Valletta 2
Nadur Youngsters 0
Two first-half goals were enough for Valletta to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy yesterday after the Premier League leaders outclassed GFA Division One table-toppers Nadur.
The contest was over after 25 minutes, the time it took Valletta to open a two-goal lead before administering that cushion advan-tage in a second-half stroll at the Centenary Stadium.
Valletta coach Mark Miller made five changes to the side that started the 2-0 win over Sliema Wanderers last Saturday.
Denni, Dyson Falzon and Edmond Agius were all in the starting formation as Manuel Bartolo was preferred to Yenz Cini in goal.
All eyes, however, were on Daniel Bogdanovic, City’s new signing. The Malta striker failed to score but endeared himself to the Valletta fans with a committed performance.
The game had barely kicked off when Demba Toure was sent crashing to the ground just outside Nadur’s box. The free-kick was awarded in perfect William Barbosa territory and the Brazilian let fly a delightful inswinger past the despairing dive of Mark Grima to score one of the quickest FA Trophy goals ever.
Nadur did not wilt under the pressure and almost levelled matters when Claudio Antunes’s effort from just outside the area skimmed the crossbar.
A few moments later, Antunes turned provider with an inviting cross and Sandro Muller’s point-blank header drew a smart save from Bartolo.
But it was Grima who suffered a second goal on 25 minutes.
Bogdanovic laid the ball into the path of Toure from a corner and the latter headed home in an untenanted net.
Valletta seemed happy to have taken a double lead and the opening stages of the second half were even more conspicuous with a dearth of goalmouth action.
Valletta were in total control though and unlikely to let a two-goal advantage slip away. They looked satisfied with hitting the ball around and rarely troubled the Nadur defence.
On one occasion, Michael Mifsud, a second-half substitute, drifted inside the Nadur penalty area but his shot was well saved by Grima.
Valletta: M. Bartolo, J. Vandelannoite, J. Caruana, L. Dimech, D. Falzon, W. Barbosa, E. Agius, R. Fenech (57 M. Mifsud), D. Bogdanovic, Denni (46 J.J. Ogu-nuppe), D. Toure (73 Gabriel).
Nadur: M. Grima, B. Meilaq, F. Camilleri, S. Muller, C. Mercieca, C. Hili (79 P. Camilleri), M. Stojanovic, A. Simoncic (78 S. Attard), C. Antunes, A. Portelli (83 B. Said), J. Buttigieg.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
The QFs pairings
Balzan vs Qormi; St Andrew’s vs Lija; Rabat vs Valletta; Hibs vs Żebbuġ.
Matches to be played on weekend of February 16-17.