Matchday 08: Valletta 1 Santa Lucia 1
26/11/2023
A goal each and a point each for Valletta and Santa Lucia in a draw that slightly improves the position of both teams in the standings.
The first action of note came on the half hour from the Santa Lucia side when Steve Pisani received a long cross and escaped on the line crossed to the middle but Piazza’s finish was blocked by the defense City for a corner.
Two minutes later action on the other side but Shaun Dimech’s shot was easily saved by the Santa Lucia goalkeeper Francisco da Paz.
In the 42nd minute, the closest the two teams came to opening the scoring in the first half: Jan Tanti’s direct free kick for Santa Lucia from a well-angled position outside the box, hit the top of the goal with Jake Galea beaten and out.
So that the first half ended 0-0.
In the 54th minute it was Valletta’s turn to hit the post. An action started by a free kick outside the box, a ball cleared short by the defense, comes to the feet of Falcone who shot from the edge of the box hit the upright.
The match started to become more lively. In the 70th minute persistent action by Mathas Ellul for Santa Lucia who entered the box but shot central.
And 30 seconds later, from a quick transition, Valletta took the lead with a beautiful shot by Falcone from a position similar to the previous one.
Just another minute after action on the Valletta goal, Jurgen Pisani enters the box alone but he angles himself too far and Jake Galea blocks with his body.
St. Lucia’s dramatic equalizer came in the last minute of added time when Mattias Ellul fired past Jake Grech amidst huge scenes of celebration on the St. Lucia bench and the despair of the Valletta players.
Valletta: Jake Galea, Enzo Ruiz, Santiago Ferraris, Shaun Dimech (capt.), Christian Gauci, Federico Falcone, Victor Prestes Filho, Federico Vega, Neil Micallef, Alfred Silas, David Gartba (46′ Jhonnattann Benites) kowċ: Enzo Potenza
Santa Lucia: Francisco da Paz, Mathias Ellul, Mathias Vella, Steve Pisani, Tatsuro Nagamatsu, Adadm Bradshaw, Jurgen Pisani (capt.), Jan Tanti (68′ Jamie Carbone), Alessio Piazza, Patrick de Oliveira, Evandro Pinto Gomes kowċ: Alessandro Zinnari
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
Scorers: 71′ F. Falcone (V), 95′ M. Ellul (S)
Yellow cards: S. Ferraris, V. Luiz , F. Falcone (V).
BOV Player of the match:
