Sluggish Valletta still too good for poor Pembroke

coach Paul Zammit reshuffled the defence with Caruana and Camilleri as centre backs and Romao and Aguirre the two wide backs. Llywelyn Cremona also made way for Jean Borg.

Valletta were holding to possession and that caused Pembroke some prolonged problems. After seven minutes Mifsud found the ball at his feet on the edge of the six-yard box but keeper Calleja Cremona blocked into a corner with his legs.

Four minutes later Jean Borg’s low diagonal drive , on a Pani pass, hit the foot of the Pembroke post and Bugeja cleared before Falcone could knock the ball over the line.

Valletta’s opener finally arrived on the quarter hour. Falcone’s first shot was repelled by keeper Calleja Cremona and Michael Mifsud picked the rebound and slotted the ball in.

Pembroke only looked dangerous midway through the half with a Djeljilj direct free kick from the right before Jhonnattann’s lob from inside the area hit the bar.

Valletta seemed content to sit on their lead when it might have worked in their favour to pose more prblems for the Pembroke defence and goalkeeper Calleja Cremona.

They were still only one up at halftime.

Valletta hogged the ball in the second half but did not have the ingenuity to do much with it and were at times expensively sluggish. That made Pembroke defend with more confidence. Djeljilj and Eboh were tirelessly vigilant at the back.

Valletta’s two goals, that put their minds at rest in the final quarter hour, came from set pieces. On 76 minutes Santiago Malano’s free kick from ouside the area from the left hit the innerside of both uprights before the ball finished behind keeper Calleja Cremona.

Liekwise, six minutes later, Valletta won a free kick from outside Pembroke area on teh right and Leandro Aguirre scored with a low shot that left Pembroke totally deflated.

Standings

Balzan Hibernians Valletta Birkirkara Floriana Sliema Hamrun St. Andrews Tarxien Gzira Mosta Pembroke P 13 13 14 13 13 13 13 14 14 13 13 14 W 9 9 8 7 7 5 5 4 3 2 2 2 D L F A Pts 3 1 27 13 30 2 2 21 11 29 4 2 23 11 28 3 3 30 11 24 3 3 18 11 24 2 6 16 17 17 2 6 21 24 17 3 7 14 22 15 5 6 14 21 14 3 8 11 23 9 3 8 10 22 9 1 11 14 33 7