Valletta 6
Toure 3, 69; Mifsud 22, 44; Vandelannoite 34; Dimech 56;
Ħamrun Spartans 0
The Valletta end of the stadium enclosure was less crowded than usual yesterday but those who braved the miserable wintry weather in the hope of a repeat of the goalfest of last September when the Citizens triumph in the 8-2 debacle of Ħamrun Spartans were not to be disappointed.
Michael Mifsud inflicted a second nightmare on the Spartans as the Malta striker’s devastating first-half brace and strikes by Jason Vandelannoite and Demba Toure helped the champions secure another comfortable win to preserve their top placing in the Premier League standings.
Coming seven days after the 6-1 drubbing against Hibernians, it took Ħamrun’s goals conceded this season so far to 53, the worst defence in the championship.
Valletta’s dominance was total, as Stefan Sultana’s youngsters once again found themselves outplayed and outclassed, with Mifsud, Toure and Vandelannoite, in particular, ripping the Reds’ fragile defence apart, turning their monopoly of possession into goals.
Apart from the scoreline, these are valuable points for Mark Miller’s team as they chalked up a four straight win, definitely putting behind them their negative patch of late last year.
Yesterday, Miller was forced to make one change to his starting formation from the 2-0 victory over Sliema Wanderers as skipper Roderick Briffa was ruled out with injury.
The absence of Briffa compelled the Valletta coach to tweak his usual 4-2-3-1 formation as new recruit Daniel Bogdanovic was awarded a second successive first-team call, following the midweek FA Trophy match against Nadur Youngsters, and Vandelannoite moved back to the right flank. Former Mosta player Bogdanovic took up a striker’s role alongside Mifsud in a 4-1-3-2 formation.
On the other side, the inclusion of new signing Emiliano Lattes was one of three changes in the Ħamrun team from their previous match against Hibs.
One of the changes in the Reds’ ranks had been widely predicted as Gianluca Calabretta ended his stint with Ħamrun after re-joining Tarxien Rainbows on Friday.
Daniel Zerafa and Luke Zerafa paid the price of last week’s lame showing as they were replaced by Glenn Azzopardi and Ryan Spiteri. Ħamrun’s 4-4-1-1 approach had forward Loic Lumbilla as its spearhead with Lattes and Terence Vella roaming behind.
Valletta stunned the Spartans when taking the lead inside the opening three minutes.
Vandelannoite was the catalyst as his powerful incursion down the right to meet William Barbosa’s free-kick unnerved the Ħamrun defence.
As usual the Brazilian delivered an inch-perfect cross to the Belgian defender who having eluded his marker, headed goalwards and Toure raced in to tap the ball home from routine distance.
Four minutes later, Ryan Fenech’s looping shot from more than 25 metres out was dropped by Ħamrun goalkeeper Cassar. Mifsud was on hand to seize possession but fired the ball over the bar when a pass to one of his unmarked colleagues inside the box would have been a better move.
The Spartans were let off the hook but not for long. Their early toils came to the fore when Barbosa unleashed another swerving free-kick across the Spartans box, finding Mifsud at the far post, to shoot behind Cassar.
The Lilywhites supporters cried “We want more” and their pleas were answered 12 minutes later.
After a shaky start, Cassar produced a magnificent save as he leapt to the left to touch away Toure’s point-blank header, but the ball dropped into Vandelannoite’s feet who buried the ball into the net.
There was no reprieve for the confused Spartans as Mifsud made it 4-0 and what a goal that was!
Toure and Mifsud combined well just outside the Ħamrun box. Mifsud cut in from the right flank before arrowing a curling drive that sailed into the far corner of the net.
Eleven minutes into the second half, Valletta struck their fifth goal as Fenech’s corner soared towards the far side of the Ħamrun’s box and Luke Dimech scored with a glancing header in the corner.
The second half faded amid a litany of substitutions but Toure showed his predatory skills on 69 minutes when glancing in a flying header from an inviting Vandelannoite’s centre.
At the other end of the pitch, Lumbilla controlled the ball and cleverly walked it past the Valletta midfielders but then, he smashed it wide.
It could have became worse for the Spartans but for Cassar who first blocked substitute Edmond Agius’s grounder. Dyson Falzon then had an effort from a tight angle palmed away by the Ħamrun goalkeeper.
Valletta, limited Ħamrun to few chances, and by far the best of them fell to Terrence Vella at death when the striker’s grounder hit the foot of the post after a well-worked move.
Valletta
Y. Cini-6, J. Caruana-6 (59 D. Falzon-6), L. Dimech-6, I. Azzopardi-5, J. Vandelannoite-8, W. Barbosa-7, R. Fenech-5.5 (59 E. Agius-6), Gabriel-6 (71 J.J. Ogunuppe-5), D. Toure-7.5, D. Bogdanovic-5, M. Mifsud-7.
Ħamrun Spartans
A. Cassar-5, R. Fenech-6, E. Lattes-5, A. Borg-4, G. Azzopardi-4, R. Spiteri-4 (48 A. Micallef-4), T, Vella-6, B. Guga-4 (65 D. Zerafa-4), L. Lumbilla-5 (74 L. Grech), M. Grima-4, D. Camilleri-4.
Referee: Mario Apap.
BOV Player of the match: Michael Mifsud (Valletta).
Attendance: 679.