Valletta 2
Barbosa 14; Denni 28;
Floriana 0
By the time UEFA president Michel Platini vacated his seat at half-time, the derby was all but over as a contest.
Tearing out of the blocks, the brisk-moving Valletta outshone and outclassed Floriana, the biggest rivals of them all, translating their supremacy into a two-goal cushion that they never looked like relinquishing in what turned out to be a drab second half.
Having faced criticism for their failure to make their much-vaunted technical superiority count in their last meeting with Floriana, which ended 1-1, Valletta were intent on making amends, their motivation galvanised by the prospect of pulling six points clear of title rivals Hibs ahead of the latter’s clash with Balzan Youths this afternoon.
Spurred on by the support of their fans, Valletta seemed on a mission to seal the issue early while putting on a show for the watching Platini, with Ousseni Zongo, Denni and Roderick Briffa supplying their flair that proved too much for the ultra-cautious Greens.
After their subdued showing in the first half, Floriana did improve slightly after the change of ends but only threatened on the periphery as Valletta switched to hold-what-you-have mode, perhaps keen to preserve their energies ahead of their eagerly-awaited top-of-the-table showdown with Hibs next weekend.
Briffa and Edmond Agius were restored to Valletta’s starting formation after seeing out their one-match ban as coach Jesmond Zerafa made three alterations from the team that started the 2-0 defeat of Sliema Wanderers.
Also making a return for the champions yesterday was striker Michael Mifsud who recovered from injury.
The availability of Briffa and Agius boosted the ‘Maltese’ options at Zerafa’s disposal as captain Gilbert Agius, Terrence Scerri and Roderick Bajada were among the substitutes along with Aleksandrs Cekulajevs.
Floriana’s initial formation also showed three changes from the 3-1 defeat of Balzan Youths. Thomas Paris, John Mintoff and Onome Sodje were under starter’s order as Andre Grabowski and Clyde Borg had to make do with a place on the bench while Christian Caruana was ruled out by suspension.
As the sets of fans raised the volume, Platini took his seat in the VIP zone as the expected pre-match handshake ceremony was cancelled at the eleventh hour.
Hardly 40 seconds from the start of the game had elapsed when Zongo’s jinking run from the right panicked the Floriana defence as the Burkina Faso winger squared to Denni whose close-range flick was diverted for a corner.
The Greens fashioned their first chance after nine minutes. John Mintoff’s cross from the left eluded the City defence as the ball fell invitingly to the foraging Woods who turned and shot but his close-range effort was kept out by Hogg.
The scoreboard marked 14 minutes gone when Valletta opened the scoring. They were awarded a free-kick in an inviting position and Barbosa curled his free-kick beyond Floriana’s defensive wall and into the top corner of the net.
A perfect execution from the Brazilian, one that would have made Platini, himself a free-kick specialist during his illustrious career, proud. As the ball nestled into the net, Valletta FC vice-president Paul Spiteri and Paul Borg Olivier, the PN general secretary, both seated a few rows behind the UEFA president, leapt into the air with joy.
Pouncing on Malcolm Licari’s short headed clearance, Briffa teed up Mifsud whose first-time screamer was pawed away by the alert Jansen.
Valletta remained the more dangerous side. The exciting Zongo unleashed a low strike that flashed against the base of the near post.
Floriana were let off the hook but not for long. Just past the 27th-minute mark, Zongo set off on one of his typical infield runs in the inside-right channel before hitting a defence-splitting pass that was read by Denni.
The Brazilian appeared to take a heavy first touch as the ball rolled past Jansen and towards the near post but Denni managed to squeeze the ball into the net from the tightest of angles.
The Citizens’ second goal strengthened their grip on the game as Floriana lacked the flair to muster a reaction. It was not before the 40th minute that the Greens posed danger to Valletta.
Pablo Doffo’s swirling cross from a corner was half-cleared by the Citizens, the ball flew towards Mano Micallef whose dipping effort was high.
Mifsud should have put Valletta’s minds at rest when Denni’s pass found him unmarked but the Malta captain opted to control the ball, giving Jansen time to close him down.
The Greens tried to raise their game in the second half but their efforts seldom troubled Valletta. Brincat’s decision to bring on Grabowski compelled him to withdraw a foreigner. He opted to haul off goalkeeper Jansen, who made way for Manuel Bartolo, and Grabowski replaced Darmanin.
Bartolo showed sound reflexes as he blocked Barbosa’s effort but the red-shirted players were not showing the same urgency that swept Floriana away in the opening half.
Brincat’s decision to reposition Sodje as central forward boosted Floriana’s attacking threat. With 22 minutes remaining, Sodje headed over from Mintoff’s right-wing cross.
After Doffo’s free-kick ended high, Valletta strung up a fine move as Edmond Agius picked out Denni but the Brazilian’s curler whistled past the far post.
Five minutes from the end, Hogg fisted away Doffo’s thunderous free-kick and, from the loose ball, Woods blasted over as Floriana remained dangerous from set-pieces.
The Greens should have narrowed the deficit in stoppage time when Woods’ flicked assist from Doffo’s cross whizzed towards the unmarked Grabowski but the Swedish winger scuffed his effort wide.
Valletta
A. Hogg-7, J. Caruana-6, S. Borg-6, S.M. Panandetiguiri-6, I. Azzopardi-6, R. Briffa-7 (86 R. Bajada), E. Agius-6, O. Zongo-7.5 (70 G. Agius-6), Denni-7, W. Barbosa-7, M. Mifsud-5.5 (82 T. Scerri).
Floriana
P. Jansen-6.5 (58 M. Bartolo-6), M. Licari-5, M. Micallef-6, E. Akoto-6, T. Paris-5.5, P. Doffo-6, J. Borg-4, J. Mintoff-6.5, I. Woods-5, O. Sodje-5, R. Darmanin-4 (58 A. Grabowski).
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: E. Agius; Doffo; S. Borg; J. Borg.
BOV player of the match: Denni (Valletta).