Valletta scored a goal in each half to beat ten-man Floriana 2-0 in the 40th edition of the BOV Super Cup which was held at the National Stadium in front of 4,756 spectators on Monday.
The Citizens, winners of the Meridianbet FA Trophy, apart from the Malta FA Jubilee Cup last season, therefore win the Super Cup for the fourteenth time in the history of the club.
photo courtesy of Malta FA
Floriana went out in search of an early goal but Valletta managed to take the lead. The Citizens showed greater determination on the restart and after Floriana had a player, sent off, Valletta doubled the lead.
Ironically, the Greens were unlucky not to take the lead on 14 minutes when Gaston Romano hit the foot of the upright with a shot from the edge of the area. Three minutes later, Federico Varela had a shot from outside the area ending wide.
However, Valletta took the lead on 21 minutes when Sava Radic sent Diogo Tavares through on the right and his cross was deflected by Amar Drina past goalkeeper Guilherme Cioletti for an own goal.
Three minutes, Valletta threatened once again when Roko Prsa served Andrea Zammit who rounded two defenders before hitting just wide from outside the area. The Citizens maintained the pressure and Alex Tank missed a good opportunity, hitting wide from the edge of the area on 25 minutes.
Floriana replied with a Romano effort from the edge of the area which was parried by goalkeeper Adilson Maringa. On the other side of the pitch, Sava Radic tested Cioletti with a cross from the right. Maringa then performed a good save on a cross shot by Kenan Dervisagic from the left on 37 minutes. Just before half-time, Maringa came to the rescue as he anticipated Tomislav Gudelj following an inviting pass by Paul Mbong from the left.
Three minutes in the second half, Roko Prsa sent Andrea Zammit through and the latter advanced all alone but his attempt was blocked by Cioletti outside the area with Matthias Ellul taking the rebound, having his shot blocked by a defender. One minute later, Zammit entered the area from the right but had his attempt blocked with the ball reaching Roko Prsa whose conclusion was cleared off the goal line by Dunstan Vella.
Floriana were reduced to ten men on 56 minutes after Paul Mbong floored Andrea Zammit who was heading towards the area.
On the hour, Cioletti came to the rescue as he turned into a corner a fine freekick by Petar Sekulovic.
However, one minute later, Valletta doubled the score when Roko Prsa sent Andrea Zammit through and the latter advanced on the left before beating the Floriana custodian with a diagonal shot.
Eight minutes from time, Floriana went close to reducing the gap with a Fede Varela header off a Robert Muric corner from the left and three minutes later, Varela, served by Yassine Jbira, had a shot from outside the area neutralised by Adilson Maringa. In added time, Stephen Odey had a header parried by the Valletta custodian.