Valletta go top after beating Qormi

Valletta 1

Qormi 0

Valletta moved back to the top of the Premier League standings after edging erstwhile leaders Qormi 1-0 in today’s only top-flight match.

Victory for the Citizens lifted them one point clear of Qormi and Birkirkara but the latter have a game in hand.

Inside the opening two minutes, Valletta’s Dyson Falzon fired over from the edge of the box. Qormi’s first attack saw Camilo winning possession in a menacing position but his cross-shot lacked precision.

The game was 25 minutes old when Valletta were awarded a penalty by referee Clayton Pisani for what looked like a dubious handball by Massimo Grima following a cross from Jamie Pace.

Cameroonian winger Priso Doding placed his shot towards the right corner but Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper, dived the right way and pushed the ball away.

Towards the end of the first half, Qormi twice came close to breaking the deadlock. Steve Wellman’s header from Joseph Farrugia’s free-kick sailed just wide of the far post and Matthew Bartolo had a shot saved by Andrew Hogg. In first-half stoppage time, it was the erstwhile low-key Citizens who threatened to storm ahead.

Declan O’Brien produced an excellent cross towards Dyson Falzon but the latter’s tame effort was blocked by Jonathan Bondin. Valletta were the better team in the second half.

Their pressure paid off 20 minutes from time when Kennetgh Scicluna’s cross from the left was met by Terrence Scerri whose header slipped Farrugia’s grasp and sailed into the net.

The Citizens kept a firm on the proceedings for the remainder of the game, going close a couple of time to add to their lead as Qormi’s reaction never materialised.