The Malta Independent on Sunday
Valletta reach for the summit after cruise
Football - BOV Premier League
ers in a six-goal romp.
Both teams went into this game in some vein of good form, having won their previous two matches.
Valletta were an unchanged side yesterday and Tarxien’s coach Jose Borg made two changes. Without the suspended Andre Scicluna and Ayrton Azzopardi starting on the bench, Godwin McKay and Andrew Agius were handed starts.
Valletta enjoyed the expected majority of possesssion in the first half. They took a comfortable three-goal lead that could have been even wider had they taken all their chances.
They made the breakthrough after only ten minutes when Nwoko’s effort, on a Denni free kick, was palmed out by Tarxien keeper Christian Cassar only for Juan Cruz to hit in from close range.
Valletta, playing with more confidence, threatened again towards the quarter hour. Denni played the ball low from a corner kick and Saleh dragged it narrowly wide.
Midway through the half, Nwoko powered himself inside the Tarxien area, sent a low cross for Denni, but his effort was blaocked into a corner.
Valletta doubled their lead past the half hour. A Piciollo low cross from near the byeline was poorly cleared by the Tarxien defence and Kyrian Nwoko scored with a low drive.
Valletta even scored a third shortly before halftime. Valletta won a corner after a Denni effort was held out by keeper Cassar. From the resultant Denni flag kick, the ball fell to Santiago Malano at the far post to tap it in.
That made them look comfortable.
Valletta remained dominant as their tempo picked up again after the interval and the Rainbows were not quite matching their enduring briskness with clear-cut moments of danger.
On 51 minutes, from a Denni corner, Borg headed towards the middle for Matteo Piciollo to head past the helpless Tarxien keeper.
More would have followed had Saleh, again benefiting from negligent defending, not misssed the target after running into space to pick Denni’s pass.
Faria passed up on a rare presentable chance for Tarxien on 75 minutes as he ran down the right, hitting the bar with his cross shot.
But the direction of traffic soon reversed again from that point. With ten minutes remaining, Kyrian Nwoko had a hand in Valletta’s last two goals. He first was the provider, playing the ball square, from inside the area, to substitute Russel Fenech to put his name on the scoresheet.
And with Tarxien’s defence pulled hopelessly out of shape, the Valletta striker finished confidently himself within two more minutes to complete the rout.. Valletta Gzira Balzan Hibernians Floriana Hamrun Sliema Birkirkara Mosta Senglea A. Tarxien Naxxar Lions St. Andrews Lija Athletic PW D 8 6 1 8 6 1 8 4 3 7 4 2 7 3 4 8 4 1 7 3 2 8 3 1 7 3 0 8 2 2 8 2 1 8 1 3 8 2 0 8 0 1 L F A Pts 1 17 4 19 1 20 8 19 1 13 9 15 1 13 5 14 0 14 4 13 3 14 11 13 2 13 6 11 4 8 12 10 4 9 13 9 4 8 11 8 5 8 23 7 4 9 15 6 6 8 19 6 7 9 23 1