Valletta 1

Hibernians 2

Valletta: A. Hogg, J. Caruana, S. Borg, G. Agius (T. Scerri), I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa, E. Agius, D. Dos Santos, W. Barbosa, M. Mifsud, S. Mady (A. Effiong)

Coach: J. Zerafa

Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri (S. Pisani), J. Pearson, R. Soares, C. Failla, J. Vandelannoite, B. Kristensen, J. Lima, E. Herrera, A. Cohen, M. Dias (L. Edison)

Coach: M. Miller

Referee: M. Spiteri

Asst.refs: K. Borg, C. Francalanza

4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: C. Failla 11 pen, M. Mifsud 19, B. Kristensen 75

Yellow cards: B. Kristensen, C. Failla, L. Edison, S. Mady, R. Briffa

Red card: L. Edison

Player of the match: M. Muscat (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. M. Muscat 2. D. Dos Santos 3. B. Kristensen

Attendance: 4,171

Valletta’s final day of the season was marred by defeat on a day their noisy and colourful fans turned out in numbers at Ta’ Qali to celebrate the championship win.

Despite the abundant talent, which, by popular consent keeps them head and shoulders above their Premier League rivals in the art of playing and passing game, Valletta had their 27 unbeaten run halted again by Hibernians.

On their way to winning the title, Valletta were only beaten twice this season – Hibernians were their victors on both occasions, although both defeats were insignificant at the end.

Overall, nobody doubts Valletta’s merits as they unquestionably played consistently the best and most effective football in this campaign.

Yesterday’s win against the champions, left coach Mark Miller pondering how might the season have turned out for Hibernians were it not for two defeats against Birkirkara in the second phase.

Although without any bearing on the final outcome, the match looked attractive in a number of respects, most obviously because Hibernians were always considered the second best team this season and were expected to give Valletta a sterner and longer challenge. Awarded two penalties, Hibernians converted one and missed the other when the sides were still tied at 1-1 but then scored the winner a quarter of an hour from time.

Valletta were profligate at times, especially through Michael Mifsud, but equally significant yesterday was Hibernians’ keeper Mario Muscat with a string of superlative saves to deny Valletta.

Valletta’s only tactical change, in the absence of Zongo, was the inclusion of Mady as right back and Roderick Briffa deployed wide on the flank.

Gilbert Agius most probably made his last league appearance for Valletta in a long and highly successful career and his substitution on 67 minutes was an emotional one as he waved to the crowd for several minutes before leaving the pitch to the hugs of the Valletta bench.

Hibernians tried to operate from the flanks, as Edward Herrera on the right and Marcelo Dias on the left, were giving Ian Azzopardi and Mady some uncomfortable moments. Dias was then forced to leave the pitch past the half hour, as he failed to recover from a tackle by Gilbert Agius.

After four minutes, Caruana played a good pass to Gilbert Agius, whose low shot was blocked by keeper Muscat.

Mifsud should have done better two minutes later, when presented with a good opportunity by Azzopardi inside the area, but the striker shot wastefully over.

With 11 minutes on the clock, Hibernians were awarded a penalty for Borg’s handling inside the Valletta area on a Herrera cross and Clayton Failla tucked it away to put his side in front.

The lead lasted eight minutes though. Michael Mifsud beat the Hibernians offside trap, as he chased a long ball by Denni, to beat keeper Muscat with a low drive.

Before the half hour there were half chances at both ends. Dias went past Mady from half pitch but his shot on the run ended wide.

On the other end, Barbosa’s drive, from more than 20 metres out, was turned into a corner by keeper Muscat, as Valletta’s implicit superiority started to show towards the late stages of the first period.

And after Briffa arrived fractionally late on Gilbert Agius’ pass, Denni picked a Pearson clearance from the edge of the area and tested keeper Muscat with a powerful shot.

But Valletta missed the most glaring of opportunities on the stroke of halftime. Briffa put Denni clear on the right to cross for the unmarked Mifsud, who contrived to miss the target with only keeper Muscat in his way.

The second half started in similar fashion as the first. Mifsud’s surging run ended with his shot saved by keeper Muscat. On 52 minutes, keeper Hogg was equal to task, turning Lima’s meaty free kick into a corner. And from the corner kick, Kristensen headed narrowly off target.

Two minutes later Mady felled Edison inside the area to concede another penalty. This time Failla sent the goalkeeper the wrong way but the ball hit the inner post and rebounded in play. On 63 minutes Mifsud brought off a fine save from keeper Muscat as he tried to finish off Gilbert Agius’ pass.

The Hibernians custodian was again protagonist on 71 minutes when he acrobatically turned Denni’s curling shot at the top into a corner.

Hibernians struck the winner on 75 minutes. Cohen went past defender Azzopardi on the right and his testing cross was headed in by Bjorn Kristensen from close range.

For the remaining minutes, Valletta tried to push forward, as they had to do, but Jesmond Zerafa’s side found it hard to regain their rhythm and the only other noteworthy episode was the dismissal of Hibernians’ forward Edison for a second caution in added time. That will surely keep him out from the FA Trophy semi-final against Hamrun Spartans.

A pitch invasion by the Valletta fans at the end of the match prolonged somehow the presentation ceremony. But by 6.15pm, MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo managed to hand captain Gilbert Agius, accompanied on stage by his daughter, the BOV Premier League Trophy to go on parade in the capital for late night celebrations.