Valletta 0

Hibernians 1

Valletta again failed to beat Hibernians, on the teams’ second outing in the Euro Cup, despite their superior share of possession, especially in the second period.

This time, Hibernians all important goal was scored by Jean Paul Farrugia, his fourth in two matches for the Paolites who have won the second consecutive match in this season’s competition.

Although the champions created enough chances to at least draw the match, they failed to find a way past the Hibernians’ solid defence and keeper Mario Muscat. They even contrived to miss a penalty past the hour, during their best patch in the match.

Facing his former club after moving out of Hibernians before the end of last season, Valletta coach Mark Miller had to face some hostilities from some Paolites fans.

Valletta fielded a strong line-up, made up of no less than six foreigners, including Dutch goalkeeper Andre Krul who was making his debut for the champions. Jonathan Caruana started in central defence alongside Da Silva as Roderick Briffa played in a defensive midfield role, with Conceicao and Barbosa behind the attacking trio of Denni, Michael Mifsud and Da Rocha Filho.

Valletta, however, found the going tough, especially defender Ian Azzopardi who was often at pains against the forages of Marcelo Dias, who started the match for Hibernians, down the right flank. Dias was the first to test keeper Krul with a powerful shot from the right, on Pulis’ pass, which was turned into a corner.

It was Valletta however who mounted some early pressure, with Mifsud forcing keeper Muscat to turn his shot into a corner and when Triston Caruana lost possession to Denni in midfielde, Mifsud advanced unhindered but Muscat rushed off his line to block. Then Mifsud beat the Hibernians’ offside trap but lobbed the ball too hastily over the keeper.

Refusing to buckle under pressure, Hibernians themselves made the breakthrough just past the quarter hour. Keeper Krul only parried Failla’s shot and Jean Paul Farrugia was quick to slot in the loose ball from close range.

The goal sparked an immediate response from Valletta with a Denni free kick from the left that caused anxious moments to the Hibernians’ rearguard, until Failla cleared away the danger.

Valletta could have also equalised before the half was over. Past the half hour, on a Conceicao corner, Da Rocha Filho headed against the bar. And in added time, Conceicao found a good ball at his feet after a Mifsud effort was blocked by Vandelannoit, but he put his shot off target.

The teams returned all fried up after the interval. Valletta probed for an equaliser as Hibernians tried to hit them on the counter. On 52 minutes, Cohen put Dias through but he shot wastefully wide with only the keeper in his way.

On the other end, Denni failed to capitalise on a Hibernians’ erratic defensive clearance and keeper Muscat could save into a corner.

Valletta increased their efforts and on the hour Mifsud ran in for Conceicao’s pass but Camilleri blocked into another corner. Hardly a minute later, Hibernians conceded a penalty for Cohen’s handling inside the area but Barbosa hit his shot horrendously over the bar.

Hibernians, who looked unable to go out of atheir defensive shell, put in new forward from Ivory Coast, Elie Moises Ndekre on 64 minutes, but Valletta eased off the pressure after substituting both Azzopardi and Barbosa and with fatigue taking its toll, many passes were going astray.

There was a chance at each end in the late stages. Substitute Sammut laid a good ball for Conceicao whose shot was blocked and Ndekre ran through unmolested but the Valletta keeper Krul did well to block his effort.

At the end Hibernians were still winning by that Farrugia goal.

Valletta: A. Krul, J. Caruana, S. Borg (K. Sammut), J. Benites Da Conceicao, I. Azzopardi (D. Falzon), J. Da Silva, R. Briffa, R. De Rocha Filho, D. Dos Santos, W. Barbosa (E. Agius), M. Mifsud

Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri, R. Soares, J. Vandelannoite, A. Pulis, B. Kristensen, A. Cohen, C. Failla, J.P. Farrugia (E. M. Ndekre), M. Dias (S. Pisani), T. Caruana (J. Lima)

Referee: C. Pisani

Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, W. Debattista

4th official: M.Apap

Scorers: J.P. Farrugia 16

Yellow cards: M. Dias, C. Failla, R. Briffa, S.Pisani, E. Agius

Attendance: 847

Standings

Hibernians 6pts; Valletta 3; Floriana and Birkirkara 0.

Next match

Today

Centenary Stadium: 6.30pm Floriana-Birkirkara