Matchday 03: Valletta 3 Marsaxlokk 1
13/09/2025
After back-to-back draws with title contenders Birkirkara and Ħamrun Spartans, Valletta finally celebrated their first victory of the season. The Citizens continued their promising return to Premier League action by handing Marsaxlokk their first defeat, halting the Seasiders’ winning start after two consecutive triumphs.
The match opened with early controversy as Valletta appealed for a penalty, only for referee Ezekiel Barbara to wave play on. Television replays, however, suggested Christopher Mafoumbi was late to the ball and clattered into Jefferson inside the area.
On 21 minutes, Marsaxlokk carved out their best chance of the half. Marcelo Santos Barros rose highest to meet a long punt, heading backwards into the path of Ailton, whose rising effort was brilliantly turned away by Valletta goalkeeper Adison.
Valletta responded through a set-piece. Yannick Yankam’s header at the far post fell to Jefferson, but the striker, arriving slightly late, could only glance his effort off target.
Marsaxlokk nearly punished Valletta’s sluggish approach moments later, but their attack was cut short by a lung-busting recovery run from Sava Radic, who tracked back impressively to snuff out the danger.
Eight minutes before half-time, Valletta captain Steve Borg rolled back the years with a trademark surge from deep. Picking up possession inside his own half, he powered forward and linked with Yuri Messias. Instead of retreating to his defensive line, Borg pressed on into the box to meet the return pass, unleashing a fierce drive that cannoned off the post with Mafoumbi beaten.
Valletta started the second half in emphatic fashion. Thaylor surged down the right flank on a solo run, his low cross taking a deflection off Juan Corbalan and falling kindly to Jefferson. Although the Brazilian appeared to be in an offside position, he made no mistake, lofting the ball over Mafoumbi to give Valletta the lead.
Six minutes later, the Citizens doubled their advantage. Yankam picked up possession in midfield and released the overlapping Thaylor, who squared neatly for Yuri Messias. The Brazilian forward produced a sublime left-foot strike that curled into the corner, leaving Mafoumbi with no chance.
Marsaxlokk sought an immediate response, with Marcelo Santos Barros unleashing a powerful drive that Adison smothered confidently. Their persistence was rewarded in the 63rd minute. From a Corbalan corner, Arias flicked the ball on at the near post, and Joseph Minala slid in at the far to beat Adison and reignite hopes for the Seasiders.
Valletta, however, remained dangerous. Messias almost punished his former club again when he feinted cleverly James Vella before sending a rising shot just over the bar.
Substitute Ensel Attard, who had struck a late winner against Naxxar Lions in the previous outing, nearly repeated his heroics. This time, he set up Nevin Portelli, whose surging run down the left ended with a diagonal shot that thudded against the base of the post.
But Valletta had the final say. In the closing stages, Andrea Zammit carved open the Marsaxlokk defence and teed up Yankam, who calmly lifted the ball over Mafoumbi to seal a 3-1 victory for the Citizens.
VALLETTA: Adilson; S. Borg, B. Paiber (R. Muscat), Y. Yankam, S. Brewer, N. Micallef, Y. Messias (A. Zammit), S. Radic, Thaylor, Jefferson (T. Melillo), J. Mendoza (J. Azzopardi).
MARSAXLOKK: C. Mafoumbi; O. El Hasni, N. Muscat, J. Arias (A. Majok), J. Corbalan, Dodo (E. Attard), J, Vella (T. Caruana), J. Minala (N. Portelli), L. Aguirre, R. Mihana, M. Barros.
Scorers: 47′ J. De Assis, 51′ Y. Messiah, 93′ Y. Yankam (V), 63′ J. Minala (M)
Referee: E. Barbara
Man of Match: T. Aldama (V)
Source: Times of Malta
