Valletta 1
Tazemeta 46;
Newtown AFC 2
Oswell 7; Owen 86;

(Newtown win 4-2 on aggregate)

Valletta endured heartbreak in the Europa League last night after a 2-1 home defeat to Welsh minnows Newtown AFC shattered their hopes of setting up a clash with Danish side FC Copenhagen.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, the Whites harboured high hopes of overturning the deficit but an early strike from Jason Oswell, who had also been on target in Wales, left them with a mountain to climb.

What ensued was a tempestuous encounter Valletta, relying on their superior technique, tried to pass their way past their brawny opponents but it was anything but easy.

Coach Paul Zammit had done well to assemble a squad after the departures of a host of key players, namely Ryan Fenech and Steve Borg, and virtually all their foreigners, but Valletta’s lack of cohesion dogged their efforts in the first half.

They did improve after the break as Thierry Tazemeta, who was making his debut, equalised on the night but a succession of dramatic events in the final stages ruined City’s dream.

Ryan Camilleri was expelled and Newtown struck the killer blow after Valletta goalkeeper Nicky Vella had raised their hopes by saving a late penalty.

While Newtown deservedly celebrated their milestone qualification after going through 4-2 on aggregate, the Valletta players walked off the pitch with heads down knowing that they had failed to deliver despite a gutsy showing.

Jhonnattann had been rewarded for his goal in the away leg with a starting berth at the expense of Luke Montebello.

The inclusion of the Brazilian striker was not the only change from last week’s game in Wales as captain Jonathan Caruana and Roderick Briffa returned from suspension while Equatorial Guinea forward Tazemeta passed a late fitness to spearhead the attack with Abdelkarim Nafti on the left and Jhonnattann on the right.

Dyson Falzon replaced the suspended Ian Azzopardi at left-back.

Newtown boss Chris Hughes picked the same team that started the first leg with Oswell leading the line in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

Less than four minutes from the start Valletta threatened to seize the lead.

Briffa initiated the move with a forceful incursion down the right before crossing for Tazemeta who cushioned the ball towards Jhonnattann but the latter’s drive was turned away by keeper David Jones.

From the possibility of forging ahead, Valletta found themselves a goal down as, a right-wing cross from Matthew Owen, spread panic in the City box and Oswell nipped in at the far post to ram the ball home.

The Citizens were now up against it as they trailed Newtown by two goals on aggregate.

It took them a while to get going.

They fashioned a good chance after 16 minutes as Nafti’s corner was met by Argentine defender Juan Cruz Gill whose glancing header grazed the crossbar.

Valletta were now seeing more of the ball, Jhonnattann having a menacing grounder deflected away for a corner, but Newtown’s threat on the counter was not to be discounted.

While Jhonnattann was an enterprising figure on the right wing, the stocky Tazemeta was struggling to make an impact.

There was another scare for the Welsh side as, from Nafti’s free-kick, Cruz Gill’s header was fumbled by Jones but the defence cleared.

Most of the moves flowed towards the Newtown goal but Valletta found it hard to breach the opposing rearguard.

Three minutes past the half-hour, Nafti’s free-kick whistled wide of the near post.

In a rare foray into Valletta’s half, Newtown almost added to their lead. Oswell, again, used his strength and eye for goal to flit into a dangerous position but his goalbound effort was blocked by Claudio Pani. From the ensuing melee, Luke Boundford hit the post.

On the cusp of half-time, Nafti weaved his way into the box from the left but his grounder was warded off.

The first half ended with Newtown on attack but the Citizens gained the boost they craved within 23 seconds of the restart.

Making headway through the middle, Briffa switched to the right where Jhonnattann delivered a low cross into the six-yard box and Tazemeta flicked home.

Valletta sought to maintain the momentum, forcing two corners. From the first, Nafti’s inswinger was fisted away by Jones.

Then he was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet as his rising drive whizzed past the far post.

Eighteen minutes into the second half, Zammit brought on Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza for Tazemeta.

Valletta’s early fury fizzled out and, to make matters worse, Camilleri was shown a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Shane Sutton as the right-back dashed into the box to try and reach Briffa’s return pass.

Zammit responded to Camilleri’s exit by switching Briffa to right-back and adjusting to 4-3-2.

Things got worse for Valletta as Hungarian referee Mihaly Fabian awarded Newtown a penalty after Cruz Gill was adjudged to have hauled down Oswell in the box.

Owen’s effort from the spot was kept out by Vella but the danger refused to abate.

From the ensuing action, Owen redeemed himself as his grounder from the edge of the box nestled into the low corner of the net.

Matthew Cook, who had come on in the second half, was dismissed after earning a second booking for provoking the Valletta players.

Valletta
N. Vella, L. Cremona, J. Cruz Gill, R. Camilleri, Jhonnattann, J. Caruana, D. Falzon, C. Pani, R. Briffa, A. Nafti (87 C. Umeh), T. Tazemeta (63 J.P. Mifsud Triganza).

Newtown AFC
D. Jones, S. Edwards, M. Owen (89 J. Price), K. Mills-Evans, S. Sutton, M. Hearsey (68 M. Cook), L. Boundford, J. Oswell, N. Mitchell (87 G. Partridge), C. Williams, T. Goodwin.

Referee: Mihaly Fabian (Hungary).

Yellow cards: Boundford; Mills-Evans; Nafti; Jones; Gill; Cook; Briffa; Price.

Missed penalty: Owen (N).

Red cards: Camilleri (V) 74; Cook (N) 86.

Attendance: 1,914.