Season 1999/2000

Champions League

First Qualifying Round

14/7/99, Jenner Park - Barry

Barry Town (WAL) vs Valletta FC

0-0

Valletta managed to hold Barry Town in a goalless draw in Barry's home-ground Jenner Park. The Citizens' only target was to avoid leaving the pitch with a negative result. And with a disciplined defensive performance, they managed to keep the scoresheet intact and now all stands to be played next week at Ta' Qali. Home advantage favours the Citizens but just one goal for Barry Town would complicate matters for Valletta.

Valletta played a defensive match with coach Krassmir Manolov presenting a 5-4-1 formation with Gilbert Agius isolated upfront. Throughout the first half, they did not have a single shot in the direction of the goalkeeper. The Dragons were soon dangerous with a freekick from the left tipped into a corner by Reggie Cini and then a powerful shot from a central position by Mitchell was blocked by the Valletta goalie. A cross shot from the right by Barry's player-coach Gary Barnett was tipped over the bar by Cini. In the second half, Manolov moved Nicky Saliba to midfield. This helped the Citizens improve the performance over that of the first half. However after just a couple of minutes, the Citizens were lucky not to go one goal down when a header by Lee Barrow from outside the area was not held by Cini with the ball bouncing on the bar and then onto the upright. Valletta's first chance occurred seven minutes in the second half when a fine shot by Nenad Veselji was saved by the Barry Town keeper. A few minutes later, off an Ivanov cross from the right, Veselji again went close. Eleven minutes from time, Cini again came to the rescue deviating into a corner a header by Perry. Three minutes from time, Gilbert Agius, served by Darren Debono, missed a good chance hitting off the target. In the dying minutes, the Welsh side was once again dangerous, however the Citizens' defence ably led by John Buttigieg managed to clear in time.

Valletta: Reggie Cini, Stefan Giglio, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Sinisa Radak, Darren Debono, John Buttigieg, Gilbert Agius (Edward Azzopardi), Nicky Saliba, Nenad Veselji (Joe Camilleri), Alexander Ivanov, Daniel Theuma.
Barry Town: D. Wells, T. Evans, D. Davies, R. Jones, A. York, L. Barrow, G. Barnett, D. Carter, P.Mitchell, C. Sloan, J. Ince (J. Perry).

21/7/99, National Stadium - Ta' Qali

Valletta FC vs Barry Town (WAL)

3-2 (HT 2-0)

Two goals by Gilbert Agius just four minutes before half time put Valletta on the right track to achieve their first ever qualification to a second round of a European competition. The Citizens managed to register a 3-2 win following the scoreless draw in the first leg for a 3-2 aggregate score.

Valletta had a good start going close to taking the lead on three occasions in the first ten minutes. In the 7th, Sinisa Radak was unlucky to hit the bar with a powerful shot from a distance of around 30 metres with Barry keeper David Wells beaten. But soon the match calmed down and both sides shared the exchanges. Three minutes from the end of the first half, Valletta took the lead. Following a counter-attack led by Nenad Veselji, Alexandr Ivanov served Gilbert Agius on the right and the latter's low diagonal went past Wells to put the Citizens ahead. During injury time, Valletta doubled the score. Nicky Saliba advanced on the right, served Gilbert Agius in the middle of the area and the Maltese international striker once again placed the ball on the left of the keeper.

Just two minutes in the second half, Barry pulled one back. Substitute Chris Sloan was left unmarked, received the ball just in front of the goalkeeper and had no difficulty to slide the ball past Cini. Valletta replied with a good powerful shot by Veselji which was not held by Wells but Agius did not manage to anticipate the goalie. In the 56th, Valletta went 3-1 ahead when following a series of shots and clearances inside the Dragons' area, Alexandr Ivanov crossed from the right, Barry defender Evans incredibly failed to clear and Jeffrey Chetcuti headed the ball home. But hardly a minute had passed that Chris Sloan scored again to make it 3-2. In the 68th, Evans was sent off for a foul on Veselji who was heading towards goal following a solo run. Valletta then had a good chance but Wells performed a brilliant save off Jeffrey Chetcuti. That was the last chance of the game as in the remaining ten minutes, neither side went close with the match ending with a 3-2 score.

Valletta: Reggie Cini, Stefan Giglio, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Sinisa Radak, Darren Debono, John Buttigieg, Gilbert Agius, Nicky Saliba (Edward Azzopardi), Nenad Veselji (Kris Laferla), Alexandr Ivanov (Joe Camilleri), Daniel Theuma.
Barry Town: D. Wells, T. Evans, D. Davies, R. Jones, A. York, L. Barrows, G. Barnett (Pridham), D. Carter, P. Mitchell, J. Perry, J. Ince (C. Sloan).
Referee: Bruno Derrier (FRA)

Second Qualifying Round

28/7/99, Hanappi Stadium - Wien

SK Rapid Wien (AUT) vs Valletta FC

3-0 (HT 0-0)

Led by a great Dejan Savicevic, Rapid Wien dominated from start to finish building a three-goal lead in the first leg over Valletta. In the first half, the Citizens defended all out and once again Reggie Cini was great guarding the posts. However Valletta managed to resist the attacks of the Austrian strikers only up to ten minutes in the second half and from then onwards Rapid scored three times for a final 3-0 score.

Right from the start, Rapid made their intentions clear. After just two minutes, Reggie Cini had to perform a couple of difficult saves and in the 4th, Dejan Savicevic sent Michael Hatz through but Cini blocked him in a one-on-one situation. Off the rebound, Rene Wagner hit hard but John Buttigieg cleared off the goal line. Five minutes later, Savicevic sent Lagonikakis through but he sent the ball over the bar as he tried to anticipate Cini. Valletta then lost John Buttigieg injured to be replaced by Kris Laferla. In the 29th, off a cross by Savicevic from the right, Cini failed to hold the ball and a low shot by Wagner went just wide. A minute later, Wagner again went close but his attempt was blocked by the Valletta defence. A short clearance followed but Jens Dowe had two attempts blocked by the Citizens' rear-guard. Off another cross by Savicevic, a header by Arnold Wetl was tipped onto the bar by Cini. Another shot by Wetl from inside the area was slightly deviated by Cini into a corner as Lagonikakis did not reach the ball in time. Valletta's first chance occurred 8 minutes from the end of the first half when a cross shot by Stefan Giglio was saved by Maier.

Ten minutes in the second half, Rapid managed to take the lead. There was a cross from the left and Jens Dowe anticipated Cini to head home. Valletta replied with an isolated attempt by Nenad Veselji which went wide. In the 74th, Rapid doubled the score with a direct freekick by Dejan Savicevic with a direct freekick from the right. Four minutes from time, Marek Peska scored the third goal concluding from close-range off a cross from the right by Savicevic.

Valletta: Reggie Cini, Stefan Giglio, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Sinisa Radak, Darren Debono, John Buttigieg (Kris Laferla), Gilbert Agius, Nicky Saliba, Nenad Veselji (Joe Camilleri), Alexandr Ivanov (Jeremy Agius), Daniel Theuma.
Rapid Wien: Maier, Hatz, Scheiswald, Schottel, Wimmer, Wetl, Freund, Dowe, Savicevic, Wagner, Lagonikakis.

4/8/99, National Stadium - Ta' Qali

Valletta FC vs SK Rapid Wien (AUT)

0-2 (HT 0-0)

Aggregate Score: 0-5

Valletta were eliminated from the Champions League Second Qualifying Round after suffering a 2-0 defeat with two goals in the second half. The Citizens faced the Viennese without John Buttigieg still injured and with Darren Debono and Stefan Giglio not 100% fit. They were unlucky to lose two players injured, Alexandr Ivanov early in the match and midway in the second half, goalie Reggie Cini. To make matters worse, Valletta had defender Edward Azzopardi sent off in the beginning of the second half. On the other hand, Rapid lacked the magic touches of Dejan Savicevic as their coach opted not to include him in the squad. But still they were superior to the Citizens.

In the early stages, Valletta tried to penetrate with several long crosses. Rapid had the better chances but failed to conclude. The first golden opportunity saw Andreas Lagonikakis trying his luck with a powerful low shot from outside the area, the ball being tipped into a corner by Cini. Rene Wagner then missed a good chance not hitting the ball from an ideal position. Heraf took advantage of an erratic pass but his powerful shot from inside the area was blocked by Reggie Cini and then Theuma cleared in time. Then just before half time, Valletta went very close to breaking the deadlock. Sinisa Radak sent Nenad Veselji through, inside the area, Veselji tried to dribble the goalkeeper but finally hit slightly wide.

Three minutes in the second half, the Citizens were penalized with the expulsion of Edward Azzopardi for retaliating on Marek Penska. A powerful shot by Jens Dowe from outside the area went just over the bar with Cini beaten. A close-range shot by Wagner was blocked by Cini and Joe Camilleri cleared in time. In the 71st, Rapid took the lead. It was a solo effort by Jens Dowe who entered the penalty area as the Valletta defence tried to play the off-side trap and hit low past Cini. This goal demotivated the Valletta side as from then onwards they committed several mistakes although they went close to equalising with a dipper from outside the area by Gilbert Agius which missed the target by little. Rapid scored a second goal three minutes from time. Off a cross from the left, Schwarz served the unmarked Andreas Lagonikakis who had no difficulty to beat Sullivan from close range and one minute later, Wagner missed a golden opportunity hitting wide from an ideal position. Finally Sullivan performed a good save deviating into a corner a powerful diagonal shot by Schwarz.

Valletta: Reggie Cini (Sean Sullivan), Stefan Giglio (Darren Debono), Jeffrey Chetcuti, Sinisa Radak, Daniel Theuma, Joe Camilleri, Gilbert Agius, Nicky Saliba, Nenad Veselji, Alexandr Ivanov (Kris Laferla), Edward Azzopardi.
Rapid Wien: Maier, Freund (Zingler), Scheiswald, Schottel, Dowe, Penska (Schwarz), Lagonikakis, Hatz, Wagner, Heraf (Wetl), Wimmer.