BOV Premier League
Watch: Valletta ease past struggling Senglea
SENGLEA ATHLETIC 1
Xuereb 85
VALLETTA 3
Aguirre 17; Dimech 23, 47
SENGLEA ATHLETIC
M. Farrugia-5; S. Uyi-5; Z. Cassar-5; A. Abela-5; Freud-5; R. Song-5; I. Misan-5; A. Scicluna-5; J. Dibola-5; D. Kukic-5; D. Xuereb-5.
VALLETTA
Y. Cini-6.5; R. Camilleri-6; T. Caruana-6.5; S. Malano-6.5 (64 K. Nwoko); M. Piciollo-6; S. Dimech-7 (88 K. Fenech); E. Pena Beltre-6.5; E. Sala-6 (64 R. Fenech); L. Aguirre-6.5; I. Maric-6; M. Fontanella-6.5 (77 R. Tonna).
Referee Darryl Agius.
Yellow cards Misan, Dibola, Kukic, Uyi, Aguirre.
BOV Player of the Match Shaun Dimech (Valletta).
Valletta secured their second win on the trot after beating Senglea Athletic 3-1.
For the Citizens, this was an important victory as they look to climb further places in the Premier League. Toze Mendes’ side now sit seventh on 33 points.
It was a solid performance by Valletta against a side who continues to disappoint in this year’s top-flight campaign. Midfielder Shaun Dimech struck twice to open his Premier League account this season.
It was Gilbert Agius’ final game as Valletta assistant coach as he will now take over as Malta U-21 coach as from today.
This was Senglea’s 20th defeat of the season as they remain bottom with just two points. Their fate could be sealed next week as their salvation hopes have now all but faded.
As expected, Valletta were looking to find an early breakthrough in this game with their first chance on target arriving after 10 minutes but Shaun Dimech’s effort ws blocked by Matthew Farrugia.
A Triston Caruana effort from a long-range freekick followed but the Senglea goalkeeper was alert to avert the danger.
Valletta managed to break the deadlock in the 17th minute with a curling effort from Leonardo Aguirre that stunned goalkeeper Farrugia.
Five minutes later, the Citizens doubled their lead when Dimech connected with an Enmy Pena Beltre cross to put Valletta in a comfortable position early in the game.
Until the end of the first half, Valletta did not create any clear-cut chances even though they were in control of the game with Senglea nowehere to be seen in the offensive third.
At the restart, Valletta scored their goal of the game when Mario Fontanella whipped in a low ball into the box which Dimech converted into the net, for his second goal of the evening.
With the three points already sealed, Valletta coach Toze Mendes deployed Ryan Fenech and Kyrian Nwoko for further offensive prowess as the Citizens remained the dominant side on the field.
Forward Nwoko was close to strike Valletta’s fourth goal but Farrugia denied his close-range effort.
In the closing stages of the game, David Xuereb scored Senglea’s consolation goal.