Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/955503
maltatoday SUNDAY 18 MARCH 2018 Sports 52 FOOTBALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG Valletta ......................1 St. Andrews ................0 WARREN ZAMMIT CONSCIOUS that Balzan man- aged to beat Mosta, Valletta wanted to secure a win at all costs in order to keep believ- ing that they can finish ahead of Balzan. Doncic made two changes to the team that won against Hi- bernians. Jean Borg and Romeu Pericles Romao replaced Joseph Zerafa and Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre. Michael Woods decided to make just one change to the team that was narrowly defeated by Sliema Wanderers. Matthew Gauci was replaced by Ricardo Martin. Valletta started the match on the attack and threatened St An- drews after nine minutes. Romao delivered a cross from the left towards Matteo Picciolo whose shot took a def lection off a de- fender and went out for a corner. The citizens created another chance on the 18th minute. Fol- lowing a cross inside the penalty area, Albert Prosa saw his close range header being neutralised by Matthew Calleja Cremona. The post denied Valletta from going ahead on the 31st minute. Miguel Angel Alba's cross went into the direction of Picciolo whose effort hit the woodwork. From the rebound, Albert Prosa saw his header being cleared off the line. The ball went into the path of Ibrahim Raed Saleh who finished wide. Piciollo was denied by the post again on the 42nd minute. The Italian midfielder sent a thump- ing shot from distance that hit the post. Rebound fell for Rowen Muscat who fired wide in-front of an open goal. St Andrews hit the post as well a minute later. Tano Azian at- tempted to place the ball past Henry Bonello, but his shot hit the upright. In the additional time given by the referee prior to half-time, Piciollo sent another shot from distance that ended up over. Doncic's side started the second half on the offensive and went close on the 51st minute. Substi- tute Michael Mifsud went inside the penalty area down the right side before hitting a low shot that was blocked by Calleja Cremona. Picciolo threatened St Andrews once more on the 57th minute. The Valletta player fired a shot that went slightly over. Calleja Cremona was on the alert a minute later to deny Val- letta. Mifsud received the ball inside the penalty area and hit a first time shot that forced a good save from the Maltese goalkeep- er. St Andrews were denied by the post once more on the 68th min- ute. Kevaughn Atkinson's shot from the right side of the penalty area hit the woodwork. A minute later, Prosa received the ball inside the penalty area, but failed to hit the target from close range. As time went by, St Andrews believed more in themselves and created another good opportu- nity on the 84th minute. Atkin- son hit a powerful drive that was blocked by Henry Bonello. In the additional time given by the referee, Kyrian Nwoko at- tempted a shot from inside pen- alty area, but his effort failed to hit the target. However, Mifsud saved the day for Valletta deep into stoppage time. Following a long ball played inside the pen- alty area, the veteran striker fin- ished past Calleja Cremona. St Andrews starting line-up: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Adri- an Borg, Misael Miranda Gomez, Joseph Farrugia, Jason Van Den Lannoite, Ricardo Martin, Ta- no Azian (Jacob Walker- 55), Kevaughn Atkinson (Dario Zam- pa – 90) Marcus Grima, Kemar Reid, Travis Blagrove Valletta starting line-up: Henry Bonello, Steve Borg, Ryan Camill- eri, Santiago Malano, Matteo Piciolo, Jean Borg, Raed Ibrahim Saleh (Michael Mifsud- 45), Row- en Muscat (Kyrian Nwoko- 64), Miguel Angel Alba, Romeu Peri- cles Romao (Juan Gill Cruz – 90), Albert Prosa Referee: Fyodor Zammit Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Mitchell Scerri Fourth Official: Matthew Dega- briele Yellow Cards: Ricardo Martin (St Andrews), Kevaughn Atkinson (St Andrews) BOV Player of the Match: Mat- thew Calleja Cremona (St An- drews) Substitute Michael Mifsud keep Valletta's hopes alive A goal scored by Michael Mifsud deep inside the stoppage time kept Valletta in the race for the title as Danilo Doncic's side had to work hard to overcome St Andrews