Four and easy for the Citizens

A potentially tough encounter against Tarxien Rainbows in desperate need of points turned into an easy ride for Valletta.

Not much was expected from a very much depleted Tarxien side with their match against the Champions marking their fourth consecutive defeat  who now remain anchored at the bottom of the table, one point behind Qormi, Pietà and Zebbug and three behind Mosta and Naxxar.

Tarxien were a depleted side as they lacked Ishmael Grech and the suspended Owen Bugeja, Firas Aboulezz, Carlos Menendez Hevia and Mouhamed Soly. Valletta lacked the suspended Steve Borg and the injured Lateef Elford-Alliyu.

The Citizens took the lead on the 24th minute when a cross from the right found Llywelyn Cremona all alone inside the area and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Sean Mintoff.

Five minutes later, Valletta doubled the score thanks to a direct freekick from the left by Abdelkarim Nafti which gave the Tarxien goalkeeper no chance.

With a fine scissors-kick, Abdelkarim Nafti made it 3-0 eight minutes from the end of the first half, following a cross from the right.

Triston Caruana went close to reducing the gap for Tarxien on the 70th thanks to a direct freekick. However Valletta threatened once again on the 85th with a Ryan Fenech curling freekick which was deflected into a corner. Three minutes later, Nicky Vella performed a good save on a fine effort by Triston Caruana.

One minute in added time, Valletta scored the fourth goal when off a Ryan Fenech corner, Ian Azzopardi headed home past Mintoff.

Referee: Philip Farrugia

BOV Man of the Match: AbdelKarim Nafti