Valletta brush aside Tarxien Rainbows to move closer to Top 6 berth

Valletta put themselves in a strong position to reach the Top 6 when they brushed aside Tarxien Rainbows 3-1.

It was a crucial victory for the fifth-placed Citizens who now need just a point from their last match of the League Phase against Marsaxlokk to seal their spot in the Top 6.

Valletta dominated possession but had to wait until the 26th minute to take the lead.

Miguel D’Alessandro brought down Mattias Ellul inside the area and from the spot, Yuri Messias made no mistake.

The Citizens kept pushing, and in the 31st minute, Andrea Zammit saw his shot saved by Tarxien goalkeeper Andrea Cassar.

Tarxien finally threatened on 51 minutes when Nhaysson tried his luck from a distance, but Adilson Maringa was alert to block.

Valletta doubled their lead on 58 minutes when Jake Azzopardi picked Yannick Yankam inside the area, and the latter fired home.

There were more woes for Tarxien as they were reduced to ten men when Abdelrahman was shown a second yellow card and was dismissed.

Valletta all but sealed the points with a third goal on 74 minutes when Steijn Meijer picked up Ahmed Adebayo, who hit a low drive that rolled into the net.

City almost added a fourth when Paiber’s inswinger was somehow kept out by Cassar, and from the rebound, Meijer was again denied by the Tarxien goalkeeper.

The Rainbows pulled a goal back in stoppage time when Marko Musulin picked up a short rebound and fired the ball past Cassar.