Valletta stay hot on Gzira’s heels
An efficient, rather than convincing, Valletta side edged past Sliema Wanderers with a Nikola Asceric goal on the quarter hour yesterday to keep the pace with leaders Gzira United, two points behind them in the standings.
Throughout the game, there was not actually a great deal between the two teams. Yet Asceric’s goal finally made the difference in a game of few clear chances.
Sliema fizzled out after an effervescent first half and an equaliser would not have been implausible at that stage. In the second half they failed to bother keeper Bonello as they lacked the necessary firepower.
Valletta were anything but pretty at times, but all it matters now is that they keep grinding up victories, staying tight at the back.
This fourth clean sheet means Valletta have yet to concede a goal in the Premier League in this campaign while Sliema have now failed to score in two consecutive matches.
The Wanderers had Glenn Zammit replacing Sarao in goal, with Leonardo Motta starting in midfield and Frank Temile partnering Jefferson De Assis in attack. Ryan Spiteri and Gabriel Aquilina were dropped to the bench. Valletta were an unchanged side. Both teams had played goalless draws the previous week, Sliema against Balzan and Valletta against Naxxar Lions.
So both sides went into the match fired up yesterday, although it had been tight and tactical at the outset.
Xuereb, Scerri, Muchardi and Motta worked hard in the Sliema midfield to prevent their opponents building from the back. Valletta always relied on the speed of Michael Mifsud on the flanks for invention.
De Assis’ headed goal was disallowed for Sliema in the opening minutes. Valletta changed the complexion with the breakthrough short of the quarter hour. It came out of nothing but this is the sort of thing that can happen when Mifsud is on the field.
A burst of acceleration was all he needed. His cross from the byeline on the right was deflected by the Sliema defence towards the standing Nicola Asceric who knocked the ball in from close range.
However the goal failed to repress Sliema’s determination. A Correa free kick was palmed out by keeper Bonello and on 22 minutes De Assis dragged the ball low narrowly off target.
A lull in proceedings followed and five minutes before the break, Sliema were forced to replace their injured captain Muscat with John Mintoff.
Sliema lost most of their early gloss in the second half and Valletta could do most of the pressing and passing without creating clear openings. A Saleh cross shot was pushed out by the Sliema keeper on the hour and the same Valletta midfileder had an effort going slightly over five minutes later.
But that made little difference as the Citizens ran out worthy winners at the end.