Valletta struck in each half to eliminate Malta champions Ħamrun Spartans from the MFA Jubilee Cup, registering a deserved 2-0 victory and sealing a place in the semi-finals.
This was an impressive showing from the Citizens, who hit back in style after last week’s 1-0 league defeat to the Spartans and kept alive their hopes of lifting this prestigious one-off trophy.
From the outset, Valletta imposed themselves, their intensity and relentless pressing preventing Ħamrun from settling into their usual rhythm during the opening period.
The breakthrough arrived in 19 minutes spectacularly. Yuri Messias robbed possession near the halfway line, spotted goalkeeper Henry Bonello off his line and executed a superb lob that floated into the net, sending the Valletta support into raptures.
Ħamrun looked shaken and, four minutes later, squandered a golden chance to reply. They won the ball just outside the Valletta area, but Semar Smajlagic opted to shoot rather than square to the unmarked Merlin Hadzi, and his effort sailed high and wide.
In 27 minutes, Hadzi unleashed a powerful drive from the edge of the box that Valletta goalkeeper Adilson did well to parry.
Right on the stroke of half-time, the Spartans thought they had a route back when Joseph Mbong’s shot was deemed to have struck the arm of Steve Borg and the referee pointed to the spot. Valletta immediately turned to Football Video Support and, after a review, the penalty decision was overturned, with no infringement confirmed.
Valletta believed they had doubled their advantage in 59 minutes. In a swift transition, Andrea Zammit broke into space on the flank and sent in a low cross that Messias tucked away. However, celebrations were cut short as the goal was ruled out for an offside position by Zammit in the build-up.
That let off encouraged Ħamrun to push further upfield. In 70 minutes, they appealed strongly for a penalty when Shaisen Attard tumbled under a challenge from goalkeeper Maringa. The referee waved play on and, even after an FVS review, he stood by his original call.
Ten minutes from the end, the champions missed a huge opportunity to level. Ryan Camenzuli’s shot took a deflection in the area but Mbong, arriving a couple of metres from goal, failed to apply the finishing touch.
Valletta punished that miss in 87 minutes. Aldama surged clear down the right and unselfishly squared across goal for substitute Keyon Ewurum, who calmly finished into an unguarded net to make it 2-0 and effectively settle the contest.
In added time, Ħamrun’s evening worsened when Vincenzo Polito received a straight red card for bringing down the goal-bound Jackson Mendoza, leaving the champions with ten men and completing a miserable afternoon for the Spartans as Valletta marched into the last four.
