Valletta Edge Out Lija From The Spot In Hot-Headed Encounter

Valletta took themselves into fifth place with a 1 – 0 victory over Lija Athletic. Eduarda Martins Souza ensured the victory from the penalty spot, with Valletta capitalising on high emotions to get the win. Lija Athletic will rue missed opportunities, while the match left plenty to be desired from a footballing perspective, instead overshadowed by fury.

Team Selections

Isabel Sanchez made her first start in goal for Lija Athletic. She was protected by a starting defence consisting of Shakira Bugeja, Nell Zarb Cousin, Samira Bouzid and Milena Stagno. Captain Rachel Mifsud started in midfield alongside Sarah Caruana, while Edera Marmara’ and Leanne Micallef brought the width. Kylie Pantalleresco supported the returning Vanessa Honorio Carneiro, with the latter leading the attack.

Meanwhile, Gabriella Grima continued her stay in goal for Valletta, behind a four-piece defence consisting of Eunice Micallef, Sabrin Blihi, Anna Aloisio and Lisa Vella. Monique Sultana and Eduarda Souza Martins orchestrated in midfield, while the Citizens deployed a numerous attack consisting of Laura Muscat, Ylenia Grech, Marcelle de Oliveira Julio and Suzanne Farrugia Sacco.

How It Unfolded

Lija Athletic suggested an intent on going on the front foot early on, with Kylie Pantalleresco setting her standard for the match with a well executed pass to release Edera Marmara’ out on the wing. However, cross was blocked for a corner, which Valletta’ Eduarda Martins Souza cleared.

The team in blue almost played themselves into trouble shortly after with careless play at the back, but Valletta failed to capitalise with the shot. The two sides grappled with a stop-start play, but Lija Athletic had the better opportunities with Leanne Micallef also being released with a ball out from the back. She controlled well, dribbling into space from the crowding of the Valletta defence, but dawdled on the shot, allowing the Citizens to take hold of the situation.

The two sides struggled to get any real momentum to create too much goal-mouth action from open play, with Stefania Bonnici keen on the whistle at the slightest contact. The free-kick opportunities racked up, but neither side capitalised, while corner deliveries were often too easily seen out by the defences, who on their part remained alert.

Lija Athletic fashioned another good chance after the half-hour mark, with Vanessa Honorio Carneiro surging away from Anna Aloisio, before applying the cut-back to Kylie Pantalleresco who arrived in the box in support. However, her central effort was saved by Gabriella Grima. The chance invigorated the Lija faithful who urged their side on, while Valletta’s support responded in kind.

With things in balance, Jethron Azzopardi made changes to his team, bringing Milena Stagno forward on the left wing, while retreating Sarah Caruana into the centre-back partnership with Nell Zarb Cousin. Samira Bouzid shifted to the left-back position, while Leanne Micallef moved infield in support of the attack. On the other hand, Jean Lopes could be seen trying to motivate his side toward higher quality play.

The Citizens were awarded the chance to strike from a good free-kick location, but Marcelle de Oliveira Julio’s attempt was drilled straight at the wall which did its job. Ylenia Grech came closest to opening the scoring for the team, side-footing a cross from Eduarda Martins Souza into the crossbar from close range.

Half-Time Score: Lija Athletic 0 – 0 Valletta

City restarted with a positive string of play, with Ylenia Grech picking out Laura Muscat’s run behind, only to find Isabel Sanchez read to make the save at the near post. On their part, Lija Athletic sought to drive forward but could not get the final ball going. Vanessa Honorio Carneiro’s attempt to release Leanne Micallef was overcooked. Milena Stagno got involved forward a bit later, linking with the duo, but Suzanne Farrugia Sacco tracked back to support the defence.

The team in blue also looked to work a free-kick which Shakira Bugeja delivered into a dangerous area, but none of her teammates managed to get the touch to send it home from close range. Frustration was piling in the pitch, on the bench and in the stands, but things were yet to boil over.

Valletta responded with Suzanne Farrugia Sacco who released a weighted pass for Eduarda Martina Souza to strike into Isabel Sanches. She made the save before Edera Marmara’ cleared to safety. Valletta were on the trot in transition a few minutes later, with Laura Muscat leading the attack. She found Ylenia Grech in support on the wing, but the delay to release the cross allowed Lija Athletic to regroup.

Jethron Azzopardi looked to his bench, releasing Katryna Grech onto the pitch instead of Milena Stagno. The Citizens almost caused their own demise with a fumbled catch at the back, with Leanne Micallef taking hold of possession but dawdling once more to play the pass allowing the Citizens to regroup. Valletta jolted a response again, this time finding the back of the net through Laura Muscat who tapped home the cross from Eduarda Martins Souza, only to see it erased by the offside flag.

Mariah Schembri took to the pitch instead of Samira Bouzid, before things descended into true chaos. A entangle ensued in the pitch, with players taking matters into their own hands. All the while, a player down due to a head injury due to a separate collision (that occurred prior to the match descending into uncontrolled fury), had to wait about two minutes with the first-aider eventually let onto the pitch, while the matter was sorted.

The officials sorted things between them, with bookings dished out. Having already made a mockery of the game, the same players who got booked for their behaviour, felt bold enough to clap the referee. The only failure at that point was to reluctance to produce the second one for the players.

The next moment was crucial and Valletta emerged out on top, capitalising on the hot-headedness, winning a penalty with the next surge into the box. Eduarda Martins Souza buried it into the bottom right corner, which was ultimately what separated the two sides on the night.

To their credit, Lija Athletic looked to work themselves back into the match, with Kylie Pantalleresco continuing to be one of the standouts with a well-weighted release to find Katryna Grech. However, she found Valletta’s Lisa Vella ready to make the tackle.

The defender had to walk off the pitch shortly after, unable to shake off the initial head injury. She was replaced by Alicia Mifsud, while Sarah Fenech also replaced Laura Muscat. Sarah Vella Barberi also returned from injury in the latter stages instead of Marcelle de Oliveira Julio, while Somaya Muscat replaced Suzanne Farrugia Sacco for the final moments.

With things having long spun into chaos, the officials attempted to show control over things by brandishing another yellow for a Valletta player return to the pitch without being given the go-ahead. The next was dished out at members of the Valletta staff, with the referee earning the clap from the stands this time.

However, the see-saw of emotions for those watching from the stands was complete with the same officials appearing oblivious to game-management, or rather time-management tactics. Needless to say the next clap arrived from Lija Athletic’s faithful as the final whistle blew, jeering the length of injury time.

Final Score: Lija Athletic 0 – 1 Valletta

Next Matches

Valletta earn themselves three points to take fifth place with eight points on the board, while Lija Athletic remain on six in seventh place. They will break off for the international break, with Valletta returning on the second of November against Swieqi United at Mgarr Ground (KO 14:00). Lija Athletic will follow against Birkirkara, with that match starting at 16:30.

However, until then, tonight presents a mouth-watering clash between league leaders Hibernians and third-placed Swieqi United. It will be played at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, starting at 20:30. Tomorrow presents a double-header at Dingli Ground with San Gwann facing Birkirkara at 15:00, before Mtarfa welcome Mgarr United at 17:30.

This weekend will be followed by the international break, where Malta will be travelling to Rome to face Italy on the 25th October at the Tre Fontane Stadium, KO 18:15.

Lead Image: Lara Schembri 

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