Day 19 Valletta 5 Marsaxlokk 2 Published on: 04-02-2012

Valletta restored their four-point lead at the top of the BOV Premier League after easily despatching Marsaxlokk 5-2 at the National Stadium.

Valletta quickly asserted their dominance and took the lead after eight minutes when Michael Mifsud was picked inside the area by Ian Azzopardi and the nippy striker quickly slid the ball past the onrushing Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Christian Cassar.

The Citizens doubled their lead two minutes from the break when Mifsud was fouled on the edge of the area. From the resultant free-kick, Barbosa's curling drive came off the upright and ricocheted into the net via Cassar's back.

In stoppage time, referee Farrugia was at the centre of controversy when she harshly ruled that Valeriani had handled the ball when trying to block Zongo's shot. The Italian wingback, who was already booked, received his second yellow card of the afternoon and was dismissed.

Mifsud stepped up for the penalty and buried the ball past Cassar.

Marsaxlokk were handed a lifeline on 52 minutes and it was again referee Esther Azzopardi attracted further controversy when she harshly ruled that Jonathan Caruana had fouled Stoskovic inside the area when it seemed that the Valletta defender had taken the ball cleanly. From the resultant penalty, Templeman rammed the ball into the net.

The woodwork denied Mifsud from completing his hat-trick as the Malta captain unleashed a powerful low drive that came off the upright with Cassar beaten.

Mifsud finally completed his hat-trick 11 minutes from time when the Valletta striker stormed clear, ran round goalkeeper Cassar before depositing the ball into an empty net.

Valletta were awarded a second penalty six minutes from time when Caruana was floored inside the area. Steve Borg stepped up for the kicked and fired the ball past Cassar to make it 5-1.

Marsaxlokk still had time to pull a second goal back three minutes from time when Templeman moved past two defenders before firing a low drive past Hogg.

Valletta striker Michael Mifsud was voted as the BOV Player of the match.

Source: timesofmalta.com

VALLETTA  - A. Hogg, R. Briffa, E. Agius, D. Dos Santos (R. Bajada), J. Caruana, I. Azzopardi, O. Zongo (S. Arab),  A. Effiong (S. Mady Panadetiguiri), W. Barbosa, S. Borg, M. Mifsud

MARSAXLOKK -  C. Cassar. Bonello, T. Templeman, M. Valeriani, J. Brincat, C. Brincat, J. Xerri (C. Debattista), N. Stoskovic, J. Farrugia (P. Borg), G. Caruana (S. Eboh), I. Kurtusic, A. Cezar Pedrozo

BOV Premier League
Date: 04-02-12     Time: 16:00    Venue: National Stadium

Scorers: 8' 46' 80' M. Mifsud, 43' W. Barbosa, 85' S. Borg, 54' 88' T. Templeman (M)

Yellow Cards:  M. Valeriani (M)

Man of Match: Michael Mifsud (V)

Referee: Esther Azzopardi