by It took seventy-five minutes for the match between Valletta and Lija Athletic to spark into life, but tensions rose high once the opening goal was registered. Edera Marmara’ converted Shakira Bugeja’s corner delivery to open the scoring, sending the match into chaos and officials dishing out bookings at will at staff and players alike as fury rose with each call. However, Lija Athletic’s hopes of a famous victory were denied by the last kick of the ball as Eduarda Martins Souza headed home from Marcelle de Oliveira Julio’s free-kick delivery, with the final whistle blowing to unruly behaviour in the stands.
Team Selection
Andressa de Souza Ramos started in goal for Valletta behind a trio of Megan La Rosa, Sabrin Blihi and Eduarda Martins Souza. Sarah Fenech debuted on the left wing, while Sarah Vella Barberi occupied the right wing. Ylenia Grech accompanied captain Monique Sultana in the middle of the pitch, with returnee Marcelle de Oliveira Julio further forward. Kim Fava debuted in attack alongside Laura Muscat.
Meanwhile, Christiana Pisani started in goal behind Nell Zarb Cousin, Ylenia Azzopardi and Samira Bouzid. Shakira Bugeja and Daniela Camilleri occupied the flanks. Kylie Pantalleresco debuted in midfield alongside Rachel Mifsud. Edera Marmara’ occupied the wing, while Leanne Micallef supported Vanessa Honorio Carneiro.
How It Unfolded
The matched kicked off in a subdued manner, with Valletta seeking to get strings of possession, but finding Lija Athletic ready to thwart them. Although the Citizens were the most adventurous in shooting, there was little to shout for from set-pieces, while several strikes grazed the crossbar.
Christiana Pisani was called into action from a Sabrin Blihi free-kick, as well as coming out to deal with a corner, but was otherwise untroubled. At the other end, Vanessa Honorio Carneiro was picked out by Shakira Bugeja from a corner, but the acrobatic finish was collected by Andressa de Souza Ramos.
With the opening half well into the half-hour mark, a few key battles ensued with Vanessa Honorio Carneiro and Sabrin Blihi leaving their mark on each other, while Sarah Fenech was finding staunch opposition in Shakira Bugeja. Referee Luca Grech was seeking to exert his control on the match as tackles became more sinister, together with the support of Matthias Buttigieg and Jake Farrugia.
Although Valletta were having joy in finding space on the wing, individual decisions left them unable to capitalise, sending the two teams locked level.
Half-Time Score: Valletta 0 – 0 Lija Athletic
Lija Athletic’s Jethron Azzopardi made one change at the break, bringing on Mariah Schembri in a direct swap with Samira Bouzid. Valletta sought to exert control, but Laura Muscat had a goal ruled out in the 53rd minute, after Christiana Pisani was deemed to have been fouled in the box in the follow-up.
As the match wore on towards the hour mark, with little to shout for, both coaches opted for changes. Jethron Azzopardi injected pace into the attack in the form of Katryna Grech, who replaced captain Leanne Micallef, with the armband shifting to Rachel Mifsud.
Daniela Camilleri was substituted shortly after after struggling with cramp, although not before offering those in the stands some light-hearted entertainment by responding to Valletta’s requests for the ‘hurry-on’, earning a few chuckles from the stands. Maria Ibrahim debuted in her stead.
Meanwhile, Eunice Micallef replaced Monique Sultana for Valletta, with Laura Muscat taking the leadership duties. Micallef slotted in defence, releasing Eduarda Martins Souza forward. Megan La Rosa also gave way to Suzanne Farrugia Sacco who was trusted in attack, while Laura Muscat retreated into midfield.
Valletta’s Sabrin Blihi trusted her left foot to take a direct free-kick which she aimed toward the near right corner, but it had just a whisker too much height on it.
However, things really kicked into gear in the 75th minute as the opening goal arrived. Valletta were already furious that a corner was given by the official, with the matters made worse as Lija Athletic converted. Shakira Bugeja delivered a sumptuous ball toward Edera Marmara’ who rose at the near post and headed it into the goal to send Lija Athletic into the lead.
Valletta almost responded immediately through Sarah Vella Barberi who was released into the box, but denied by the woodwork. Having kicked into a faster gear on the pitch, tensions rose on the touchline as officiating decisions continued to go against the Citizens, with coaches Jean Lopes and Rodrigues Silva Leonardo* both ending in the book as the final ten minutes approached.
A final subsitution was made by Valletta as Alicia Mifsud replaced Kim Fava, with Valletta pouring numbers forward, including defender Sabrin Blihi to try to find the equaliser.
Having found the goal, Edera Marmara’ made a crucial interception in the heart of the defence to thwart Sabrin Blihi from a clear chance on goal. Lija Athletic’s faithful were urging the team on to what would have been a famous victory.
More entanglements ensued, with the officials happy to award the free-kicks and dish out bookings at will as the match went into injury time. Lija Athletic were urged to run-down the clock from a corner, which Katryna Grech earned after being released by Christiana Pisani, who was doing everything to keep the team in the lead.
As the match dragged into more injury time (the awarded extent of which is unknown due to the lack of a fourth official), tensions boiled as Valletta equalised with the last kick of the match. Marcelle de Oliveira Julio delivered a free-kick from the left wing, which compatriot Eduarda Martins Souza headed into the bottom corner of the net.
Elation ensued for Valletta’s crowd, while a few within Lija Athletic’s stands were incandescent. Notwithstanding that crucial errors were made in the match and for both parties, the behaviour toward the officials left much to be desired.
Final Score: Valletta 1 – 1 Lija Athletic
Next Matches
Despite denied the three points by a late goal, Lija Athletic will be proud to have earned the first point against Valletta, a team that completely shut all other bottom four opponents out last season. The side will return against Birkirkara on Thursday 29th August at the Centenary Stadium, 20:15.
Meanwhile, Valletta will be disappointed to not have started stronger, but will seek a resurgence against Swieqi United on Saturday 31st August at Dingli Ground, 18:00.
Until then, the final two matches of the opening weekend will be played tonight in Dingli Ground, where Birkirkara will host San Gwann (18:00), before Mgarr United meet Mtarfa (20:30).
*Edit: previously mistakenly identified as Francesco Galluzzo.
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[…] Swieqi United and Valletta will be seeking an improved showing in their second matches, after a first appearance that likely fell below both their expectations. Swieqi United fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Hibernians, while Valletta could only get a single point from their encounter against Lija Athletic, which ended in a 1-1 draw. […]