VALLETTA-2, FK EKRANAS-3
Three goals down after 42 minutes, Valletta looked down and out in the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie against Lithuania's FK Ekranas but the Maltese champions mounted a strong fightback to claw back two goals.
A 3-2 defeat in the home leg is a huge setback for Valletta's chances of advancing to the third qualifying round, but their gallant showing in the second half should give them heart as the Citizens not only pegged the Lithuanians back but also missed late opportunities to force a draw.
In the end, Valletta paid a high price for their slow and erratic start as the athletic FK Ekranas made the most of their wingers' speed and superior match fitness in the first half.
Newly-signed striker Michael Mifsud was named in Valletta's starting formation. Coach Jesmond Zerafa made six changes from last week's home match against Tre Fiori with Roderick Briffa, Jonathan Caruana, Ian Azzopardi, back from a two-match suspension, William Barbosa and Ryan Fenech was handed a starting role.
Ekranas issued an early warning of their threat on the wings as, after eight minutes, Nigerian Uchenna Umeh ran onto a diagonal pass from midfield, swept past Azzopardi and rifled a shot that Andrew Hogg did well to push away for a corner.
Valletta created their first chance soon after when Barbosa's floated pass released Mifsud but the striker miscued his chip which was easily saved by Emiljus Zubas, the Ekranas goalkeeper.
The Citizens began to play better but it was Ekranas who took the lead on 15 minutes, Umeh profiting from the lax defending by the home team as he dashed into the box and fired home after evading the challenge of Hogg.
Ekranas's precise passes to the wings coupled with the speed of their wide players was causing Valletta trouble. Hogg did well to tip away Ramunas Radavicius's drive. The ensuing corner, taken by Aurimas Kucys, was only partially cleared by Valletta but the ball fell to Daimius Gleveckas who rifled in from close range.
Just past the half hour, Valletta missed a great chance to pull one back when Barbosa passed to Gilbert Agius who evaded the offside trap but the City captain lifted his shot over the bar.
Valletta's rask became more complicated when, four minutes from half-time, they conceded a penalty. Vertelis pounced on a misplaced backpass by Pace and quickly released the speedy Umeh who was felled by Caruana's late tackle. Radavicius drilled his shot past Hogg to put Ekranas 3-0 up.
The Citizens looked shell-shocked but Mifsud gave them a lifeline, the City striker scoring with an excellent dipping shot that stunned Zubas..
Urged on by their unflappable captain, Valletta intensified their efforts. They spurned an inviting chance to further narrow the deficit when Fenech's free-kick was diverted into the goalmouth but Steve Borg just failed to connect.
Zerafa introduced Effiong for Pace at the start of the second half and pushed Briffa into midfield.
After just six minutes, Effiong sped clear on the left but his cross-cum shot posed no trouble to Zubas.
Valletta should have further reduced the arrears when, on 66 minutes, Fenech made a strong run on the left and squared to Mifsud who, after taking a touch to wrong-foot an opponent, came face to face with the goalkeeper but his weak lob was easily blocked by Zubas.
The Citizens continued to press forward, winning three corners in succession but Ekranas held firm. Gilbert Agius slipped a through-pass to Effiong who ran into the box and moved past the goalkeeper but the Nigerian was crowded out by the Ekranas defenders.
Five minutes from time, the Whites were unlucky not to score when Briffa freed Mifsud inside the box but the latter's rising shot shook the woodwork. In next to no time, Mifsud found himself through again but his bold drive was fisted away by Zubas.
In a rare counter-attack, Ekranas threatened to apply the killer touch but substitute Tadas Markevicius's effort from inside the box was deflected away for a corner.
Undaunted, Valletta quickly regained the initiative. They received a lifeline in the shape of a penalty after Borg's flick from a goalmouth melee came off Andrijus Joksas's outstretched arm. Barbosa converted the penalty to set up a thrilling finale.
Mifsud came close to sealing Valletta's fightback when he wriggled his way into the box but his goalbound shot was blocked by Kucys.