Match report:
A final of a competition marking the centenary of the national league was always going to be a special occasion for Maltese football. And a repeat of the 2000 Centenary Cup clash between Valletta and Floriana, two of the greatest antagonists of the local game, enriched the attraction of yesterday's showdown which drew another bumper crowd to the stadium.

Ten years ago, Valletta roared back from a goal down to overpower the Greens 3-1 and add the coveted Centenary Cup to their array of honours.

Last night, Valletta achieved another centennial feat as they upstaged Floriana 3-1 in a tetchy and combative contest.

Michael Mifsud, the much-talked-about striker who ended a 10-month hiatus from football by inking a short-term deal with Valletta, further endeared himself to the City faithful last night.

The nimble forward was the catalyst of Valletta's success with another stunning hat-trick as the Citizens lived up to their favourites' tag. Yet, their win was hardfought as Floriana put up a gutsy fight to give their more-quoted rivals a good run for their money.

The Greens ran and harried, their never-say-die attitude yielding a goal with three minutes left but the unstoppable Mifsud doused their ardour when
completing his treble on the stroke of time as chants of 'Ole Ole Michael Mifsud' and 'Mitt sena oħra' resonated around the stadium.

The thousands of City aficionados celebrated wildly at the final whistle and a loud cheer rose into the Ta' Qali air when captain Gilbert Agius, who also played for Valletta in the Centenary Cup final, held aloft the new trophy.

The heightened level of expectation for this showdown was palpable throughout the day as several fans gathered outside the entrance gates of the National Stadium over two hours before kick-off.

As soon as the ground personnel swung the doors open, thousands of flagwaving supporters made their way into the enclosure. Although outnumbered by the Valletta faithful, the Floriana supporters slowly trickled into the stands firmly intent on cheering their players on as the stadium quickly became a cauldron of colour and noise.

Given the magnitude of the occasion, it was thought that the two teams would do their pre-match warm-up on the pitch of the National Stadium but this was not forthcoming.

Caanen awarded the no.1 jersey to young goalkeeper Nicky Vella who guarded City's goal in their previous matches in this competition.
Central defender Luke Dimech and right-back Steve Borg reclaimed their place in the team after suspension kept them out of Saturday's 3-0 victory over Tarxien in the league.

Kevin Sammut retained his place in midfield with Mifsud confirmed as the team's attacking spearhead. Terrence Scerri was excluded from the starting XI for the second game in a row.

As expected, Floriana coach Zoran Popovic restored his big guns to the initial formation after the likes of goalkeeper Bernard Paris, Orosco Anonam, Pablo Doffo, Christian Caruana and Michael Ghebru were rested in last weekend's match against Ħamrun.

The game was only two minutes old when Vella was obliged to dive to his right to paw away Doffo's free-kick.

From the corner, taken by Doffo, Floriana came close to taking the lead as Ryan Darmanin's goalbound header was cleared off the line by Sammut.

Reprieved by Sammut's intervention, Valletta drew first blood from their first telling raid on Floriana's goal. Racing onto a pass from midfield, Mifsud darted past a hesitant Anonam and Paris and sidefooted the ball into the net from a tight angle.





















Valletta, in an all-red kit, could have made it 2-0 when Sammut's header from Roderick Briffa's cross broke to Doding Priso in the box but the Cameroonian miscued his shot.

Widespread suggestions that Floriana may opt for ultra-defensive tactics proved off the mark as Popovic instructed Caruana and Ghebru to push forward in support of Darmanin.

The promising Sacha Borg briefly interrupted Valletta's growing assurance with a jinking run that took him into the City box but Briffa tracked back to intercept the cross.

At the other end, Anonam did well to cut out Briffa's ball as Floriana were struggling to cope with City's incursions down the right.

When Ghebru capitalised on a rushed clearance by Steve Bezzina, danger lurked for Valletta as the winger glided past Dimech in the box before aiming a pass to Caruana who was crowded out by the City defenders.

With 12 minutes of the first half remaining, Valletta survived an almighty scare when Ghebru, profiting from a soft challenge by Bezzina, lobbed the ball over Vella but the effort skimmed the post as Dimech lunged backward in a desperate attempt to clear.

Floriana shouted 'goal' when Ghebru's cross-shot from the right was fielded by the diving Vella on the line but assistant referee Philip Agius, who had a clear view of the action, deemed otherwise.

As the first half moved on, the battling Greens gained in confidence.

On the stroke of half-time, they threatened an equaliser when Joseph Borg made the most of Valletta's lethargy by advancing into the box but his low strike rolled past the far post.

The half-time whistle triggered an appreciative applause from the Floriana faithful as an animated Popovic exhorted his players to keep up the fight.
At the entrance of the tunnel close to the Valletta side Priso was spotted pointing angrily but the target of his ire was not immediately clear.

Valletta were looking edgy but they tore out of the blocks at the start of the second half. Mifsud sent the City fans into raptures when, with two minutes of the second half gone, he doubled their lead. The former Coventry City striker prodded past Paris after the goalkeeper had half-parried Pace's stinging drive.

Galvanised by their double advantage, Valletta went for the kill. Skipper Agius danced his way into the box and his attempt at a cross-shot was deflected into the path of Priso whose shot sailed wide.

Caanen effected his first substitution 13 minutes into the second half, Scerri replacing Priso with Popovic responding with a change of his own as Stefan
Lijeskic came on for Joseph Borg.

Midway into the second half, Floriana should have gained a lifeline when Vella spilled Lijeskic's cross in the box but Ghebru's grounder took a deflection that sent the ball inches wide.

Popovic switched Anonam from central defence to midfield to inject steel and life into Floriana's forward approach but their endeavours to claw their way back into contention were warded off by the Citizens.

Three minutes to go, however, the Greens resurrected their hopes when Doffo surprised Vella with a well-hit strike from long range.

The erstwhile subdued Floriana fans suddenly dared to dream but their optimism was cut short when Valletta made it 3-1 on the stroke of time.
Dyson Falzon, a second-half substitute for Briffa, dashed forward on the left before directing a low pass to Mifsud who finished with aplomb.

In stoppage time, Edmond Agius, who had replaced Gilbert Agius, was redcarded for kicking at Ghebru.

(Courtesy of The Times of Malta)