Valletta’s UEFA Conference League campaign came to an end on Thursday evening as they suffered a 4-0 defeat to Polish side Raków Częstochowa at the Centenary Stadium, going out 7-1 on aggregate.
After last week’s 3-1 defeat in Poland had left Valletta with a difficult task, Raków produced a much more assured performance in the return leg and effectively settled the tie during the opening half.
The Polish side were sharper from the outset and, although Valletta created the first opportunities, Raków’s quality soon began to show.
Valletta threatened after seven minutes when Thaylor Aldama surged forward on the right before finding Brandon Paiber. The Malta midfielder picked out Manuel Morello on the edge of the area, but his effort sailed over the bar.
Paiber went close himself eight minutes later when he tried his luck from distance, with his effort narrowly missing the upright.
Raków, however, opened the scoring with their first real opportunity of the match in the 22nd minute.
Michael Ameyaw exchanged passes with Adin Molnar before keeping his composure to slide the ball beyond the advancing Adilson Maringa and put the visitors in front.
The goal unsettled Valletta and Raków doubled their advantage nine minutes later.
Molnar unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the penalty area which Maringa could only parry, allowing Tomasz Pienko to react quickest and fire the rebound into the net.
Valletta tried to respond before the interval and came close five minutes before half-time when Alex Tanque turned away from his marker, but his effort went over the crossbar.
Raków continued to dictate proceedings after the restart and added a third goal in the 54th minute.
Molnar powered into the Valletta penalty area and, after Maringa somehow kept out his first attempt, the Hungarian midfielder reacted quickest to fire the rebound into an empty net.
Valletta’s task became even more difficult shortly afterwards when they were reduced to 10 men. Petar Sekulovic received a second yellow card and was sent off on the hour mark.
Maringa then prevented Raków from extending their lead further. In the 74th minute, the Brazilian goalkeeper produced an excellent save to his left to keep out a powerful effort from Oliwier Kwiatkowski.
Three minutes later, Maringa again came to Valletta’s rescue, this time pushing away a close-range header from Emreli.
The reprieve was only temporary, however, as Raków finally found a fourth goal with 12 minutes remaining.
Kwiatkowski created the opening, feeding Patrick Makuch, who made no mistake as he powered the ball into the roof of the net.
The final whistle confirmed a comprehensive 4-0 victory for Raków and a 7-1 aggregate success, sending the Polish side through to the next round.
For Valletta, the result brings their European campaign to an end.
Their elimination also marks the conclusion of Malta’s participation in UEFA club competitions this summer, with Floriana, Marsaxlokk, Ħamrun Spartans and Valletta all failing to progress to the next qualifying round.
The results underline the considerable gap that remains between Malta’s leading clubs and their European opponents, and the need for further progress if Maltese teams are to compete more consistently at this level.
Valletta: A. Maringa, S. Radic, E. Mbende, E. Bicakcic, M. Morello (M. Ellul 67), P. Sekulovic, B. Paiber, R. Prsa (K. Ewurum 58), D. Tavares, T. Aldama (A. Zammit 46), A. Tanque (B. Gomes 58).
Raków Częstochowa: K. Trelowski, J. Napieraj, D. Gaucho, F. Tudor, M. Ameyaw (E. Ouma 67), O. Repka (A. Ojo 67), V. Kochergin, J. Carlos (J. Jendryka 58), T. Pienko (M. Emreli 67), P. Makuch, A. Molnar (O. Kwiatkowski 58).
Goals: Ameyaw 22, Pienko 31, Molnar 54, Makuch 74.
Aggregate: Raków Częstochowa won 7-1.
Referee: Pavle Ilic (Serbia).
Yellow cards: Aldama, Sekulovic.
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