Tarxien’s Lucky Omeruo (right) tries beat Llywelyn Cremona, of Valletta. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Tarxien Rainbows 1
Montebello 21;
Valletta 3
Nafti 3; Oliveira 12og; Mifsud Triganza 87;

This was a lot better from Valletta. Unconvincing in their 3-1 victory over Naxxar Lions, the Citizens raised their game by several notches to emerge on top from a potentially tricky fixture against Tarxien Rainbows.

Bar a short period late in the first half, when Tarxien pressed hard for an equaliser, Valletta were in the ascendancy for long spells with young midfielder Llywelyn Cremona dovetailing with veteran Roderick Briffa to propel the team to a deserved victory.

Claudio Pani recovered from the dead leg that curtailed his participation in the Naxxar victory to take up his customary position in front of Valletta’s four-man defence.

Calictus Umeh deputised for the suspended Romeu Romau with Abdelkarim Nafti keeping his place in the team as Jhonnattann was ruled out with injury.

The Rainbows began in 4-2-3-1 fashion with on-loan Valletta forward Luke Montebello as lone striker.

The game was less than three minutes old when Valletta opened the scoring. Nafti and Cremona had the Tarxien defenders chasing shadows as the young midfielder turned before slipping the ball to the Tunisian who rifled past Andrea Cassar from inside the box.

Buoyed by his third goal in his last two outings, Nafti went close again but his effort was tipped away by Cassar.

It was not long before Valletta extended their lead. Nafti’s corner soared towards the far post where Briffa’s flick was nudged on by Priso and Bruno Oliveira turned the ball in his own net in an attempt to clear.

Tarxien were blown away by Valletta’s brisk start but they began to find their feet as the first half wore on.

And they attained a boost on 21 minutes when Pedro’s corner was met by Montebello whose back-header flew above Henry Bonello and into the far corner.

The Rainbows were now posing more of a threat going forward. Just past the half-hour, Montebello charged into the box before releasing Triston Caruana whose goalbound shot was repelled by Bonello. The loose ball dropped to Pedro but his effort was blocked.

On the cusp of half-time, Valletta appealed for a penalty after Federico Falcone appeared to have been felled by Oliveira but their protests went unheeded.

Valletta protested for another penalty as the second half got underway when Briffa went down under Daniel Zerafa’s challenge but the referee was again unimpressed.

There was no let-up from the Whites. Falcone’s curling effort grazed the crossbar after Cremona and Briffa combined to set up the Argentine, a much livelier figure in Valletta’s attack than of late.

The incoming Danilo, who replaced Hevia, aimed a firm grounder towards City’s goal but Bonello blocked.

Falcone then blasted over from close in after connecting with Priso’s cross. Valletta ought to have sealed it when, with 15 minutes remaining, Cremona ghosted his way into the box to get on the end of substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza’s cross but he was anticipated by Cassar.

City’s frustration increased when Nafti’s glancing header ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar and possibly landed beyond the goalline but assistant referee Mitchell Scerri kept his flag down.

Moments later, Tarxien were reduced to 10 men after Alves received a second booking for impeding Briffa.

Three minutes from time, Valletta wrapped up the match thanks to Mifsud Triganza. His low strike from outside the box had the better of Cassar.

Tarxien Rainbows
A. Cassar-5.5, E. Baker-6, M. Caruana-6.5 (84 A. Azzopardi), B. Oliveira-6, T. Caruana-5, L. Omeruo-6, C. Hevia Menendez-5.5 (64 Danilo-5), L. Montebello-6.5, D. Zerafa-5.5 (72 B. Muscat), A. Alves, J. Pedro-5.5.

Valletta
H. Bonello-6.5, I. Azzopardi-6, R. Camilleri-6.5, J. Cruz Gill-6, R. Briffa-7, N. Priso-6 (74 J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6.5), F. Falcone-6 (83 A. Bruce), L. Cremona-7.5, C. Pani-6, C. Umeh-6, A. Nafti-7 (89 J. Suda).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Menendez; Umeh; Nafti; Omeruo; Alves.

Red card: Alves (TR) 78.

BOV player of the match: Llywelyn Cremona (Valletta).