Watch: Valletta Fans Celebrate Win As Team Reaches Jubilee Cup Final
Valletta booked their place in the Malta FA Jubilee Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Tarxien Rainbows, thanks to two second-half goals.
Despite the win, the Valletta Citizens struggled early on to break down Tarxien’s solid defence, hitting the woodwork in the first half before finally finding the opener through Yuri Messias. Brandon Paiber then secured the result deep into stoppage time.
Coach Thane Micallef kept the same starting XI that had played against Ħamrun Spartans. Tarxien manager Jacques Scerri, however, made three changes from the side that beat Marsaxlokk on penalties, replacing Willian Salomao, Luke Anthony Borg, and Jai Quitongo with Miguel D’Alessandro, Tiago Santos, and Erico Junior according to SportsDesk.
Valletta registered the first chance after seven minutes when Messias, set up by Steve Borg, fired a long-range effort just wide. Tarxien replied with a header from Rafael Tavares before Valletta threatened again through a low strike by Shaft Brewer, saved by goalkeeper Miguel Spiteri.
On 20 minutes, Erico Junior sent a free kick from the right over the bar, and just a minute later Valletta were unlucky not to score when Andrea Zammit set up Messias, whose shot from inside the box struck the foot of the post. Tarxien responded with an angled effort from Gabriel Vella, forcing Adilson Maringa into a save, while Valletta went close once more on 37 minutes through an Evandro Gomes corner that Spiteri failed to hold, resulting in another corner.
Early in the second half, substitute Thaylor had a shot from the right kept out by Spiteri, and five minutes later the Tarxien goalkeeper also saved an attempt from Sava Radic. Valletta were then reduced to ten men in the 55th minute when Neil Micallef received his second yellow card for a foul on Erico Junior.
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Despite the setback, Valletta broke the deadlock on 70 minutes when Thaylor crossed from the right and Messias placed the ball past Spiteri. Zammit later sent a shot high after a run down the left.
Tarxien also went down to ten men a minute later, as Tavares was dismissed for a dangerous challenge on Messias. In the 87th minute, Valletta appealed for a penalty after Yannick Yankam went down under challenges from D’Alessandro and Borg, but after an FVS review, the referee upheld his original decision.
Five minutes into added time, Valletta doubled their lead when Thaylor outpaced Sheldon Mizzi and set up Paiber, who finished past Spiteri. Two minutes later, Quitongo scored for Tarxien after good work by Tavinho, but the goal was overturned following an FVS review due to a foul by Tavinho on Brewer.
Congratulations on the win!
Credit: Valletta FC
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