Valletta defeated Naxxar Lions 1-0 in a match from the YoHealth Malta Premier Opening Round league phase at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Sunday to keep the pace with leaders Floriana.

The Citizens, in fact, move alone in second place on 18 points, one behind the Greens, three ahead of Hamrun and four ahead of Hibernians and Sliema. Naxxar, on the other hand, remain joint-bottom with Mosta on four points.

Emmanuel Mbende scored the all-important goal on 42 minutes, heading home off a Brandon Paiber free kick.