Valletta breathing down Balzan’s neck
A 12th league victory, after two consecutive draws, propelled Valletta to within one point of leaders Balzan with seven matches to go.
And when Valletta purr like this, delighting in every incisive move and swarming all over panicked opponents, it is hard to rule them out as title contenders.
Valletta had the edge throughout with Piciollo impressing on the right and Malano’s intelligent distribution standing out in central midfield. Albert Prosa opened the score in the first half. Miguel Alba added a brace in the second on an evening when the Valletta fans rediscovered their voice.
Lija are not daunting opponents. They have lost all of their last eight matches and are rooted at the bottom. However, their limitations were exposed in this onesided game and they have only keeper Luke Bonnici to thank for avoiding a heavier defeat.
Lija made four changes following defeat against Sliema Wanderers. Aaron and Ryan Sammut, as well as Carl Cassar were relegated to the bench and Leon Muscat was removed from their line-up before kick off, all making way for Predrag Babic, McAllister Clinch, Kooh Sohna and Dylan Agius.
Valletta had Steve Borg back in defence after suspension and started the game instead of Juan Cruz.
Doncic’s team made a pulsating start and could have scored early when Piciollo hit the woodwork with his shot after hardly two minutes. Piciollo had a couple of other efforts blocked into corners by the defence and keeper Bonnici as Valletta produced a succession of promising opportunities.
And after Prosa hit Alba’s floating free kick tamely at Bonnici, the Lija keeper blocked efforts from Piciollo and Malano in quick succession to deny Valletta.
Towards the half hour, Saleh’s glancing header went over and a Beltre’ shot took a wicked deflection, hitting the post before the goalkeeper could turn into a corner.
But Valletta were not to be denied. Their effective pressing game kept Lija under the cosh and after 34 minutes, Piciollo sent a cross from the left for Albert Prosa to toe-poke the ball past keeper Bonnici.
Valletta looked liberated and should have increased their advantage two minutes before the break. Malano put Piciollo through. He waited for the goalkeeper to go off his line, got past him but shot low against the foot of the post.
Lija were lucky that they were only one goal down at halftime.
Unfortunately for Valletta, despite dominating possession in the second half, they failed to continue creating such a sequence of clear chances after the interval. Prosa headed Piciollo’s cross wide and the latter failed to head Alba’s sailing free kick on target.
Valletta doubled their advantage on 66 minutes, when Saleh ran down the right, delivered a low cross for Miguel Alba to hit home from the edge of the area.
The same Valletta player added a third ten minutes later, after making progress through the middle and hitting low past the keeper as Lija’s defence switched off.
Lija scored a consolation goal deep into two minutes of added time. Erjon Beu’s direct free kick from the left completely took keeper Bonello by surprise. But that hardly served to lift Lija’s spirits.
Standings
Balzan Valletta Birkirkara Gzira Hibernians Floriana Sliema W. Hamrun S. Mosta Senglea A. St. Andrews Naxxar L. Tarxien Lija A. P 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 W 12 12 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 4 1 D L F A Pts 6 1 31 13 42 5 2 29 8 41 1 6 33 17 37 4 4 38 26 37 5 4 29 10 35 6 4 32 13 33 5 6 26 18 29 4 8 25 21 25 5 8 22 31 23 4 10 20 32 19 4 11 17 36 16 5 11 21 33 14 2 13 23 47 11 2 16 18 59 5