Valletta 3
Pace 18; Denni 45; Effiong 56;
Qormi 1
Farrugia 68 pen.;
Michael Mifsud’s scintillating strike in Malta’s 1-1 draw against Georgia whetted the appetite of the Valletta fans ahead of his much-awaited return to the team after a hamstring injury kept the striker out of the champions’ opening victories over Tarxien Rainbows and Ħamrun Spartans.
In keeping with the expectations, the game did produce a fine goal but it came from an unlikely source as midfielder Jamie Pace set Valletta on their way to a straightforward win with a fulminating long-range drive that drew gasps of admiration from all present.
Pace’s first-half opener was the high note of an evening that only served to reinforce Valletta’s status as the outstanding team of the Premier League.
Driving forward from the off, Valletta had the three points sewn up by the end of the first half, man-of-the-match Denni getting on the act with an excellent solo strike as the battling but limited Qormi unravelled in the face of their opponents’ onslaught.
The only blot on an otherwise flawless evening for Valletta was the goal they conceded from a penalty in the second half but that was only of academic importance as the Citizens had long been home and dry.
With this win, Valletta have made it three wins from three games and moved to within one game of equalling Hibs’ record of 37 league matches without defeat. The champions are widely expected to match the Paolites’ record in their next match against Mosta but their following fixture promises to be an acid test as they will be up against a Hibs team who have made a strong start to the season.
The returning Mifsud filled the void left by the absence of midfielder Ryan Fenech who dislocated his shoulder in Malta’s 1-1 draw with Georgia in midweek.
Valletta’s 4-2-3-1 formation had Mifsud as the attacking spearhead with the attacking trio of Denni, William Barbosa and Alfred Effiong playing off the main striker.
Qormi’s initial line-up showed four changes from the 3-0 victory over Balzan Youths. Kenneth Scicluna, who joined Qormi on loan from Valletta, was among the notable absentees from the squad alongside injured defender Christos Karamanolis and Joseph Chetcuti while George Chircop started on the bench.
On the plus side, coach Stephen Azzopardi could call upon Brazilian midfielder Giuseppe Vela Jr while Nigerian forward Abubakar Bello-Osagie was handed his first league start this season.
Bello-Osagie was Qormi’s attacking fulcrum with Brazilian Jorge and Matthew Bartolo detailed to use their pace and agility to create openings down the wings.
The first noteworthy chance came Valletta’s way on eight minutes. Denni darted into the box after waltzing his way past Roderick Sammut and Jonathan Bondin. The Brazilian squared the ball to Mifsud whose first-time shot had power but lacked precision.
Despite dominating possession, Valletta struggled to penetrate Qormi’s defence early on but Pace saw to that with a brilliant goal. Receiving a pass from Roderick Briffa deep into Qormi’s half, Pace looked up and let fly a thunderbolt that ripped past the diving Matthew Farrugia and into the top-left corner.
A great goal from a midfielder who doesn’t find the net very often but when he does, it’s usually special.
The champions were now in command. They would have doubled their lead on 26 minutes were it for Farrugia who repelled Denni’s firm drive after the latter had been set up by Barbosa.
Valletta’s unrelenting pressure had Qormi on the backfoot for much of the opening 35 minutes. Dino Cachia came on for the ineffective Vela on 33 minutes as Azzopardi tried to add some steel to his midfield.
Eight minutes from half-time, Effiong crossed towards Mifsud but the latter headed just wide from inside the six-yard box.
Valletta’s clear superiority yielded a second goal on the stroke of half-time. It was another remarkable goal as Denni, picking up a loose ball in midfield, embarked on a dazzling run that took him past a posse of players before he hit a low shot past Farrugia.
The City faithful had good reason to be cheerful as referee Adrian Azzopardi sent the two teams to the dressing rooms amid chants of ‘We are the champions’.
Left-back Ian Azzopardi didn’t appear for the second half after picking up an injury earlier in the game. He was replaced by Dyson Falzon.
Barbosa came close to scoring a third goal for Valletta but his dipping drive from outside the box ended just over the bar. The Whites wrapped up their win on 56 minutes, Effiong belting the ball into an unguarded goal after the Qormi defence had partially cleared an attempt by the sprinting Mifsud.
Three goals up, Valletta refused to ease up. Mifsud passed to Denni who fired against the side-netting.
Qormi looked down and out but they received a glimmer of hope when Jorge’s dashing run into the box induced Steve Borg to nudge the Brazilian to the ground. The referee pointed to the spot and Joseph Farrugia lifted his shot past Hogg.
Valletta may have restored their three-goal lead but Barbosa headed wide from Denni’s cross.
Barbosa then turned provider, guiding a through-ball to Gilbert Agius whose rising shot from close in was tipped away by Steve Sultana, who had just come on for Farrugia. Agius had earlier replaced Briffa for the Citizens.
Mifsud then fired just wide as Valletta stayed on the attack as the champions peppered the Qormi defence with a series of attacks. Mifsud hit wide after receiving from Barbosa, and minutes later, Sammut thwarted Valletta with a goal-line clearance from Effiong’s close-range effort after the Nigerian had connected with Mifsud’s cross.
In stoppage time, Sultana blocked Barbosa’s low strike as Zerafa’s men ended the game in attacking mode.
Valletta
A. Hogg-6, J. Caruana-6, S. Borg-6, I. Azzopardi-6 (46 D. Falzon-6), A. Effiong-6, R. Briffa-6.5 (66 G. Agius-6), J. Pace-7, E. Agius-6, Denni-7.5 (90 L. Cremona), William Barbosa-7, M. Mifsud-6.5.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-6 (69 S. Sultana-6.5), J. Chetcuti-5, R. Sammut-6.5, M. Bartolo-6 (78 G. Chircop), J. Farrugia-5.5, L. Sciberras-6, J. Bondin-5, Jorge-6.5, S. Wellman-5, G. Vela-4 (32 D. Cachia-4), A. Bello-Osagie-4.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Borg, Effiong, Sciberras.
BOV player of the match: Denni (Valletta).
Attendance: 2,358.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Valletta | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 9 |
| Hibernians | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 7 |
| Floriana | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Birkirkara | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Sliema | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Marsaxlokk | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Qormi | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Balzan Youths | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Tarxien | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Mqabba | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Ħamrun | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Mosta | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Note: Balzan win protest against Ħamrun Spartans, awarded 2-0 win.