Valletta came back from a goal down to beat Gzira United 2-1 in the final of the Meridianbet FA Trophy in front of 5,837 spectators at the National Stadium on Saturday.
The Citizens therefore concluded the season on a positive note with the qualification for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League while lifting the second trophy for this season after earlier winning the Malta FA Jubilee Cup. This is the fifteenth FA Trophy won by Valletta.
Photo courtesy of Malta FA
Gzira, who were hoping to win the competition for the second time in the history of the club after a historic FA Trophy win in 1973, had managed to take the lead during the first half but Valletta scored twice just past the hour to turn the score in their favour.
The Meridianbet FA Trophy final brought the curtain down on the long and successful careers of two veteran players – Valletta defender Steve Borg and Gzira United defender Clayton Failla.
Valletta went close to taking the lead on 9 minutes when following a good move by Yuri Messias, Andrea Zammit tested goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo who performed a great save. The Maroons replied with an angled shot by Maxuell Samurai from the right with the ball hitting the foot of the upright before Sava Radic cleared the ball into a corner on 21 minutes. Three minutes later, Gabriel Mentz had a fine header neutralised by Adilson Maringa, off a cross by Clayton Failla.
Gzira managed to take the lead on 34 minutes. Maxuell Samurai sent Andre through on the right and the latter beat the Valletta goalkeeper with an angled shot which hit the upright before the ball ended at the back of the net.
Two minutes from the end of the first half, Yannick Yankam tested Colombo with a close-range header after receiving a cross from the left.
On the hour, Valletta threatened with a good move concluded by Yuri’s close-range effort which was deflected into a corner.
However four minutes later, the Citizens levelled matters when off a cross from the right, Sava Radic served Jake Azzopardi who beat the Gzira custodian with a first time effort.
Four minutes passed and Valletta made it 2-1 when goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo failed to hold the ball following a cross from the right and Moise Emmanuel Mbende controlled before placing at the back of the net.
After the game, Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo presented the FA Trophy to Brandon Paiber and Steve Borg.