Red Star Belgrade 2
Donald 30, Katai 76
Valletta 1
Caruana 11
(Red Star win 4-2 on aggregate)
Valletta’s run in this season’s Champions League came to an end yesterday after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Red Star Belgrade to bow out of UEFA’s premier competition 4-2 on aggregate.
The Malta champions left the Arena Stadium with a few regrets after a very positive showing in an entertaining encounter with action at both ends of the field.
Jonathan Caruana’s 10th-minute goal gave the Citizens hope of overturning last week’s 2-1 defeat at the Hibs Stadium and team-mate Jhonnattann missed an open chance to double their lead minutes later.
That proved fatal as the former European champions equalised on the half hour.
But Valletta never threw in the towel and on the restart created a few other chances that could have tilted the balance in their favour. Indeed had lethal striker Federico Falcone been available the story might have been different as City’s profligacy in front of goal came back to haunt them.
Eventually, Red Star went on to clinch the winner and seal their place in the next stage.
The Serbians will now face Bulgarian side Ludogorets in the third qualifying round.
Valletta coach Paul Zammit was forced to make two changes to his formation as Manuel Bartolo started in goal in the absence of the injured Henry Bonello while Michael Mifsud replaced Falcone who missed out with a muscle tear.
The Citizens started brightly and soon forged ahead.
From a corner, Caruana was first to Jhonnattann’s delivery and the Malta defender headed firmly past Red Star goalkeeper Damir Kahriman.
The home team looked rattled and on 22 minutes Jhonnattann should have doubled Valletta’s lead.
In a quick foray, the Brazilian forward sped clear and with only Kahriman to beat he sent his effort just wide of the upright.
Red Star finally threatened on 25 minutes when Hugo Viera profited from lack of communication between Caruana and Roderick Briffa but his effort was well saved by Bartolo.
The hosts drew level on the half hour. Guelor Kanga fed Mitchell Donald on the edge of the area and the Dutch midfielder hit a rasping drive that gave Bartolo no chance.
Red Star grew in stature and three minutes later Hugo Ibanez almost made it 2-1 but his deft flick from routine distance forced a smart save from the Valletta goalkeeper.
Eleven minutes into the second half, Mifsud did well to turn past two defenders but his low shot was parried away by Kahriman.
Red Star were denied by the woodwork on 59 minutes. They were awarded a central free-kick and Aleksandar Katai’s curling drive came off the upright and from the rebound Viera fired wide.
Jhonnattann’s pace was proving a handful for the Red Star defenders and on 68 minutes he embarked on a surging run that took him past two defenders but his grounder flashed wide.
Valletta paid dearly for this miss as seven minutes later Red Star went 2-1 up.
Substitute Slavoljub Srnic, who had just replaced Pablo Mouche, put Katai clear and the skipper kept his cool to slid the ball past Bartolo.
The Citizens soon responded and three minutes later Santiago Malano picked Mifsud who showed great skill to turn past Zoran Rendulic but the forward was denied by the onrushing Kahriman.
Red Star almost struck a third goal when Ibanez sped clear but was thwarted by the alert Bartolo.
The Valletta goalkeeper again distinguished himself in stoppage time when he pushed away Katai’s shot.
Red Star: D. Kahriman, D. Le Tallec, G. Kanga (85 J. Ruiz), A. Katai, P. Mouche (66 S. Srnic), M. Cvetkovic, M. Donald, H. Viera (70 P. Sikimic), Z. Rendulic, L. Ibanez, T. Phibel.
Valletta: M. Bartolo, J. Caruana, I. Azzopardi (78 U. Calistus), S. Borg, J. Cruz Gill, M. Mifsud, R. Briffa 90 (L. Cremona), C. Pani, L. Aguirre, Jhonnattann, R. Romao (72 S. Malano).
Referee: Tore Hansen (Norway).
Yellow cards: Donald, Briffa, Borg, Cremona.