Valletta leave Poland with plenty of regrets after letting a first-leg advantage slip in a 3-1 defeat to Raków Częstochowa in the UEFA Conference League 2nd round play-off.
The Citizens took a deserved lead through former Birkirkara forward Manuel Morello after 23 minutes and had the chance to restore their advantage when Petar Sekulović stepped up from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute. However, the striker fired over the bar before a ruthless finish from the Polish side during the final 15 minutes turned a draw into a commanding victory.
Valletta broke the deadlock after 23 minutes when Thaylor Aldama delivered a cross from the right, and Morello arrived at the far post to volley home first time beyond Kacper Trelowski.
Raków drew level five minutes into the second half as Mahir Emreli reacted quickest to score from close range after Aidan Maringa had initially denied an Ameyaw header.
The key moment arrived on 73 minutes when Valletta were awarded a penalty for handball, but substitute Petar Sekulović sent his effort over the crossbar.
Raków made the most of that reprieve five minutes later. Patryk Makuch fired a low shot beyond Maringa on 78 minutes to complete the turnaround before defender Stratos Svarnas added a third in stoppage time to hand the Polish outfit a two-goal cushion ahead of next week’s return leg in Malta.
