Penalty helps Valletta win tense match with two sending offs
Valletta faced a test of nerves to beat stubborn opponents Mosta with a second half penalty procured and scored by their best man Jhonnattann to register their second consecutive league win of the new season.
Overall Paul Zammit’s side saw more of the ball and generally maipulated it better but Mosta refused to buckle even when under pressure. They played Valletta at their own game – hasslig, pestering and pressing.
For a whole 40 minutes Mosta were down to ten men, yet they take some pride on being obdurate opponents. Valletta also had a player, Pani sent off before the break.
Mosta went into this match having lost their opener against Balzan the previous week but showed positive signs with a whole-hearted performance. Yesterday they introduced two new players – Chinedu Oweregbulam and Njongo Priso. The former stayed only ten minutes on the pitch as he was shown a straight red card following a crude tackle on Jhonnattan.
The sending off suggested Valletta were on for an easy evening. However, menacing as they looked, Valletta’s attacks persistently foundered inside the Mosta box or found keeper Manuel Bartolo, deputisng for Yenz Cini, alert in goal.
Mosta were admirably attempting to avoid defeat. They caught the eye with their sturdiness in defence.
They twice tested the keeper Bartolo. On 23 minutes Briffa, served by Jhonnattan, saw Bartolo repel his shot.
Then the goalkeeper denied Malano before Mifsud failed to make contact with the ball, on a Jhonnattan low cross, when alone in front of goal.
Mosta’s resistance remained steadfast with keeper Bartolo again holding out Pani’s shot on 37 minutes.
And three minutes before the break, numerical parity was restored. Valletta had midfielder Claudio Pani also sent off for a high-footed tackle on defender Caruana.
The atmosphere was euphoric going into the interval.
Valletta kept squandering chances in the second half. Romao lofted the ball on a Jhonnattann free kick.
But Mosta also had their chances. Priso followed up Oseghale’s incursion as he tried to go past four palyers and hit the loose ball only for keeper Bonello to block.
On 55 miutes Valletta finally made the breakthrough when awarded a penalty for Magro’s foul on the advancing Jhonnattann. The latter was unerrant with his shot from the spot.
Another Valletta wave of attcking followed, with Malane going close with a rasping low diagonal drive.
Mifsud’s bursting runs were giving Onwudinjo and Djouffack some headaches. Still, Valletta could not find a way past the goalkeeper for that assuring goal.
And with Mosta showing lack of quality in the final third, Valletta hung on to that Jhonnattann penalty that secured three points.