Hibernians: D. Balzan, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson, R. Soares, A. Cohen, B. Kristensen (S. Pisani), J. Vandelannoite, U. Nwoko (J. Bezzina), Z. Levnaic (A. Ribeiro), J. Nwoba, J. Lima

Valletta: M. Bartolo, J. Caruana, S. Borg, R. Fenech (S. Bajada), J. Gabriel, L. Almeida (E. Agius), R. Briffa, D. Falzon, D. Dos Santos, W. Barbosa, M. Mifsud

Referee: C. Lautier

Asst.refs: T. Debono, M. Debono

4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: J. Gabriel 74

Yellow cards: D. Dos Santos, Z. Levnaic, S. Borg

Player of the match: D. Dos Santos (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Gabriel 2. J. Lima 3. S. Bajada

Attendance: 3,101

And then there was one!

Valletta are the only unbeaten side in the BOV Premier League after they got the better of Hibernians in the top-of-table clash . They have now edged three points ahead of nearest rivals Birkirkara and tahe same Hibernians.

The goal that decided the match was scored by one of their best players, Joao Gabriel in the last quarter hour, to give them full points, their vibrant performance richly deserved. Valletta yesterday invigorated the good crowd present at Ta’Qali.

In fact, the champions were again impressive in midfield, with Gabriel and Almeida synchronising smoothly between them and substitute Shawn Bajada dictating matters in central midfield in the second half. They were twice denied by the woodwork before breaking the deadlock.

Hibernians looked short of ideas yesterday, with Kristensen and Levnaic stifled in midfield.

Unusually subdued, Hibernians looked often liable to cave in under Valletta’s pressure, especially in the first half, although they showed signs of improvement after the restart, that is until they conceded the gaol.

Two notable absentees for Hibernians were goalkeeper Mario Muscat and forward Marcelo Dias, both suspended.

Coach Michael Woods sprang two surprises in his starting line-up, with defender Jason Vandelannoite making his first appearance for the team this season and the returning Udo Nwoko.

Valletta kept the same starting eleven who ran riot against Hamrun Spartans, meaning that Shawn Bajada again started on the bench but then went in as a replacement for the injured Ryan Fenech before halftime.

The pace and vigour with which the champions began the match, put Hibernians on the back foot.

Most of the noteworthy episodes came in the half’s first part during which Valletta carved out three good scoring opportunities that could have seen them take the lead.

After a Cohen tame effort went over, Valletta looked menacing on nine minutes when Almeida’s cross from the left was cleared in the path of Fenech who shot wide from outside the area.

A Mifsud lob from inside the area, two minutes later, went over.

On 23 minutes Denni’s cross from the right caught the Hibernians defence on the hop. Mifsud, unmolested on the edge of the six yard box, thumped his shot against the underside of the bar and the danger was cleared.

Midway through the half, Gabriel played the ball wide to the unmarked Denni who went for goal but his shot was repelled by the alert keeper Balzan.

Hibernians rarely threatened. John Nwoba and Nwoko were starved of service and almost always looked off the pace against Valletta’s blanket defence. Unlike Vandelannoite, Nwoko showed lack of match practice, as he tried to support Nwoba in attack, and was eventually substituted.

The Paolites went closest on 18 minutes when Lima headed Cohen’s cross from the left narrowly off target. Otherwise, keeper Bartolo remained mostly inoperative.

Hiberenians reemergedd with more fluidity in the second half, even because Valletta were unable to maintain their first half high tempo.

Mifsud chased a long ball by Bajada. Keeper Balzan rushed of his line to smother the danger.

Towards the hour, Lima’s powerful free kick forced keeper Bartolo to dive full length to hold out, only for Cohjen to shoot the loose ball over. Then Lima crossed low for Nwoko whose shot was blocked by the Valletta defenders.

Valletta were again unlucky on 65 minutes. Barbosa whacked his direct free kick past the crowded Hibernians wall against the upright to the keeper’s left.

But there was no denying Valletta ten minsutes later as they scored the all important goal. Bajada chased a long ball inside the Hibernians area on the left, got the better of Pearson and crossed low for Joao Gabriel to shoot past keeper Balzan.

It was more than Valletta deserved, especially because Hibernians’ response was never forthcoming, except for a disallowed goal one minute before the end, probably for Lima’s handling on Cohen’s cross, before knocking the ball over the line.

Barbosa’s shot shot from a distance was deflected into a corner and in added time, Almeida’s curling shot was repelled by keeper Balzan, endorsing the champions’ attacking danger till the very end.