Yellow cards:
R. Muscat 61 Valletta’s dream of making it to the third round of the UEFA Champions League came to an end yesterday as they were eliminated by Hungarian side Ferencvaros on a 4-2 aggregate after a 1-1 draw.
In yesterday’s match, Mario Fontanella put the Citizens ahead on 27 minutes, converting a penalty, but Ferencvaros equalised on the hour, effectively ending City’s dream.
Valletta will now turn their attention to the UEFA Europa League where they will be facing the winners of the tie between Astana of Kazakhstan and Santa Coloma of Andorra. At present, before tomorrow’s 2nd leg in Kazakhstan, the aggregate score is 0-0.
City coach Darren Abdilla had to do without the suspended Steve Borg and Nicholas Pulis as well as the suspended Bojan Kaljevic, Santiago Malano, Jonathan Caruana and Douglas Packer.
As widely expected, Valletta suffered in the opening stages, but despite fielding such a depleted side, Darren Abdilla’s boys took the game to their opponents and they deserved to be ahead at the interval.
In fact, in the early stages of the first half, Ferencvaros twice hit the upright, but having survived this difficult moment, the citizens moved forward consistently with Pena Beltre on the right flank causing a good number of anxious moments to the left flank of the Greens’ defence.
When Valletta took the lead through a 27th minute penalty, Valletta gained more in confidence and Ferencvaros were penned back in their area.
The Magyars played the ball along the ground, but after those two early shots mentioned above, they also rarely troubled goalie Bonello with Ryan Camilleri and Jean Borg outstanding in the Valletta defence.
Till the interval, they seemed to be more interested in holding possession to keep their slim advantage.
In the second half, Ferencvaros again took the initiative but Valletta managed to control with a certain amount of ease until the 60th minute when the visitors finally equalised, thus practically ending all City’s hopes of advancing in this most prestigious competition.
From that moment onwards, the Magyars were in control keeping the citizens far away from their area.
Only 22 seconds had elapsed when the Hungarians missed a glaring scoring chance.
A Zubkov low shot was only partially parried by Bonello, but Skvarka only managed a shot against the upright with the goalie still on the ground. To put the citizens in the lead.
In the 3rd minute, it was Valletta who threatened through a Yuri Messias shot which goalie Dibusz managed to punch away.
Ferencvaros again went close in the 8th minute. A Kharatin shot from the edge of the area beat Bonello, but fortunately for the citizens, the ball hit the upright.
Valletta’s reply arrived in the 15th minute.
It was Pena Beltre who set Fontanella in the area, but the latter’s effort went well over the bar.
In the 27th minute, Valletta were awarded a penalty when Tulimieri was floored in the area by Lovrencsics. From the spotkick, Mario Fontanella made no mistake.
Early in the second half, Ferencvaros managed to find the City net through Nguen, but the point was disallowed for an offside infringement.
And a second goal, this time by Lanzafame, in the 59th minute, was also annulled for an offside.
But only a minute had passed when Ferencvaros equalised through a gem of a goal by Tokmac Nguen who sidestepped a Valletta defender, before beating Bonello with a fine rising shot from the edge of the area.
Valletta were now a demoralised side and in the 68th minute, Bonello was a protagonist twice in quick succession as he saved close range headers from Zubkov and Lanzafame.
And the Italian striker was again thwarted by Bonello in the 71st minute.
On the 76th minute, it was again Bonello who saved City’s fort turning to corner a Zubkov effort.
Valletta’s first effort in this second half arrived on the 83rd minute – a Piciollo low shot well saved by goalie Dibusz.
Six minutes later it was Yuri Messias who tried his luck from a freekick, but goalie Dibusz brought the house down, turning to corner in spectacular manner.