Sliema let Valletta back in

By Domenic Aquilina

Valletta FC's 3-2 win against reigning champions Sliema Wanderers FC on 13 December has thrown the Maltese title race wide open.

Dramatic win
Brian Said had put the champions ahead in the first minute at the National stadium, but Mark Galea levelled just three minutes later. Valletta captain Gilbert Agius put his side in the lead after 61-minutes, and while Said levelled for Sliema, a Massimo Grima free-kick five minutes from time handed his old side their first defeat of the season.

Agius goals
A 5-1 win against Msida St. Joseph FC on Sunday saw Valletta move level on points with Sliema at the top of the table, although the champions still have a game in hand. Agius scored his eighth goal of the campaign against Msida to underline that he may be in the best form of his career.

Sliema draw
Sliema will feel they only have themselves to blame for letting Valletta back into the title race after they were held to a 1-1 draw in the fixture preceding the big game. Rupert Mangion had given the champions a 30th-minute lead only for them to let the match slip by conceding Daniel Theuma's second-half equaliser.

Birkirkara revived
Birkirkara FC are also back in the running for the title after a 6-1 win against Lija Athletic FC and a 2-0 win against Msida left them snapping at the top two's heels. However, a 4-2 defeat by fourth-placed Hibernians FC on Saturday denied them the chance of getting to within a point of top spot.

Fourth place
It was another great result for Hibernians who came close to winning 2-1 against Valletta earlier only to be denied by a last-gasp goal from Agius. They are in fourth place, a point ahead of Floriana FC who ended a run of draws with a 2-1 win against Saint Patrick FC at the weekend.

Bottom half
In the bottom half of the table, two successive wins against Lija and St Patrick have raised Pietà Hotspurs FC's spirits. Ivan Woods scored twice in the 3-0 win against Lija and is the joint-top goalscorer in the Maltese league with Birkirkara's Michael Galea, with both having scored eleven.

First points
Marsaxlokk FC and Msida are below Pietà but seemingly safe from relegation as Lija and St Patrick have still won only one game between them. Nonetheless, St Patrick have at least now picked up their first points of the season, with draws against Marsaxlokk and Hibernians.