Naxxar Lions 0
Valletta 1
Nafti 90;

This was always seen a tricky fixture for Valletta as Naxxar Lions have hit their stride in this late phase of the season.

Predictions of a tight, combative encounter materialised as Naxxar, on a high after three positive results on the run, gave as much as they got but their efforts were undone by a last-gasp goal from Abdelkarim Nafti who ensured that Valletta stayed within striking distance of Birkirkara in the race for second place.

In the lead-up to the game, Valletta coach Ivan Zammit lamented the dearth of strikers in his squad.

For much of yesterday’s game, the Citizens struggled for pace and punch up front as they depended on the runs of Nafti and Hamza Barry to unsettle the well-oiled Naxxar defence in which Ibok Edet was a towering figure.

By contrast, Naxxar could rely on a host of attacking players, the likes of Gilmar, Frank Temile and Demba Toure, who came on in the second half. The Lions not only defended well but also created a string of opportunities, also hitting a post just before Valletta produced a late flourish which culminated in Nafti’s stoppage time winner.

Injury deprived Zammit of captain Ryan Fenech and defender Ryan Camilleri.

Veteran Luke Dimech started alongside Jonathan Caruana in defence while Llywelyn Cremona deputised for Fenech, taking up an advanced position behind the interchanging Barry and Nafti.

Unfazed by the prospect of facing the defending champions and one of the best teams in the championship, Naxxar Lions coach Jesmond Zerafa made a statement of intent by selecting an attacking formation with Gilmar, Temile and Jorge leading the charge.

The game was off to a quiet start but on 12 minutes, Nafti threatened to score directly from a corner but his dipping cross-shot flashed against the far post.

Naxxar’s response saw Gilmar direct a pass to Jorge from a free-kick but the Brazilian’s angled grounder was saved by Pietro Marino, the Valletta goalkeeper.

Valletta were seeing more of the ball but Naxxar were holding their own.

Midway into the first half, Julian Azzopardi, the Naxxar goalkeeper, made two timely interventions, palming away Nafti’s dangerous set-piece cross before keeping out Caruana’s grounder in the same action.

In the match preview, Zammit identified Gilmar as one of the best foreigners in the championship.

The Brazilian showed why he is rated so highly as, on 23 minutes, he pounced on a miscued pass from Hillary Ikenna to charge clear, holding off Dimech’s challenge before producing an angled effort that was blocked by Marino.

Moments later, Zammit was forced into his first substitution as Bajada hobbled off after suffering an injury. He was replaced by youngster Kurt Borg who took up the striker’s role.

The Lions’ attacking prowess again came to the fore when Temile made headway on the right before crossing for Jorge whose volley was kept out by Marino.

Shorn of natural strikers, Valletta were finding it hard to make an impact up front as Naxxar, with Albert Bruce shielding the back four, were proving more than a match for the Whites.

Three minutes from half-time, the erstwhile subdued Roderick Briffa embarked on a dazzling run through the middle before dinking the ball to Barry in the inside-right channel but the Gambian lifted his shot over the bar.

Zerafa made his first substitution at the start of the second half, bringing on Toure for Jorge.

Valletta tried to bring some urgency to their game after the change of ends but Naxxar remained compact.

Thirteen minutes into the second half, Gilmar allowed Toure’s cross from the right to reach Terence Vella but the striker sent his shot over the bar.

But the game’s best chance came Valletta’s way close to the hour. Steve Borg’s menacing cross from the right soared dangerously towards the six-yard box but Cremona’s header, from point-blank range, dropped wide.

There was more intensity to the exchanges as the two sides lifted their game.

Gilmar spread havoc in the City defence but his low pass was cut out by Ian Azzopardi.

It was then Ikenna’s turn to weave his way into the box but his grounder, from a tight angle, was blocked by Azzopardi.

The Naxxar goalkeeper then fisted away Nafti’s cross, from a left-wing corner, as the game moved into the final 15 minutes.

Dutch striker Djamel Leeflang, who has just recovered from injury, came on for Kurt Borg.

Naxxar almost broke the deadlock six minutes from time as Gilmar’s teasing cross-cum-shot, from a free-kick, was flicked on by Angus Buhagiar but the ball hit the near post.

Nafti’s free-kick, from outside the box, rolled wide.

The Tunisian winger should have won it for Valletta on the cusp of time as Caruana’s headed assist found him unguarded in the box but Nafti skewed his effort wide with only Azzopardi to beat.

Nafti made amends moments later, the Tunisian arrowing his shot into the top corner of the net after being set up by Briffa.

Valletta’s relief was evident as coach Zammit and substitutes ran on to the pitch to embrace Nafti while the heads of the brave Naxxar players dropped.

Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-7, A. Scicluna-6, I. Edet-7, F. Temile-6.5, T. Vella-6.5 (79 D. Falzon), Gilmar-7, R.G. Cassar-6, D. Fenech-6, A. Buhagiar-6.5, Jorge-6 (46 D. Toure-6), A. Bruce-7.

Valletta
P. Marino-6.5, J. Caruana-6.5, I. Azzopardi-6, S. Borg-6, H. Barry-6, R. Briffa-6, H. Ikenna-6.5, S. Bajada (25 K. Borg-5, 77 D. Leeflang), L. Cremona-6, A. Nafti-6.5, L. Dimech-6.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Briffa; Scicluna.

BOV player of the match: Frank Temile (Naxxar Lions).

Attendance: 690.