Valletta Triumph in Malta FA Jubilee Cup
08/12/2025
Valletta FC sent a real statement that they are back among the big boys of Maltese football after producing a clinical display to brush aside Sliema Wanderers and lift the MFA Jubilee Cup.
It was a really impressive performance from Thane Micallef’s men, who were all over their opponents right from the outset, and inspired by their star forward, Yuri Messias, they strolled home to a historic win.
Valletta’s triumph in this one-off competition, organised by the Malta FA to celebrate their 125th anniversary, further underlines their impressive record in ‘unique’ competitions as they have now added the Jubilee Cup to the Centenary Cup and the 100 Anniversary Cup, which were organised during the last 25 years.
On the other hand, it was a disappointing day for Sliema Wanderers as the Blues looked second best in all areas of the pitch and inevitably, questions will be asked on whether this team has the verve to challenge for the main honours, particularly after the club’s heavy investment in the summer.
Valletta were soon on the front foot and they came close on 17 minutes.
Yuri Messias played a fine through-ball into the path of the sprinting Andrea Zammit, and the young forward saw his low shot blocked in two attempts by Rashed Al Tumi, the Sliema goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, Messias came close with a stinging shot that flashed past the upright.
Valletta’s early ascendancy rewarded them with an opener on the half-hour mark.
Steve Borg darted forward and slid the ball into the path of Messias, who turned past Jean Borg and kept his cool to slot the ball past the diving Al Tumi to send their fans into raptures.
Sliema tried to hit back, but their first real chance came on 42 minutes when Adam Magri Overend hit a shot from the edge of the area that flashed wide.
Two minutes later, it was Miguel Baggio who darted forward and opted to shoot from a distance, but his effort was blocked by Valletta goalkeeper Adilson.
Sliema needed to improve considerably in the second half to put themselves back into the match.
Five minutes into the second half, Blues forward Sulahmana Bah raced forward to meet a long pass but his angled shot flashed wide.
The speed of Valletta duo, Andrea Zammit and Messias, continued to create all sorts of problems to Sliema Wanderers.
On 52 minutes, Zammit fed Yannick Yankam and the Malta midfielder found Messias inside the area but his angled drive flashed just past the upright.
The City attacking tandem had another huge opportunity on 56 minutes when Zammit raced clear on the left, and his pinpoint cross found Messias unmarked, but this time the Brazilian fired wide.
Sliema needed more flair up front and here Paul Zammit withdrew Vito Plut and Neil Frendo and roped in Fernandinho and Kyrian Nwoko.
The Blues finally threatened on 65 minutes with Prsa hitting a firm drive that was pushed away by Adilson.
On 67 minutes, Al Tumi almost gifted Valletta a second goal when the Sliema goalkeeper, in an attempt to come out with the ball, was blocked by Messias, with the ball falling to Zachary Cassar, who saw the ball finish into the path of Messias, but the Sliema defence somehow cleared.
Sixteen minutes from time, Valletta were awarded a penalty when referee Ishmael Barbara deemed that Bah had pulled down Radic inside the area… a decision that was reconfirmed by the Football Video Support.
From the spot, Messias kept his cool to drill the ball past Al Tumi and put the Citizens with one hand on the Jubilee Cup.
Valletta were not finished yet as seven minutes from time they wrapped the points when they were awarded a central free-kick, and Brandon Paiber curled the ball around the defensive wall and into the top corner of the net.
Sliema kept fighting, and on 86 minutes Fernandinho sped inside the area, turned past two defenders, and drilled the ball past Adilson to give the Wanderers a glimmer of hope.
But that turned out to be too little too late for Sliema, as Valletta maintained their lead till the end, and at the final whistle, their fans could kick-start their celebrations.
VALLETTA: Adilson, S. Borg, Z. Cassar, Andrea Zammit (86 K. Ewurum) B. Paiber (90 R. Muscat), J. Azzopardi, Y. Yankam, S. Brewer, E. Mbende, Y. Messias (90 J. Mendoza), R. Savic.
SLIEMA WANDERERS: R. Al Tumi, J. Borg, N. Frendo (60 Fernandinho), A. Magri Overend, V. Plut (60 K. Nwoko), M. Beerman, R. Prsa, S. Bah (76 L. Montebello), H. Murillo, S. Pisani (76 Wesley), M. Baggio.
Scorers: 30′ 77′ Y. Messias, 83′ B. Paiber (V), 90′ Fernandinho (S)
Referee: Ishmael Barbara.
Yellow cards: Frendo, Nwoko, Baggio (S), J. Azzopardi, S. Borg (V).
