Hibernians-Valletta 0-0

What an anti climax to the football season!

Just when Valletta looked like hitting peak form at the right time, Hibernians managed to take the draw they needed from their last match to pip their more quoted opponents for the title.

In an electrifying atmosphere, in front of the biggest attendance at Ta’ Qali this season, Hibernians clinched this tenth championship, after a seven-year wait, defying all the odds. Surely they were not considered among the favourites at the start of the season and even when they started to set the pace as the season unfolded, there were always doubts that with their shortest squad in the Premier League they would falter at some stage.

This victory is one for hard work and perseverance and these were rewarded yesterday when MFA president Joe Mifsud presented the championship trophy to the Hibernians captain Mario Muscat among great jubilation from their many colourful fans.

It was a well deserved triumph for Mark Miller’s team as they played the more attractive and offensive football, boasting of the most lethal attack in the Premier League, Overall, they looked far and away the best of the top teams this season.

It was a sour end to a league campaign that promised much for Valletta. The Citizens were by far considered favourites of retaining the title they won last year but they nearly always struggled to keep their stranglehold on the championship this season. Yesterday they failed to raise their game when required as some of their players looked nervous and performed below par. It was perhaps when Valletta missed the injured Paolo Massaro most this season as they needed a poacher inside the box.

Of some consolation, Valletta still have a chance of winning some honour when they play Sliema Wanderers in the FA Trophy final next Friday.

The teams went into this decisive match with different fortunes. While Hibernians had easily disposed of Birkirkara in the previous match, Valletta were jolted by the Marsaxlokk defeat.

That had little importance yesterday, however, except that a draw would have suited Hibernians better. Valletta needed a win.

Both teams offered no surprises in their starting line-ups. On a positive note, Hibernians had striker Terence Scerri on the bench and, together with Ben Camilleri, he went in as second half substitute. Borges Soares started as their central striker as Callejas played in front of the defence, almost man-marking Gilbert Agius.

Valletta’s only change was Roderick Briffa’s omission as Ian Zammit was preferred as centre forward, flanked by Prisoa and Falzona and supported by Gilbert Agius behind him.

A cagey start saw Valletta sharper and slicker on the ball. Their passes and runs into open spaces had Hibernians defending diligently.

For most of the first half, Hibernians, who handed more of the initiative to their opponents, stayed composed and resolute, trying to threaten on the break.

On one instance towards the half hour, Borges Soares advanced through the middle on Cohen’s pass. But challenged by Dimech, he shot wide.

For all the high expectations from two technical sides, scoring opportunities remained much at a premium and the match had a high ratio of misplaced passes and sterility.

The match needed a goal badly to spark into life.

Hopes were rekindled when Terence Scerri made a substitute appearance for Hibernians ten minutes into the second half and hardly five minutes later Valletta also substituted Edmond Agius with Sebastian Monesterolo.

Immediately, Bezzina’s insidious dipper from a distance was tipped over the bar by keeper Muscat.

On 67 minutes, a Failla free kick was hooked by Scerri on the edge of the area and spotting Hogg out of his line, he tried to lob over, only for the Valletta keeper to tip it just enough into a corner.

As the match wore on and both defences remained unbreached, Valletta put in Briffa and tried to sustain some belated pressure in search of that important goal. Pinned inside their own half, Hibernians defended grimly and almost exploited Valletta’s gaps in defence.

On the stroke of time, substitute Camilleri advanced towards goal and after avoiding the keeper, he shot wide from a tight angle.

But that mattered little. Holding on for three minutes of added time, they salvaged the goalless draw that crowned them new champions.

Jubilation reigned supreme at the end as the winners joined in night-long celebrations at Paola!

* * *

Hibernians: M. Muscat, J. Caruana, E. Herrera, A. Xuereb, J. Pearson (T. Scerri), A. Pulis, C. Callejas, A. Cohen, R. Galabov, Z. Borges Soares (B. Camilleri), C. Failla

Valletta: A. Hogg, J. Grioli, K. Scicluna, L. Dimech, S. Bezzina, E. Agius (S. Monesterolo), J. Pace, G. Agius, D. Falzon (R. Briffa), N. Priso Doding, I. Zammit

Referee: A. Azzopardi asst.refs: P. Agius, I. Spiteri 4th official: C. Pisani

Yellow cards: Z. Borges Soares, M. Muscat

Player of the match: Clayton Failla (Hibernians)

TMI top three: 1. A. Cohen 2. E. Herrera 3. K. Scicluna