VITTORIOSA STARS-2, VALLETTA-3
Valletta restored their seven-point lead at the top of the BOV Premier League after a 3-2 victory over Vittoriosa Stars at the Tedesco Stadium this evening.
The Citizens deserved their win as they were the better team but the plucky Vittoriosa Stars were left to rue the early dismissal of midfielder Kevin Mifsud just minutes after their more-quoted opponents had gone 2-1 up.
The win extended Valletta’s unbeaten run to 10 matches while Vittoriosa remain rooted to the bottom with six points,
Valletta went close to taking the lead after just two minutes when Kevin Sammut profited from a mishit clearance by Sammut just outside the box but his shot was tipped away by Simon Agius, the Vittoriosa goalkeeper.
Six minutes into the game, Roderick Briffa produced a strong run on the right before crossing for Nigerian winger Omonigo Temile whose volley flew over the crossbar.
Scerri then drove over after being picked out by Sammut but Valletta’s early pressure produced an opener after 18 minutes.
Briffa ran clear on the right before sending in a perfect cross for Denni who controlled the ball and fired past Agius.
The Citizens’ joy didn’t last long as Vittoriosa pulled level on 21 minutes, Brazilian Edison heading home from Karl Sammut’s right-wing corner.
The intelligent running of the Vittoriosa forwards was making life difficult to the Valletta defenders but the Citizens gained a boost in the shape of a second goal.
Sammut started a fine City move that finished with Denni supplying a perfect cross to Scerri who stabbed home from close range on 27 minutes.
Barely two minutes later, Vittoriosa’s troubles increased when Kevin Mifsud, who had just been cautioned for a late tackle on Temile, was dismissed by referee Paul Caruana for using abusive language.
Scerri came close to increased Valletta’s lead when connecting to Briffa’s set-piece cross with the outside of his right boot but the ball flashed just wide of the far post.
Vittoriosa, who had two penalty appeals turned down by Caruana in the first half, called on the referee to award them a free-kick when Borg’s challenge felled Anthony Ewurum but the referee allowed play to continue.
Valletta increased their efforts to make their numerical advantage count. Denni passed to the surging Temile whose low shot came off the near post. Agius, the Vittoriosa goalkeeper, parried away Denni’s diagonal effort and Sammut’s header came off the foot of the far post.
Agius then blocked a rising shot from Pace.
As the Citizens’ pressure abated, Vittoriosa came more into the picture but the leaders continued to create the better chances.
Eighteen minutes from time, Edmond Agius sent his volley against the near post after receiving from Briffa.
Pace then hit over after being teed up by Denni but with seven minutes, Valletta sealed the issue. Sammut sped into the box from the right and crossed for the unmarked Denni who rifled past Agius.
In the closing stages, substitute Gilbert Agius hit wide after Vittoriosa had failed to clear Denni’s corner.
Vittoriosa pulled one back in stoppage time when Clayton Micallef fired home from Jorge Silva’s cross.
Denni was voted BOV player of the match.