Valletta FC bank on their youth talent to end league campaign on winning note

Sliema Wanderers stroll past Sirens

Valletta will pin their hopes on their youth talent for a quick return to the Premier League after a convincing showing in their final appearance in the top flight on Thursday.

Ahead of what is sure to be a summer of departures at Valletta, the Lilywhites will have been buoyed by the contributions of their young players against Gudja United.

Valletta’s new kids on the block helped the Citizens to bid ‘adieu’ to the Premier League with a victory on Thursday night, somewhat restoring their pride after a dismal season against an out-of-form Gudja.

Valletta attempted to ease the disappointment of relegation by fielding their youngest ever team in the Premier League. The Lilywhites named just one foreigner in the starting formation, with the 11 players on the pitch at the kick-off having an average age of just 20 years.

Valletta’s squad was formed by several members of the Youth League side that won the championship after defeating Mosta on Monday and seven of them were drafted in the starting line-up against Gudja United.

Prior to kick-off, the Valletta players held a banner in memory of their former striker and coach Danilo Doncic who suddenly died in Bulgaria on Wednesday.

The City started like a house on fire, getting their noses in front after 19 minutes,  when Shaun Dimech burst forward and unleashed a thumping shot which flew past James Pisani.

Instead of regrouping, Gudja’s defence was caught out again, this time, they failed to cut out a crossfield pass. The ball dropped at the feet of Klose Azzopardi Conti, who surged past the onrushing goalkeeper and poked in Valletta’s second from a tight angle.

Another neat move two minutes later, saw Keyon Ewurum jink his way into the Gudja’s half to cheekily put the ball behind Pisani.

Gudja’s first-half display did not merit a goal, but they found the net when Gianluca Zammit hit a low drive behind Liam Frendo.

Yet Valletta extended their lead again on 51 minutes.

Jake Azzopardi picked up the ball from Azzopardi Conti, substitute goalkeeper Felix Lehtinen blocked his first attempt, the loose pass gave Azzopardi an inviting opportunity and the Valletta hitman finished cooly past the goalkeeper.

Gudja stemmed the tide when Josimar Quintero floated in the ball from corner, which evaded the entire Valletta defence, and Mathias Conti ghosted in at the back post to slot the ball home.

But it was the briefest of reprieves. Dimech completed his double on 66 minutes when he controlled the ball before hitting a low shot behind the stranded Lehtinen.

In the early kick-off, Danil Kondrakov paved the way for Sliema’s 14th win of the season at the expense of Sirens but as a dress rehearsal for FA Trophy’s semi-final, this encounter was a non-event.

Kondrakov scored a brace inside the first half and Neil Frendo was also on target as the Blues strolled to an easy win to reach the 50-point mark.

The Ukrainian striker fired in from the spot kick but it was no form guide for the showpiece clash against Birkirkara, such was the unfamiliar look of the line-up.

Paul Zammit rested players such as goalkeeper Rashed Al Tumi, Jean Borg, Christ Kouao, Joseph Minala, Samuel da Mata Gomes and Vito Plut.

Still, the Wanderers took advanatge of a weakened Sirens side to double their lead in a one-sided first half.

On 38 minutes, Kondrakov tapped home from a simple rebound after Lydon Micallef’s attempt was blocked by the rearguard.

And Sliema went further ahead on 54 minutes when Neil Frendo hit a rising shot into the top corner.

SLIEMA WANDERERS 3

Kondrakov 21 pen, 38; Frendo 54

SIRENS 0

SLIEMA WANDERERS

T. Aquilina, J. Engerer, M. Beerman  (56 C. Kouao), J. Arthur, G. Alcino, E. Agius, D. Kondrakov (71 V. Plut), N. Frendo (56 J. Borg), M. Freire, L. Micallef (71 N. Strickland), M. Awad (56 S.Mata).

SIRENS

A. Cassar (88 M. Grima), O. Boakye (73 H. Gomda), N. Pulis, H. Panayiotou (46 B. Asare), G. Carrara, D. Borrero, K. Donsu, D. Jackson, K. Ntampizas, K. Muscat (46 O. Ilic), D. Agius.

Referee: Daniel Casha.

Yellow card: Borrero.

VALLETTA 5

Dimech 19,66; Azzopardi Conti 22

Ewurum 24, Azzopardi 51

GUDJA UNITED 2

Zammit 44, Conti 57

VALLETTA

L. Frendo, S. Dimech, J. Azzopardi (62 K. Baldacchino), C. Gauci (62 C. Mercieca), K. Ewurum (72 Z.Formosa), Z. Barbara (72 A. Portelli), S. Mackay, K. Azzopardi Conti, M. Jezdimirovic, N. Micallef, A. Silas (78 D. Agius).

GUDJA UNITED

J. Pisani (46 F. Lethinen), S. Attard, M. Muchardi, J. Quintero (71 G. Lorenzoni), M. Conti, L. Gatt (90 G. Joseph), R. Nanitelamio, Z. Grech, A. Friggieri (71 W. Serrano), M. Esposito (71 J. Cutajar), G. Zammit.

Referee: Emanuel Grech.