Valletta snatch winner in added time

Mosta Valletta 0 1

Valletta managed to win this game despite playing with ten men for 44 minutes.

After a balanced first period, Valletta were the better outfit after the resumption as they created more actions than Mosta.

The first action was created by Valletta as Lyon Camilleri served Ryan Tonna with a through ball on the right flank but from his dangerous cross, the ball was cleared away by a defender.

Two actions were then created by Mosta. Gianluca Muscat was fouled outside the area and Valletta keeper Andre’ Spiteri saved the rising shot from the free kick by Ismael Borg. Muscat then had to dive to save a free kick by Borg.

Mosta keeper Dylan Ciappara was forced to dive and save to a corner a free kick by Tonna after the same player was fouled outside the area. In the 21st minute Mosta came very close to open the score when after a flag kick by Muscat the ball was cleared on the line from a shot by Dale Mifsud.

At the other end, Valletta also came very close as the ball missed the bar by inches from a hard drive from outside the area by Neil Mifsud after a perfect cross by Kurt Buhagiar.

Another free kick was won by Mosta as Luke Formosa was fouled outside the area but from the shot by Matteo Vella, the ball was blocked by the barrier.

In the 36th minute Valletta were reduced to 10 men when Ethelbert Fenech fouled Vella on the left edge of the area and the referee brandished the red card and in the second minute of added time.

Mosta created the first action after the restart as substitute Gabriel Sant served substitute Ishmael Galea with a through ball on the right flank and Spiteri neutralised the ball after his high cross.

Valletta regained the initiative and Tonna entered the area after dribbling past two opponents but after Ciappara partly saved his shot, the ball was cleared away. Buhagiar dribbled past an oppopnet on the right flank but his perfect cross in the area found no takers.

In the third minute of added time, Valletta scored the winner as Buhagiar dribbled past an opponent on the right flank and after his perfect cross in the area, Tonna rose above friend and foe and headed the ball in the net.

D.Ciappara, S.Ellul, M.Mifsud, J.Micallef, J.Farrugia, I.Borg, L.Formosa, M.Vella, D.Mifsud, G.Muscat. K.Farrugia.

A.Spiteri, K.Azzopardi, O.Duca, E.Fenech, M.Micallef, N.Mifsud, K.Scerri, R.Tonna, K.Buhagiar, L.Camilleri, K.Desira, Ryan

Tonna (Valletta) Gordon Camilleri