Five-goal thriller goes St Andrews’ way

A very keenly-contested game ably controlled by referee Max Muscat. St Andrews managed to turn the apple cart after an early set-back but they were the better outfit by creating more actions than Valletta.

The game was only three minutes old when Valletta forged ahead. Kurt Buhagiar was fouled on the left flank and as Kenley Scerri floated a perfect high ball in the area from the free kick and Neil Mifsud scored with a hard rising shot past St Andrews keeper Sebastian Spiteri.

This goal served as a boost for St Andrews as they mounted three actions in a row. Jordan Kelly was fouled outside the area but Valletta keeper Andre’ Spiteri saved the free kick by Jamie Sixsmith.

Later he saved a distant shot by Mattia Veselji after having been put through by Matteo Sansone. Kelly released Christian Massias on the left flank and Spiteri neutralised the ball from his high cross.

Parity was restored in the 23rd minute as Massias dribbled past an opponent on the right flank and then served Sixsmith with a cross on the edge of the area. The latter scored with a hard rising shot.

Hardly a minute later, they scored a second goal when Kelly released Massias on the right flank and after his low cross in the area a Valletta defender handled the ball and Veselji made no mistake from the spot with a hard low drive.

In another action by St Andrews, James Vella served Massias on the left flank and after advancing, Spiteri saved his hard low drive in two attempts. Valletta then created the last action before the break as they won a corner kick on the right flank which was taken by Scerri but the ball was cleared away after creating havoc in the area.

The first three actions after the restart were created by St Andrews. Sansone served Massias with a through ball on the right edge of the area and he drove slightly over the bar. Massias then released Sansone in the area and with an open goal at his mercy he drove over the bar.

Sixsmith then served substitute Alexander Satariano with a cross from the right flank but Spiteri saved his header from inside the area.

In the 56th minute Valletta substitute Jean Leon Cassar was fouled outside the area and after Scerri floated a perfect ball in the area from the free kick, Buhagiar headed the ball in the net but the point was disallowed for offside.

St Andrews resumed their pressing. Satariano served Veselji on the right edge of the area and was fouled. Sixsmith missed the far post from the free kick and Spiteri then saved another free kick by the same player.

In the 65th minute Valletta equalised when Neil Mifsud was fouled in midfield and after the free kick by Scerri, Ryan Tonna scored with a hard low drive from inside the area. Six minutes later St Andrews regained their slender lead as James Vella released Veselji in the area and he scored with a hard low drive.

The pressure from St Andrews resumed and Attard served Veselji with a cross in the area but from his header, Spiteri tipped the ball over the bar to a corner. Valletta created the last action before the end as a flag kick by Scerri created havoc in the area but the ball was headed away.

St Andrews: S.Spiteri, B.Gatt Floridia, L.Attard, J.Vella, M.Sansone, J.Sixsmith, M.Muscat, J.Kelly, M.Veselji, A.Cireddu, C.Massias

Valletta: A.Spieri, K.Azzopardi, O.Duca, E.Fenech. M.Micallef, N.Mifsud, K.Scerri, R.Tonna, J.Azzopardi, K.Buhagiar, L.Camilleri

Player of the match: Jordan Kelly (St Andrew) Referee: Max Muscat