Valletta Emerge With Point Despite Siege From Mgarr

Valletta and Mgarr United could not be separated in the ninety minutes, with the score remaining at 0-0. It was a night for defences, with Valletta’s defensive unit coming most under fire, but managing to stave off the attempts to capture the side’s first point against top-four opposition.

Team Selections

Valletta’s Andressa de Souza Ramos occupied the space between the posts. She was protected by a quintet of Lisa Vella, Eduarda Martins Souza, Sabrin Blihi, Eunice Micallef and captain Anna Aloisio. Monique Sultana started in midfield together with Ylenia Grech and Sarah Vella Barberi. Marcelle de Oliveira Julio supported Suzanne Farrugia Sacco in attack.

Patricia Ebejer returned in goal for Mgarr United, protected by an unchanged back-four consisting of Rebecca Bajada, Leanne Cefai, Abigail Camilleri and Yanina Mendez. Maia Debono protected the defence, while captain Brenda Borg and Veronique Mifsud continued operating further forward. Amber Grech started on the left wing, while Alejandra Villegas Caly started on the right. Valeria Villegas Caly led the attack.

How It Unfolded

It was Valletta who had the first opportunities early on in the match, earning two corner kicks. Both were taken short, with Sarah Vella Barberi managing to whip a ball into the six-yard box in one instance, that was just missed by a whisker by Anna Aloisio. It signalled a sign of things to come for the team in red, who earned a few good opportunities to put the ball into the box, but often lacked the final touch to make it pay.

Mgarr United responded with an opportunity of their own. Yanina Mendez launched a ball toward Valeria Villegas Caly who ran behind the defence. However, Andressa de Souza Ramos closed the angle well, denying the forward from finding the bottom far corner of the net.

The Greens took hold of possession earning several corner opportunities while managing to create a few half-chances from open play. However, Valletta were making their presence known with several hounding creators Brenda Borg and Veronique Mifsud, in particular.

If the side managed to get anything into the box, Andressa de Souza Ramos was quick to sweep anything that managed to escape the highly organised and motivated defence. The Greens did surge forward on a promising counter-attack with four players gliding forward in support to Veronique Mifsud. However, Sabrin Blihi thwarted play to give her team a chance to regroup. Lisa Vella cleared the resulting free-kick delivery.

Valletta’s discipline in defence evidently frustrated the Greens, who lacked the patience to rotate the ball in search of opening up the defence. Ryan Vella reacted by switching the shape, retreating Amber Grech behind the Villegas Caly sisters, while urging his full-backs to push forward on the wings.

On their part, Valletta were primed to try to make the most of set-pieces, while being ready for the counter-attack. The side looked like they were onto something in the 37th minute, with Andressa Souza Ramos starting the attack with a launch into compatriot Marcelle de Oliveira Julio. She controlled, before the side opened wide to Sarah Vella Barberi, who did well to keep it in play. However, she was marshalled by Abigail Camilleri and Yanina Mendez, who nipped the attack. Vella Barberi also attempted to strike one from distance shortly after, but Patricia Ebejer was well positioned to collect.

The game hung in balance and neither coach appeared keen for changes at the break. Valletta started with a looping shot from Marcelle de Oliveira Julio, which landed just wide. However, the Greens took charge of possession once more on the restart. To a similar vein, Valletta’s defensive unit were defending with just as much vigour as if it were a goal-scoring opportunity.

Jean Lopes freshened up the attack on the hour mark, bringing on Laura Muscat instead of Sarah Vella Barberi, while Suzanne Farrugia Sacco retreated into midfield.

Mgarr United’s Brenda Borg was being suffocated from making any head-way in midfield, although still managing to wriggle out from a few challenges, or winning a kick for her efforts.

However, it was a night for defences and Mgarr United’s back-line was called into action in the 64th minute as Valletta looked to deploy a devastating counter-attack. Having been under the cosh for most of the match blocking Mgarr United from finding the net, Sabrin Blihi emerged forward into midfield, before picking out a ball to Laura Muscat. She first-timed it to Marcelle de Oliveira Julio who surged into space. However, Leanne Cefai was having none of it, shuffling across and sliding into a perfectly timed tackle to stop the Brazilian in her tracks.

The tensions in the match were already high and referee Stefania Bonnici was continuing to land into trouble with her positioning continuously exposed, while dangerous play was not being halted in its tracks.

Ryan Vella looked to his bench once more in the 67th minute, deploying Yulya Carella in a straight swap with Amber Grech.

The Greens created their best opportunities around the 70th minute from corner kicks. Brenda Borg’s initial launch was initially fended off, but Alejandra Villegas Caly fired it back into the danger. However, it was just ahead of Veronique Mifsud who could not get to it on the stretch. Maia Debono kept it alive, but Eunice Micallef cleared. Another attempt fizzed toward the goal, but found Valletta’s captain Anna Aloisio ready to block, with the Citizens’ defence determined and pumping each other up to keep the clean sheet.

Mgarr United kept up the momentum forcing another off-the-line clearance just a minute later, as Yulya Carella delivered a cross from the wing. Leanne Cefai controlled well, before firing with venom. However, Eunice Micallef was there to clear off the line and maintain Valletta’s brick wall.

Ryan Vella looked to his bench once more, deploying Ann-Marie Said for the first time in the Green shirt. She took up the full-back duties in a straight swap with Yanina Mendez in the 71st minute.

Jean Lopes responded with a double switch, bringing on Alicia Mifsud in replacement of Lisa Vella, while Kim Fava took to the pitch instead of Monique Sultana. Fava operated in attack, with Laura Muscat retreating into midfield. Sarah Fenech also took to the pitch against her former club in attack, while Suzanne Farrugia Sacco gave way.

The Greens continued controlling momentum and peppering shots on Valletta’s goal. However, attempts by Veronique Mifsud, Valeria Villegas Caly and Brenda Borg were blocked by the Valletta defence or fired off-target.

Mgarr United rotated corner kick takers with Veronique Mifsud, Brenda Borg and Ann-Marie Said all delivering a different flavour. However, the team could not find the finishing touch on either. Veronique Mifsud also attempted a direct strike from a free-kick to find the far top corner, but the attempt fizzed off just off target. Ann-Marie Said handled a delivery from another free-kick on the right wing but Anna Aloisio was first to the ball, before Andressa de Souza Ramos collected.

The Greens managed to create good play on the left wing, with Ann-Marie Said linking well with Alejandra Villegas Caly who roped in Yulya Carella. However, Anna Aloisio was ready to make the clearance once more, before Veronique Mifsud’s effort from distance was fired off target. On the other wing, Rebecca Bajada looked to release Alejandra Villegas Caly with a direct ball, but the Colombian was caught offside.

Both sets of supporters were urging their teams on, with tensions rising as the clock ticked toward full time. Valletta eyed a first point of the season and the first against top opposition, while Mgarr United were clearly seeking the three points in their march toward the top of the table. However, it was the Citizens who walked away the happier of the two, with the sides remaining deadlocked until the final whistle.

Final Score: Valletta 0 – 0 Mgarr United

Next Matches

Valletta will be elated to get off the mark once more in the table, and to secure their first ever point against the teams who stood in the top four positions last season. They will look to at least replicate the same result against Hibernians, who will they meet next at Dingli Ground at 19:30 on Saturday (21st).

On the other hand, Mgarr United will be disappointed not to have found the winning moment, but will dust themselves off as they prepare for their next crucial encounter. They will meet Birkirkara at Dingli Ground on Saturday 21st at 17:00.

The other match in the evening played out between San Gwann and Lija Athletic, with the former winning the match by 2-1.

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