Europa League – Valletta 1 SP La Fiorita 0
11/07/2013
VALLETTA FC – Pietro Marino (Yenz Cini), Ian Azzopardi, Roderick Briffa, Luke Dimech, Denni Rocha Dos Santos, Dyson Falzon (Ian Zammit), Ryan Fenech, Hamsa Barry, Jason Vandelanoitte, Shaun Bajada, Llywelyn Cremona (Edmond Agius)
LA FIORITA – Simone Montanari, Simone Confalone, Francesco Ceci (M. Pedrelli), Alberto Mazzola, Nicola Cavalli (A. Guidi), Gian Luca Bollini, Marco Piccioni, Danilo Rinaldi (F. Bahiano), Samuele Sorbera, Emmanuele Rinaldi, Andy Selna
UEFA Europa League First Qualifying Round
Date: 11.07.2013
Yellow Cards: J. Vandelanoitte, R. Bajada, E. Agius (V), G. Bollini, F. Rinaldi, S. Confalone,
Scorers: I. Zammit (90′) (P).
Referee: Bryn Markham Jones (Wales)
Valletta defeated San Marino’s La Fiorita 1-0 this evening to qualify from the Europa League first qualifying round with an aggregate score of 4-0.
The solitary goal came by Ian Zammit from the penalty spot. Valletta now meet FC Minsk of Belarus
Valletta’s first half ended goalless despite Valletta creating a host of scoring chances.
Roderick Briffa supplied an excellent pass from the right to release Dyson Falzon after four minutes. Falzon swept past his marker but his cross-shot was blocked by Simone Montanari, the La Fiorita goalkeeper.
The Citizens threatened again when young Llywelyn Cremona passed to Denni but his curler was saved by Montanari.
Denni illuminated the proceedings on 17 minutes later as he lifted the ball over his marker before hitting a volley that ended just over the crossbar.
Hamza Barry fired over from the distance as Valletta remained on top.Three minutes before half-time, Denni’s angled shot was pushed away by Montanari and Falzon miscued his flick from close range.
On the stroke of half-time, Shaun Bajada hit over from the distance.Ryan Fenech, Valletta’s newly-appointed captain, went closer with a long-range piledriver which was fractionally off target.
At the other end, Valletta goalkeeper Yenz Cini, who had just replaced Pietro Marino, came to his team’s rescue when blocking Samuele Sorbera’s goalbound effort after the hosts had ben caught on the counter. Nicola Cavalli volleyed over for La Fiorita but on the stroke of time, Valletta struck.
They were awarded a penalty after Gianluca Bollini pushed substitute Ian Zammit in the box. Zammit picked himself up to drive his shot past Montanari from the spot.
Source – Times of Malta
