Santa Lucia pile further misery on Valletta

Santa Lucia returned to winning ways as they defeated Valletta 2-1 at the National Stadium on Sunday.

This was the first league win for Santa Lucia since November. They move five points ahead of bottom-placed Sliema Wanderers, four behind tenth-placed Mosta.

Valletta, on the other hand, suffered a fourth successive defeat and a seventh defeat from the last eight matches. Lying in joint-eighth place on 21 points with Mosta and with just three more matches to play for the end of the first phase, chances of making it to the top six could be fading away as they lie six points away from the sixth place.

Santa Lucia took the lead on the 4th minute thanks to a great goal by Nicholas Pulis whose fine long-distance shot gave goalkeeper Alessandro Guarnone no chance.

On the 62nd minute, Santa Lucia doubled the score when Victor Luis Prestes Filho released Jurgen Pisani on the left and off the latter’s assist, Vito Plut rounded two defenders to beat Guarnone from close range.

Valletta pulled one back on the 71st minute thanks to an acrobatic shot by Eslit Sala following a cross by Mario Fontanella from the right.