Jubilee Cup: Valletta 4 Mgarr U. 0
08/11/2025
Valletta eased into the Jubilee Cup quarter-finals with a commanding 4–0 victory over Challenge League side Mgarr United, setting up a potential showdown with old rivals Floriana or Ħamrun Spartans down the line.
The win also helped the Citizens erase the bitter memory of their previous outing against Żabbar SP, where they suffered their first league defeat of the season.
The Citizens struck twice on either side of half-time in a one-sided affair and are now hoping to emulate their exploits of 2000 and 2010, when they lifted one-off silverware in the Centenary Cup and the National League 100th Anniversary Cup respectively.
On both occasions, they defeated arch-rivals Floriana in the final –a repeat of which is off the cards this time around. The closest the Greens could get is a quarter-final clash, should they overcome Ħamrun Spartans tomorrow.
Coach Thane Micallef used the occasion to ring in the changes, handing second-choice goalkeeper Timothy Aquilina a rare start, while Jake Azzopardi, Keyron Ewurum and Andrea Zammit were also drafted into the starting XI.
Azzopardi was immediately in the thick of things and, after just five minutes, saw his shot blocked by the Mġarr rearguard following a teasing cross from Shaft Brewer.
Mgarr goalkeeper Luke Debono distinguished himself midway through the first half with a fine save to deny Yuri Messias, but the Brazilian was not to be denied.
Three minutes later, Messias rifled a low drive past Debono to open the scoring.
Five minutes before the interval, Zammit was felled inside the box by Claudio Lazaro, prompting referee Daniel Portelli to point to the spot. The youngster dusted himself off and coolly slotted home to double Valletta’s advantage.
Ten minutes after the restart, the contest was all but settled when Ivin Farrugia, in an unfortunate turn of events, deflected Thaylor Aldama’s shot past his own keeper for 3–0.
Valletta remained firmly in control. Substitute Andrei Ciolacu, on for Messias, saw his header dramatically cleared off the line by Terence Vella.
On 75 minutes, Jefferson made it four, prodding home from close range after being picked out unmarked at the far post by the industrious Aldama, who bagged his second assist of the night.
Moments later, substitute keeper Miguel Chetcuti was quick off his line to deny Ciolacu, who had latched onto a looping ball from Azzopardi.
Mġarr finally mustered their first attempt on 80 minutes through Christian Saint Ebisindor, but his diagonal drive flashed wide.
Aldama, having already created two goals, tried to add his name to the scoresheet but blasted over.
Ebisindor continued to be a thorn in Valletta’s right flank with his direct running, but with little support around him, he often found himself running in circles before being smothered by the solid Valletta defence.
Source: Times of Malta
VALLETTA: T. Aqulina, S. Borg (Z. Cassar), A. Zammit (T. Mellilo), B. Paiber (Z. Barbara), J. Azzopardi, K. Ewurum (A. Ciolacu), S. Brewer, E. Mbende, N. Micallef, Y. Messias (J. de Assis), T. Aldama.
MGARR U. J. Debono (M. Chetcuti), C. Crescencio, M. Theodose, S. Schembri, R. Da Cruz (I. Farrugia), C. Zammit (K. Frendo), J. Bajada (T. Vella), C. Saint Ebisindor, J. Debono, M. Attard (M. Fenech), C. Noto Souza.
Scorers: 23′ Y. Messias, 42′ A. Zammit, 55′ T. Aldama, 75′ J. de Assis.
Yellow cards: S. Borg (V), J. Debono, M. Fenech (M).
Referee: D. Portelli
