Hibernians 1
Valletta 3
Local champions Valletta started the new season by claiming the first seasonal honour – the Bank of Valletta Super Cup -- after beating last year’s Trophy winners Hibernians. It was the Citizens’ third successive Super Cup win.
It was a deserved win for the citizens who, after a shaky start, emerged as the best team on the field of play with the Paolites showing some deficiencies at the back and struggling to get past the City defence.
In the first half the Paolites had the better start, but it was Valletta who emerged as the sharper side even though they fielded a side short of the unavailable Denni Rocha dos Santos and Jonathan Caruana. Miller, however, could include the returning Kevin Sammut, Ian Zammit and Kurt Magro – all on loan with other clubs last season.
With Roderick Briffa on the flank, William Barbosa at the back and Michael Mifsud in front already in fine form, there was no stopping Valletta in the first half.
They opened the scoring after 25 minutes and in the space of eight minutes they had added two further goals to take a commanding lead.
But Hibs pressed hard near the end of the first half and even managed to reduce the arrears through a Lima goal.
However, the Paolites left much to be desired at the back where the central defence was pierced with ease by Mifsud and Leandro Da Silva, scorers of the first two City goals.
In the second half, Valletta shook off some early Hibs pressure which could have brought them back in contention at least on two different occasions.
But after that, Valletta contrived to miss a number of good chances, especially through Mifsud who saw his shots blocked by Muscat.
Near the end, Hibs were unlucky when they twice hit the posts, but otherwise, they never appeared to be in the same class as the citizens.
Hibs were more prominent in the early stages and even threatened to take the lead on the eighth minute when off a Jackson Lima corner kick, Soares was a second too late and mishit the ball which went wide.
Two minutes later it was Soares who set up Lima, but the latter shot well over the bar.
Valletta’s reply arrived on the 12th minute – a Ryan Fenech shot going over.
Valletta took the lead on the 25th minute when Roderick Briffa set Michael Mifsud beautifully in the area and the Malta striker made no mistake with a hard, low shot.
Valletta increased their tally six minutes later. A Barbosa long clearance was chased by Mifsud who then squared for Leandro Da Silva to control the ball and fire a beauty into the roof of the net.
And two minutes later, Valletta added a third when Briffa set Dyson Falzon who coolly lobbed the ball over Muscat and into the net.
On 39 minutes, Mifsud just failed to connect properly to a cross from the left with the ball going wide.
Hibernians retaliated and managed to pull one back in added time through a fine Jackson Lima volley.
Soon after the restart, Hibs almost pulled another one back. Dias set substitute Steve Pisani on the left, but the latter’s first timer was turned to corner by City goalie Bartolo.
On the 50th minute, it was Bartolo who saved City’s fort once again, turning to corner a Lima freekick.
In the 58th minute, at the other end, Mifsud again tested Muscat, but the Hibs goalie blocked the ball with his feet.
On the hour, it was again Mifsud who missed a good chance for Valletta. He received the ball from Falzon and advanced unhindered only to see his shot being blocked again by a desperate Muscat.
Valletta kept the upper hand and on the 71st minute, a Barbosa freekick just missed the target.
On 79 minutes, Hibs were again close to scoring. An Herrera inswinging cross was dealt with rather badly by Bartolo. Luckily for the City goalie, the ball hit the bar and rebounded out and was eventually cleared.
The Paolites were again unlucky a minute later when off a Pisani cross, substitute Ribeiro’s header hit the upright with Bartolo beaten.
Three minutes from the end, Mifsud received a good ball from substitute Zammit, but after rounding Muscat, he hit the side rigging from the angle.
At the end of the match, MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo presented the Bank of Valletta Super Cup to Valletta skipper Roderick Briffa.
Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Pulis (S. Pisani), R. Camilleri, R. Soares, M. Dias (AM Ribeiro), A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, E. Herrera, J. Vandelannoite, J. Lima Sequeira, J. Nwoba J. Bezzina).
Coach: Michael Woods.
Valletta: M. Bartolo, R. Briffa, I. Azzopardi (K. Sammut), S. Borg, R. Barreto da Rocha, JG. Da Silva (E. Agius), W. Barbosa, M. Mifsud, L. Da Silva Almeida (I. Zammit), D. Falzon, R. Fenech.
Coach: Mark Miller.
Referee: P. Caruana
Asst refs: M. Borg, C. Francalanza
4th official: M. Spiteri
Scorers: M. Mifsud 25, L. Da Silva Almeida 31, D. Falzon 33, Jackson Lima 45+1,
Yellow cards: M. Dias, W. Barbosa, I. Azzopardi,
Attendance: 1,900