra and Terra, so influential against the Blues, were again granted freedom to interchange on the wings while Llywelyn Cremona played off central striker Elford-Alliyu who shook off the knock he suffered in Valletta’s last outing.
Josef Mansueto, the Qormi mentor, recalled Alfred Effiong to partner Frank Temile up front while the returning Jonathan Bondin got the nod ahead of his brother Bjorn in midfield.
After 11 minutes, Cremona headed over from Briffa’s cross.
Qormi also threatened, Temile embarking on one of his trademark runs from out wide but his grounder was charged down by the back-tracking Ryan Fenech.
There was another reminder of Qormi’s attacking threat on 19 minutes when Effiong slipped a through-ball to Alex Bruce who raced into the box but Hugo Faria did well to put his body in the way of the Ghanaian midfielder.
Temile then fired wide from an angled position as Valletta continued to struggle to impose themselves in the game as their gritty opponents held firm.
Briffa’s cross from the right caused a goalmouth scramble as Cremona twice tried to head the ball to Elford-Alliyu but the Qormi defenders managed to clear.
The Citizens’ pressure grew as the first half gathered pace. Briffa was unlucky when his curling drive crashed against the crossbar but, from the same action, Zahra played in Elford-Alliyu who turned adroitly before ramming past Matthew Farrugia from close range.
Qormi shouted ‘penalty’ when Temile ran into the box to receive Steve Agius’s return pass but the Nigerian went down after making contact with the sliding Faria. Referee Andre Arciola was not impressed.
Five minutes from half-time, Qormi had a great opportunity to equalise but were thwarted by Nicky Vella. After cutting out Effiong’s dangerous cross, the City goalkeeper stopped Temile’s follow-on attempt and, from the rebound, Joseph Chetcuti scuffed his shot over the bar.
On the brink of half-time, Valletta were incensed when Farrugia fielded a backpass but Arciola deemed that the Qormi goalkeeper’s intervention was legitimate.
Three minutes into the second half, Luke Dimech warded off a dangerous effort from Bruce following a pass from Bondin.
Effiong then failed to make proper contact with the ball from Anderson’s set-piece cross.
The game remained lively. Briffa, galloping forward from right-back, produced a delightful half-volley from a tight angle but the ball landed wide of the far post.
With Qormi pressing forward for an equaliser, it was Valletta who all but secured the points. The champions surged forward on the counter as Fenech lofted the ball over a defender before setting up Elford-Alliyu who drifted into the box. The English forward looked odds-on to shoot but he squared the ball to the unmarked Terra who slotted home.
Valletta came close to extending their lead but Farrugia saved Briffa’s free-kick and Elford-Alliyu nodded wide from Faria’s cross.
Trailing 2-0, Qormi needed a goal to get back into the match.
Chetcuti’s cross-shot ended wide while, at the other end, substitute Shawn Bajada was crowded out by the Qormi defenders after a good pass from Terra.
Valletta made it 3-0 with four minutes left, Ian Azzopardi heading Terra’s cross into the net after the left-back had been left unguarded at the far post.
There was also time for substitute Luke Montebello to get on the scoresheet with an unstoppable drive.
Valletta
N. Vella-6.5, I. Azzopardi-6.5, R. Camilleri-7.5, R. Fenech-7, H. Faria-7, R. Briffa-7, L. Elford-Alliyu-7.5, L. Cremona-6 (70 H. Barry-6.5), A. Zahra-6 (74 S. Bajada-6.5), A. Terra-7 (87 L. Montebello), L. Dimech-7.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-4, J. Bondin-5, Anderson-5.5, S. Agius-6, D. Pisani-5, R. Sammut-5 (59 B. Bondin-4), J. Chetcuti-5, Z. Levnaic-5, A. Bruce-6.5 (63 P. Viggiani-4), A. Effiong-5.5, F. Temile-7 (87 G. Azzopardi).
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Yellow card: Dimech.
BOV player of the match: Lateef Elford-Alliyu (Valletta).
Attendance: 936.