Day 5 Valletta 5 Sliema W 0
21/09/2014
Valletta returned to winning ways with a bang after thrashing Sliema Wanderers 5-0.
Wingers Adrian Zahra and Alex Terra helped themselves to a brace as the Citizens eased the disappointment of their 2-1 defeat to Hibs with an assured display against a poor Sliema side who never got going.
The champions all but sealed the points after storming into a four-goal lead in a one-sided first half.
It was Sliema who threatened first after nine minutes. Running on to Mark Scerri’s lofted through-ball, Kassa Guyt Gnabouyou sped clear of his markers but his effort was blocked by Nicky Vella.
Valletta settled as the first half progressed. They should have taken the lead when Llywelyn Cremona powered clear on the right and delivered a fine cross for Alex Terra but the Brazilian lifted his shot over the bar with only Glenn Zammit to beat.
The champions went ahead after 18 minutes. Their opener came from a corner action as Ryan Fenech’s cross was met by Adrian Zahra whose downward header beat Zammit.
Paltemo Barbetti had a good opportunity to level for Sliema but his first-time volley was high.
The Whites doubled their midway into the first half.
Sliema were again poor in defending set-pieces as Fenech’s cross, from another right-wing corner, sailed towards the far post, Elford-Alliyu nodded the ball back into the goalmouth and Zahra headed home.
Sliema collapsed. They conceded a minute later when Zahra sent in a low cross toward Elford-Alliyu who sliced the ball towards Terra and the Brazilian drove home from routine distance.
Sliema’s afternoon took another turn for the worse when, eight minutes from half-time, Zahra, again making headway down the inside-right channel, raced into the box where he was upended by the back-tracking Filippo Talato. Referee
Adrian Azzopardi pointed to the spot and Fenech calmly slotted the ball past Zammit.
Valletta made it five nine minutes into the second half thanks to Terra who fired home from close in.
Late on, Luke Montebello, who had replaced Elford-Alliyu at the start of the second half, had a great chance to put his name on the scoresheet when Faria’s pass sent him clear but the Malta U-21 striker miscued his shot.
Zahra, the Valletta winger, was named BOV player of the match.
Source: timesofmalta.com
VALLETTA – N. Vella, I. Azzopardi, L. Dimech, R. Fenech (H. Barry), A. Terra, H. Faria, L. Cremona, L. Elford (L. Montebello), R. Camilleri, R. Briffa (D. Camilleri), A. Zahra.
SLIEMA W.: – G. Zammit, M. Potezica (F. Mangiacasale), J. Mintoff, M. Scerri, M. Mifsud, F. Talato, C. Gatt Baldacchino, K. Gnabouyou, P. Barbetti, B. Muscat, S. Biancardi.
Date: 21.09.14 Time: 18:00 Venue: National Stadium
Scorers: 18′ 23′ A. Zahra, 24′ 54′ A. Terra, 39′ R. Fenech (pen)
Yellow Cards: M. Scerri (S)
Man of Match: A. Zahra (V)
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi
