Valletta close gap on Balzan with Denni winner

Football - BOV Premier League

in attack and Ekani also impressive on the right flank.

Valletta raced out of the blocks and the difference in sharpness between the two teams was emphasised by the opening goal after four minutes. Piciollo played the ball square to Denni Dos Santos, his shot taking a slight deflection to beat keeper Andreas Vella.

To their credit, Mosta were not demoralised, even if three minutes later they were forced to withdraw the injured Zac Brincat. They should have at least got an equaliser before halftime.

They were unlucky when, upon their first real threat midway through the half, Nworah’s long range drive rebounded off the bar.

On the half hour, Blessing saw his first-time effort, on Ekani’s cross, saved at point-blank range by the Valletta keeper.

Switching roles up front, Ferreira and Blessing gave the Valletta defence constant headaches.

Valletta could only get one other sight at the Mosta goal in the first half. Piciollo broke from midfield, played the ball to Saleh who placed it narrowly off target.

The game became more even in the second half even if Mosta, lacking the creativity of Zarate in midfield, were allowed to break down the flanks with remarkable ease at times.

Ferreira was put through by Farrugia but was blocked by the onrushing Valletta keeper. On the hour, Ferreira beat the Valletta offside trap on Magro’s pass, but Blessing failed to reach for his cross shot. An Ekani tame shot, on a Veronese cross, was well saved by keepr Nicky Vella.

On the other end, a Denni Dos Santos rasping shot was turned over the bar into a corner by the Mosta keeper, who also footed out an effort from substitute Malano, who had gone in for Nwoko. Belief started to echo among the Valletta fans as their side started to get forward more promptly. Piciollo blazed his shot from the right across the face of the Valletta goal.

Mosta lost some cutting edge with the injury of Ferreira on 75 minutes and in the late stages the game started to boil over in a series of unseemly clashes. Veronese was lucky to escape with only a yellow card after his shove on Romao.

Mosta pressed on for some late consolation but this time they could not find a way through.

Valletta closed the gap on leaders Balzan to one point by beating Mosta on an afternoon when the result mattered more than the performance. Denni Dos Santos’ early goal proved sufficient for a narrow win, as the Citizens bounced back from defeat...