Mifsud strike enough for Valletta’s second win
A first half strike by veteran Michael Mifsud was enough for Valletta to register their second consecutive 1-0 victory of the new season yesterday as they overcame a defensive-minded Senglea side.
It was a deserved victory for the who dominated for long stretches keeping the newly promised Senglea in their own half for long stretches.
In fact, Valletta held the edge and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but they found a stubborn Senglea defence and found it difficult to penetrate.
The citizens were obviously the best side on the field of play and Senglea simply had to defend for most of the time, even if it was obvious that their main intention was to try and keep the citizens at bay.
Valletta could have made sure of the points early in the second half, but Asceric missed a penalty which would have given them a healthy two-goal cushion.
That miss kept Senglea in the match, but till the end, they were never given the chance to test goalie Bonello seriously.
On 19 minutes, Valletta had their first chance when from a Zerafa cross, Mifsud hit wide from close in.
Three minutes later, goalie Aquilina saved a Zerafa grounder and in the 27th minute from a good Romao cross, Asceric headed straight into Aquilina’s hands.
Valletta meritedly opened the scoring in the 34th minute. From a Zerafa cross, veteran Michael Mifsud showed class, finding the net with a fine back heel.
In the 48th minute, Antonio Terracciano floored Nikola Asceric in the area. Referee Apap showed no hesitation in awarding a penalty to Valletta, but the same Asceric hit wide from the spotkick.
In the 52nd minute, Senglea goalie Aquilina covered himself with glory saving in style an excellent freekick from Malano.
In the 63rd minute, it was Mifsud who went close with a half volley that just missed the post.
As Valletta insisted it was again Aquilina who denied Malano from another freekick and in the 83rd minute, it was Terracciano who blocked a dangerous Mifsud effort.