Valletta rally past Gżira United to lift FA Trophy<\/p>\n
VALLETTA 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Azzopardi 64<\/p>\n Mbende 68<\/p>\n GŻIRA UNITED 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Maia 34<\/p>\n Valletta crowned a memorable season by coming from behind to beat Gżira United 2-1 in the FA Trophy final at the National Stadium, securing their 15th success in the competition.<\/p>\n The Citizens had to overturn a first-half deficit after Gżira United looked the sharper side for long stretches and deservedly took the lead through Andre Pena Da Costa.<\/p>\n Valletta had started brightly and should have gone ahead after nine minutes when Yuri Messias burst into the area before Andrea Zammit’s effort was saved by goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo.<\/p>\n Gżira responded strongly and almost opened the scoring when Maxuell Maia struck the upright with a fierce angled drive. Goalkeeper Maringa then denied Gabriel Mentz before Emanuel Mbende cleared another Maia effort off the line after Andy Borg’s dangerous run into the area.<\/p>\n The breakthrough eventually arrived on 34 minutes. Maxuell Maia played a fine through ball towards Andre Pena Da Costa, who surged forward before firing a low shot past Maringa via the upright.<\/p>\n Valletta struggled to create clear openings before the break, with Yannick Yankam’s header from a Diogo Tavares cross comfortably gathered by Colombo.<\/p>\n Coach Thane Micallef changed the game at half-time when he introduced Nigerian striker Ahmed Adebayo for Yankam and switched Valletta to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation, moving Andrea Zammit to the left flank.<\/p>\n The Citizens improved considerably after the restart and gradually began to dominate possession and territory. Their pressure finally paid off on 63 minutes when Yuri Messias chipped the ball into the area, Stefan Radic nodded it into the path of Jake Azzopardi, and the midfielder unleashed a powerful volley into the net for the equaliser.<\/p>\n Gżira appeared shaken and Valletta struck again just five minutes later. Colombo failed to deal with a long delivery from Tavares and the loose ball fell kindly to Mbende, who tapped into an empty net to spark wild celebrations among the Valletta supporters.<\/p>\n Valletta comfortably managed the closing stages to seal a second trophy of the season after winning the Jubilee Cup in December.<\/p>\n Valletta: Maringa, Borg, Zammit (Ellul 70), Paiber, Azzopardi, Tavares, Yankam (Adebayo 46), Mbende (Brewer 86), Messias (Mendoza 81), Radic, Aldama.<\/p>\n Gżira United: Colombo, Bohrer, Abela, Borg (Virgens 70), Borg (Bastic 59), Pena Da Costa, Maia, Failla, Riascos, N’Sa (Bonilla 81), Xuereb.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n