Valletta win FA Trophy to scoop double

A goal by Lateef Elford-Alliyu inside the opening two minutes of the match has enabled Valletta to win the UBET FA Trophy, beating Sliema Wanderers 1-0.

Buoyed their BOV Premier League win last week, the Citizens entered into the match as favourites.

Valletta took an early lead inside two minutes when off a through pass from Brazilian Alan Da Silva Souza, an unmarked Elford-Alliyu beat Sliema custodian Glenn Zammit with a low shot from the right.

Stunned by the goal, Sliema then tried to mount a fight back. On the 12th minute, Sliema came close to the equaliser when Paltemio Barbetti’s shot from outside the box hit the cross bar. From the rebound, the impressive Matias Muchardi shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

On 35 minutes, Mark Scerri skewed his shot wide from outside the penalty area while moments before, Stanley Ohawuchi, shot high from a good position. Seven minutes before half-time Valletta duo Roderick Briffa and Alan da Silva Souza sustained an injury and were replaced by Edmond Agius and Hamza Barry respectively. 

Despite their one goal deficit, Sliema finished the first half as the stronger side. Six minutes into the second half, Sliema came close to scoring the equaliser when Ohawuchi’s deflected strike ended just wide.

Valletta were reduced to ten men when on 71 minutes, Hamza Barry, who had earlier entered the field in place of the injured da Silva Souza, was sent off by referee Clayton Pisani after retaliating at Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.

Despite their one-man disadvantage, Valletta improved during the final stages of the watch, and off a cross-shot by Denni Rocha dos Santos, Sliema custodian Glen Zammit pulled a smart save. Moments later, Zammit saved Ryan Fenech’s free kick.

Valletta have now won the double for the first time in 13 years, and for the first time under the presidency of Victor Sciriha.