Valletta claim first three points

Valletta registered their first win in the BOV Premier League as they defeated Sliema Wanderers 3-1 at the National Stadium on Thursday.

For Sliema, this was the second consecutive defeat after losing to Balzan 1-2 last week.

Valletta had three changes from the team which lost to Santa Lucia as Jean Borg, Nicholas Pulis and Matteo Piciollo replaced Joseph Zerafa, Kevin Tulimieri and Kyrian Nwoko. On the other hand, Ryan Fenech replaced Stanimir Miloskovic for Sliema.

Valletta took the lead on the 21st minus when off a cross by Yuri Messias from the right, Juan Cruz Gill cleared the ball but Enmy Pena Beltre took the rebound beating Galea with a fine rising shot which ended in the top corner.

Eight minutes from the end of the first half, Sliema equalised when Mark Scerri served the unmarked Juri Cisotti on the right, with the Italian midfielder hitting home past Bonello.

After having a goal by Shaun Dimech controversially disallowed for an offside on the 41st minute, Valletta regained the lead four minutes in the second half when Matteo Piciollo exchanged the ball with Yuri de Jesus Messias on the right before slotting the ball past the Sliema custodian from inside the area.

Two minutes in added time, Valletta made it 3-1 thanks to Yuri de Jesus Messias who beat Galea with a shot from the edge of the area following a good move between Fontanella and Tulimieri on the left.

SLIEMA Jake Galea, Michele Sansone, Antonio Stelitano, Kurt Shaw, Mark Scerri, Jose Cleangelo Pereira (73′ John Mintoff), Ryan Fenech (53′ Seydou Sow), Juri Cisotti (62′ Stanimir Miloskovic), Juan Cruz Gill, Claudio Pani, Jean Paul Farrugia.
Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, Jonathan Pearson, Peter Xuereb, Edmond Agius.
Coach: Alfonso Greco
Asst. Coach: Ivan Woods

VALLETTA Henry Bonello, Steve Borg, Ryan Camilleri, Matteo Piciollo (77′ Kevin Tulimieri), Jean Borg, Enmy Pena Beltre (38′ Joseph Zerafa), Douglas Packer (35′ Shaun Dimech), Nicholas Pulis, Rowen Muscat, Mario Fontanella, Yuri de Jesus Messias.
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Bojan Kaljevic, Kyrian Nwoko, Joseph Zerafa, Jeremy Micallef.
Coach: Darren Abdilla
Asst. Coach: Gilbert Agius

Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Christopher Francalanza, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara
Yellow Cards: S. Borg, M. Scerri, A. Stelitano, Messias
BOV Player of the Match: Yuri de Jesus Messias

Attendance: 1,292