Pavel Mraz was among the goal scorers for Valletta in a thrilling cup tie against rivals Floriana in May 2000.1999-00 was not a good year for Valletta.
That season belonged to Birkirkara FC. After three years in which they had twice finished runners-up, the Stripes marked their 50th anniversary by becoming the first champions of the new millennium.
By their standards, Valletta went through a disappointing year.
Their expected challenge for the title never materialised and at the end they could only finish in third place. Come May the Citizens had only one chance left to salvage some glory – they needed to win the FA Trophy.
Therefore, on May 6, they drew on the reserves to overcome the stiff challenge put up by their eternal rivals Floriana in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy.
This derby was a remarkable and action-packed contest, full of excellent football and goals, which, after all, are the currency of the game.
Both teams had important players missing. Floriana were without their schemer-in-chief Albert Busuttil while Valletta had John Buttigieg, Kris Laferla and Stefan Giglio all unavailable.
The Citizens could not have had a better start when after only nine minutes Gilbert Agius directed a free-kick past the barrier and into the far corner of Matthew Camilleri’s net.
The response from Floriana was immediate. A few minutes later, Oba sent in a looping ball from the left and Galea dashed in to hit in from the edge of the box.
Galea was unlucky not to give his team the lead when his 20-metre drive smacked against the bar.
Then, to add salt to the wound, a minute later the Greens’ defence stopped for a non-existent offside and Nenad Veselji ran through and placed the ball beyond the reach of Camilleri.
There was more to come when Floriana won a free-kick just outside the box and Todor Zaytzev hit the ball in just inside the post.
The drama, however, knew no respite and in a couple of action-packed minutes, Camilleri blocked a Forace shot in extremis, Claude Mattocks saved on the goal-line and Camilleri once again tipped a header over the bar.
Valletta, however, were not to be denied and Veselji headed in a splendid cross from Pavel Mraz.
However, a couple of minutes later goalkeeper Sean Sullivan inexplicably left his charge and was beaten by a Mattocks dipping shot.
More drama
It had been an action-packed first half and more was promised in the second period.
Indeed, the game had hardly re-started when Sinisa Radak connected perfectly to an Agius cross to hit past the helpless Floriana goalkeeper.
Valletta continued to push forward but Floriana replied with the same. The play was now swinging from one end of the field to the other, keeping both sets of supporters on their toes.
With the game drawing towards a 4-3 victory for Valletta, the Greens went forward in search of an equaliser but the City defence held fast.
The final seconds were ticking away when Mraz hit in a right-footer which nestled neatly inside the Greens’ net.
The 90 minutes were over. It seemed a sure bet that the game would end 5-3 for City but two minutes into stoppage time, Galea nipped into the penalty area and blasted the ball home.
Floriana then made one last desperate rally in an attempt to save the game but somehow Valletta managed to withstand their neighbouring rivals’ desperate efforts.
A huge roar emanated from the City fans as the referee signalled the end of a great cup tie and a heart throbbing thriller.