A highly rejuvenated Valletta side bid farewell to the Premier League with a 5-2 win over Gudja United at the Centeanry Stadium on Thursday.
In fact, no less than sixteen members of the Valletta youth squad which defeated Mosta 1-0 on Monday to win Section A of the Youth League and secure a place in the UEFA Youth League first round in September were in the squad for this game with Juan Cruz naming six of these players in the starting line-up.
Valletta took the lead on the 19th minute thanks to a great goal by Shaun Dimech whose powerful drive from outside the area gave goalkeeper James Pisani no chance.
On the 22nd minute, Valletta doubled the score thanks to Klose Azzopardi Conti who intercepted a back pass by Muchardi and beat goalkeeper Pisani with a diagonal shot from the right.
Two minutes later, Keyon Ewurum made it 3-0 with a low shot from the edge of the area when served on the left.
Gianluca Zammit reduced the gap just before the end of the first half when he flicked the ball home past goalkeeper Liam Frendo following a cross from the right.
Jake Azzopardi extended the lead seven minutes in the second half when he had a first attempt blocked by substitute goalkeeper Felix Lehtinen but then placed the ball at the back of the net off the rebound.
Matthias Conti scored a second goal for Gudja on the 58th minute, hitting home from close range off a corner from the right.
Valletta made it 5-2 on the 66th when a cross from the right was deflected by a defender with the ball falling at the feet of Shaun Dimech who beat Lehtinen from close range.