Valletta FC were crowned champions for te 23rd time in their history this evening after Hibernians succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Birkirkara.

Birkirkara's victory allowed Valletta to win the league with a game to spare as they are four points ahead of Hibernians, whom they will meet next weekend.

BIRKIRKARA -   2

HIBERNIANS-    1

 

Birkirkara: M. Kopric, C. Attard, M. Mazzetti, C. Bubalovic, J. Zerafa (K. Zammit) (R. Darmanin, G. Sciberras, E. Agius (M. Guillaumier), M. Andelkovic, G. Mujanovic, F. Temile, V. Plut

Hibernians: J. Haber, J. Pearson (D. Mbele), J. Lima, R. Soares, M. Dias, B. Kristensen, C. Failla (J. Degabriele), A. Agius, Jorginho, G. Ribeiro, J. Silva (A. Cohen)

Referee:  P. Farrugia

Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, L. Portelli

Additional asst.refs: M. Spiteri, M. Degabriele

4th official: M. Borg

Scorers:  V. Plut 40, A. Cohen 59, E. Agius 90

Yellow cards: C. Bubalovic, J. Pearson, F. Temile, M. Mazzetti

Player of the match: M. Mazzetti (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3: 1. M. Andelkovic  2. B. Kristensen  3. M. Mazzetti

Attendance: 2,725

The title race came to an abrupt end at Ta’ Qali National Stadium following Hibernians’ defeat by Birkirkara which left Valletta with an unassailable four-point lead at the top to secure the league win one game to spare.

It was somewhat of an anticlimax to the season’s end with many anticipating  a last-day showdown between the top two teams.

Perhaps the game turning out to be an evenly-matched contest, between second and third in the standings, should not have been a great surprise yesterday.

It was always likely to be won by whichever side could produce a moment of quality up front. Edmond Aguis finally did that for Birkirkara to deny Hibernians a second consecutive championship when he scored his side’s last minutes winner with a spectacular defiant strike.

Hibernians were not at their most fluent. A defensive lapse allowed Birkirkara to take a first half lead but they managed to draw level early after the restart through a well taken free kick from substitute Andrew Cohen.

And when they were pressing for a win, and even hit the woodwork, the Paolites were stunned by Edmond Agius’ late strike.

With this victory, Birkirkara extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches and confirmed their improvement under coach Drazen Besek with a strong finish to the season.

Following their FA Trophy quarter final win in midweek, Birkirkara had Joseph Zerafa back in the side and Edmond Agius also starting the match, in the absence of Ryan Camenzuli and Ryan Scicluna.

Hibernians were an unchanged team with their attacking trident of Jorginho, Gilmar Ribeiro and Jorge Silva trying to cause all sorts of problems to the Birkirkara rearguard, supported by Jackson Lima and Bjorn Kristensen behind them and the delivery of Marcelo Dias and Clayton Failla from the flanks.

Valletta’s win on Saturday, to widen the gap to four points, had upped the pressure on the Paolites who knew they had to get at least a point from this difficult test to keep up the title chances alive.

They started well with a Lima free kick going wide and Jorginho running dangerously inside the Birkirkara area, only for Mazzetti to clear the ball into a corner.

The opening minutes were played at a fast pace. Mazzetti’s header, on a Mujanovic corner, was headed out by Kristensen. Towards the half hour, Hibernians really threatened. On a Lima long clearance, the Bikirkara keeper, who had rushed out of his area, missed teh ball. Jorge Silva almost capitalised but Mazzetti blocked his shot only for Ribeiro to hit the rebound wide.

The Stripes, who had shown solidity at the back with their central pair of Mazzetti and Bubalovic, showed up with a Temile shot from a dsitance, which keeper Haber saved well.

On 34 minutes, Jorginho juggled with the ball inside the Birkirkara area and crossed towards the middle but Ribeiro failed to make contact.

Five minutes before the break, Birkirkara forged ahead courtesy of a defensive lapse by Hibernians. A long and harmless cross inside the area looked to have Andrei Agius well in control but his somewhat hard back pass seemed to surprise keeper Haber, the ball rebounding off his chest and fell freely to Vito Plut to steer it in.

There was more concern for Hibernians before the half was over. The injured Jorge Silva was forced to leave the pitch as Andrew Cohen took his place.

Birkirkara were also forced to substitute the injured Zerafa with Kurt Zammit at the start of the second half but they kept up their resistance. On 50 minutes Agius ran dangerously inside the Hibernians’ are after good work by Plut but shot against the side netting.

Short of the hour, Hibernians levelled the score to make the last half hour more interesting. Ribeiro won a free kick on the edge of the Birkirkara area and Andrew Cohen stepped up to send his left foot strike at the top left hand corner beyond keeper Kopric’s reach.

With Birkirkara showing signs of slowing up, Hibernians gained further encouragement and started to do all the running. They were hardly effective though.

On 77 minutes Temile played a low ball across the Hibernians’ area but Plut missed the target completely.

There were chances in a lively and entertaining last few minutes. Hibernians almost went in front seven minutes from the end. From another direct free kick from the edge of the area, Failla thumped his effort against the bar. Later, Ribeiro’s curling corner from the left forced Kopric to hold out the ball with some difficulty.

Just when the match looked heading towards a draw, Edmond Agius scored with a spectacular drilling shot, beating Haber at the top corner, after the ball had been cleared in his path following a Mazetti effort, off Agius’ corner.

MOSTA-                  2

FLORIANA -            4

Mosta: O. Borg, D. Falzon (K. Gatt), T. Farrugia, R. Ekani, E. Micheletti, G. Mensha, D. Okonkwo, J. Brincat (N. Frendo), K. Frendo (L. Micallef), D. Xuereb, Z. Brincat

Floriana: M. Grech, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, S. Pisani (M. Zarb), Clyde Borg (Conor Borg), M. Villa, J. Cabral, N. Spiteri, S. Bonnici, E. Briffa, M. Fontanella (L. Gatt)

Referee: M. Apap

Asst.refs:  M. Scerri, P. Apap

4th official: S. Pace

Scorers: J. Cabral 11, M. Fonatnella 15, 29, M. Villa 39, G. Mensha 65 pen, 71

Player of the match: M. Fontanella (Floriana)

TMI top 3: 1. M. Fonatanella 2. J. Brincat  3. K. Frendo

 

With both teams having nothing tangible to play for, this was a meaningless fixture that produced six goals, four in the first half which Floriana dominated, and two from Mosta in the second as they roused themselves and tried to avoid humiliation.

Despite this defeat, Mosta were three times denied by the woodwork, as there were loose passes, leaky defences and plenty of chances.

Both sides rested several regulars. Most notably, Floriana were without keeper Calleja Cremona, Marcelina and Piciollo.

Mario Fontanella was clinical in his finishing, scoring a brace, as Floriana’s passing cut Mosta open time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The Mota flimsy defence ceded too much space in their own area, which Floriana exploited. Maurico Villa also capitalised on Fontanella’s assists and scored one of his side’s goals.

The Greens went on to lord it over their opponents. They demonstarted a more attacking intent and created several chances to prove that on the scoreboard.

Floriana were already two goals to the good by the first quarter hour. Juninho Cabral gave them the lead after 11 minutes with a powerful shot from outside the area that beat Mosta keeper Borg. Four minutes later Mario Fontanella was left unattended inside the Mosta eight-yard box to steer in Villa’s cross from the left.

In the opening minute, Floriana had already gone close when Fontanella ran clear inside the Mosta area. But with only Borg to beat he hesitated too long and as the Mosta keeper tried to block, he shot against the post from a tight angle.

Floriana continued to exploit Mosta’s vulnerability in defence with Fontanella causing havoc. On 20 minutes the Floriana forward swerved off Ekani but shot against the side netting. Short of the half hour, Fontanella went one better. Villa headed Pisani’s cross against the post and with a static Mosta defence, Fontanella was allowed to finish off with ease.

On 39 minutes Fontanella turned provider as his cross from the left was headed in by Maurico Villa for Floriana’s fourth goal.

Mosta’s chances in the opening half were few and far between but midway through the half Mensha connected well to Micheletti’s cross from teh right but hit slightly over.

Past the half hour, Frendo thumped his shot from outside the area against the bar and on the stroke of halftime, James Brincat clipped the bar with his free kick from the edge of the area.

At that stage it seemed Mosta were in for a torturous afternoon, yet they clawed their way back into the game in the second period.

Past the hour, Frendo’s shot from some 25 metres out hit the innerside of the post and the ball rolled in play.

On 65 minutes Zachary Brincat fell under Spiteri’s challenge inside the Floriana area to win a penalty which Godwin Mensha tucked away to reduce the deficit.

Six minutes later, Mensha again picked Okonkwo’s pass, ran clear through the middle to beat keeper Grech with a low drive.

On 77 minutes James Brincat should have scored again for Mosta as he ran clear inside the Floriana area but his shot lacked power and keeper Grech could save.

In the late stages a Mensha header landed on the roof of the net with Floriana visibly running out of steam.

In fact their only threat in the second half came six minutes from the end, with a Fontanella low shot that keeper Borg saved easily.