Valletta 3
Nafti 40, 73; Umeh 90;
Naxxar Lions 1
Falzon 89;
Valletta never looked comfortable.
Their performance was disjointed in the main and the expulsion of Brazilian right-back Romeu Romau on the stroke of half-time further complicated matters but Naxxar Lions certainly did their part to make a contest of it.
Without a point after their opening five league games, the Lions defied their lowly position with a resolute performance but their lack of firepower, a weakness further exacerbated by the loss of Oussou Sidoine to injury early in the second half, undermined their brave efforts.
Coming from back-to-back defeats to Balzan and Hibernians, Valletta looked jaded, struggling to get their passing off the ground but they did just enough to secure the three points.
Indeed, the result had been in the balance until the dying stages as Daren Falzon, who had missed a first-half penalty, halved the deficit after Abdelkarim Nafti had struck a well-taken brace but Calictus Umeh settled Valletta’s fray nerves in stoppage time, his first league goal for the Citizens.
With captain Jonathan Caruana sidelined with a knee injury, City coach Paul Zammit reverted to a four-man defence. Roderick Briffa, who turned in an influential performance after replacing Caruana in the 1-0 defeat to Hibs, took up an advanced midfield role in a 4-3-3 formation that had Njongo Priso and the recalled Nafti playing either side of striker Federico Falcone.
Naxxar were missing three key players in captain Angus Buhagiar, Moises Gnenegbe and David Fenech. Coach Stefano Grima deployed his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Sidoine the pivot in attack and Falzon, Emiliano Lattes and Jurgen Debono flitting between midfield and attack.
As was to be expected, Valletta dictate the tempo from the off but it was Naxxar who threatened on 17 minutes as Debono’s set-piece cross soared into the area with a Valletta defender heading the ball away for a corner as goalkeeper Henry Bonello dashed out to clear.
Falcone was wide with a shot from outside the box and, at the other end, Sidoine held off Ryan Camilleri as he veered infield from the left before mustering a strong drive that Bonello saved with the aid of the post.
Midway into the first half, Zammit was forced into his first substitution as Italian midfielder Claudio Pani hobbled off injured and was replaced by Nigerian forward Umeh.
Finding a way past the crowded Naxxar defence was proving a tough task for Valletta who looked short of flair.
On one occasion, right-back Romao managed to get in an inviting cross after tricking his way past two players but Priso miscued his header.
Romao was instrumental when Valletta broke the deadlock five minutes from half-time.
His cross from the right was deflected towards Nafti who controlled before curling his shot into the far corner. The Tunisian celebrated his goal by taking a selfie with his team-mates and team manager Gerard Ellul who, amid the ensuing banter, was pushed to the ground.
Valletta were relieved but Naxxar were still alive. The Lions threatened when Falzon sent in a menacing cross-shot that Bonello managed to tip over the bar. From the resultant corner, Debono’s cross sparked panic in the City box. Sidoine headed goalwards but Romao stuck out an arm to keep the ball out.
Andorran referee Ignasi Villamayor duly pointed to the spot and dismissed the Brazilian but Falzon’s drive from the spot drew a fine save from Bonello.
With his team down to 10 men, Zammit repositioned Umeh as right-back and left Priso and Falcone up front.
Valletta had a good chance to extend their lead when Priso surged into the box and dragged the ball back for Falcone whose drive was blocked. Briffa was first to the loose ball but his effort was high.
Sloppy passing was not helping Valletta’s cause.
Midway into the second half, Nafti gave the ball away in midfield and Naxxar quickly transferred the ball forward. Falzon slipped a through-ball to Debono who raced into the box but Ian Azzopardi slid in to dispossess the Lions winger amid shouts of ‘penalty’. The referee saw nothing wrong.
From the possibility of drawing level, Naxxar found themselves two goals down. The move was initiated by Briffa who advanced after winning possession in midfield and then picked out Nafti with a perfect pass. Spotting Pecorella off his line, Nafti duly lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Naxxar thought they had pulled one back when Briffa miscued his clearance from Debono’s free-kick and Cardozo headed in but the Australian was offside.
Naxxar narrowed the deficit a minute later. Ishmael Grech’s cross from the halfway line bypassed the hesitant Valletta defenders and Falzon blasted past Bonello.
The Lions drew courage but their hopes were extinguished in stoppage time when Jurgen Suda, on as a late substitute, showed great composure as he raced forward before releasing Umeh who prodded past Pecorella.
Valletta
H. Bonello-7, I. Azzopardi-5, R. Camilleri-5.5, J. Cruz Gill-6, R. Briffa-6.5, N. Priso-6 (90 J. Suda), F. Falcone-4, L. Cremona-5.5, C. Pani (22 C. Umeh-6), A. Nafti-7 (83 D. Camilleri), R. Romau.
Naxxar Lions
L. Pecorella-5, B. Rajovic-6 (65 M. Del Negro-5), A. Scicluna-6, L. Lodetti-5.5, R. Cardozo-5, O. Sidoine-6.5 (59 D. Bonnici-5), D. Falzon-6.5, J. Debono-7, I. Grech-6, E. Lattes-6.5, Mandinho-6 (76 S. Hadzibulic).
Referee: Ignasi Villamayor (Andorra).
Red card: Romau (V) 45
Missed penalty: Falzon (N) 45.
BOV player of the match: Abdelkarim Nafti (Valletta).