Valletta end campaign on sour note
Valletta missed the opportunity to all but seal Europa League qualification, needing to beat Hamrun Spartans and await the outcome of Birkirkara’s game against Floriana.
But this second consecutive league defeat confirmed that Valletta can struggle against sides they are meant to swat away with ease as they finished in fourth place behind the Stripes.
Surely on this last day of this campaign, with something at stake, Valletta were least expected to bolster their confidence and get the job done.
This league campaign has been a disappointment for the outgoing champions. In patches, they have been very good, but that is only to be expected given the quality of some players in their squad. Coach Paul Zammit’s job was about extracting more from individuals than anyone thought they had and forging a collective to accentuate their strengths and hide their weaknesses.
At this he fell short, in particular because he found it impossible to find a first XI. Long term injuries, players leaving in mid season, new ones joining in January have unsettled the side. Issues in attack cannot be secreted. Valletta scored least goals from the top four and relied heavily on an injury-riddled Michael Mifsud for goals after the departure of Federico Falcone.
With survival assured and the pressure off, it was right to suggest Jacque Scerri’s men might stir themselves, put in a long overdue decent performance and have a major say in who competes in Europe next season.
Before yesterday, the Spartans’ form had been terrible. Nine defeats in 13 winless games and down to tenth place in the standings, suggests the club had gone stale after the early months of the season had fired the imagination.
Valletta coach made changes to the side yesterday. Bartkus was replaced in goal by Nicky Vella. Steve Borg returned in defence after a long suspension while Michael Mifsud was preferred to Luke Montebello in attack and Valdo Alihno replaced Roderick Briffa in midfield.
The Spartans made a lively start. After only nine minutes, the Valletta rearguard was caught in shambolic mode. Manset’s pass fell to Massimiliano Giusti who scored with a low drive from just outside the Valletta area.
Hit by this early setback, Valletta struggled to pull themselves into the match. Camilleri’s long range rising shot after 20 minutes was superbly tipped into a corner by keeper David Cassar. An Aguirre grounder was again saved by the Hamrun keeper and when Mifsud netted for Valletta on 38 minutes, the goal was disallowed for offside.
With halftime looming, a Mifsud low shot ended narrowly wide.
But on the stroke of halftime, Hamrun doubled their lead. Mathieu Manset advanced from the byeline on the left and his low shot from a tight angle was deflected off the keeper over the line.
Valletta, who had been particularly flat in the fisrt half, were reinvigorated after the break. Manset though continued to be the most mobile and threatening player for the Spartans. Towards the hour, on a Micallef cross from the left, Manset’s header was saved by keeper Vella.
Valletta’s marked improvement made the Spartans defend with some nervousness, but no less commitment.
The Citizens pulled one back on 65 minutes. Aguirre’s cross from the left was headed in by Max Velsaco from close range.
Valletta introduced Luke Montebello as Hamrun put in Leandro Motta and retreated deeper, attacking on the counter.
Manset’s tame effort was saved by keeper Vella before being substituted.
P W D L F APts Hibernians 32 21 5 6 58 30 68 Balzan 33 19 7 7 66 40 64 Birkirkara 33 18 8 7 64 30 62 Valletta 33 16 11 6 51 29 59 Floriana 33 15 9 9 51 37 54 Sliema 33 15 7 11 47 37 52 St. Andrews 33 9 10 14 45 51 37 Gzira 33 10 7 16 43 51 37 Tarxien 32 8 11 13 37 42 35 Hamrun 33 9 6 18 44 61 33 Mosta 33 7 5 21 29 71 21 Pembroke 33 4 6 23 28 84 18 Mosta - 5 points