Valletta      4

Hibernians 1

Valletta: Y. Cini, J. Caruana, J. Vandelannoite, R. Fenech (E. Agius), I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa, L. Dimech, D. Dos Santos (J. Gabriel), W. Barbosa, I. Zammit (G. Agius), D. Toure’

Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri (S. Pisani), R. Soares, B. Kristensen, Z. Levnaic, A. Cohen (J. Bezzina), J. Lima, A. Kardeck, C. Failla, A. Pulis, J.P. Farrugia (U. Nwoko)

Referee:  A. Azzopardi

Asst.refs:  D. Sultana, R. Vella

4th official: E.Azzopardi

Scorers: D. Dos Santos 35, 47,  I. Zammit 37 pen, W. Barbosa 72 pen, J. Bezzina 86

Yellow cards: B. Kristensen, R. Soares, R. Fenech, D. Dos Santos, L. Dimech

Red card: R. Soares

Player of the match: Denni Dos Santos (Valletta)

TMI top 3:  1. D. Dos Santos  2. I. Zammit  3. R. Fenech

Attendance: 2,054

Valletta shook off their lethargy of late to beat Hibernians, showing some renewed self belief that has been missing in many of their matches this season. Playing with industry and togetherness, the team from the capital yesterday might have re-invigorated their fans.

Valletta have now edged a point ahead of their opponents with this result and move back to the top of the BoV Premier League standings, heralding a good start to the New Year.

Hibernians, who had been playing with some vibrancy of late, unbeaten in their last three outings, were yesterday undone by the kind of defensive mistakes that will fill their coach and fans with intense frustration. Not only have they been knocked off the perch, but also suffered a damaging defeat that may have unwanted consequences.

The Paolites blew it all away after the half hour, conceding two sloppy goals within as many minutes in the first half and another in the opening minutes of the second half, that put them on the backfoot and could never recover.

The match turned to be a nightmare for Hibernians’ defender Rodolfo Soares, who not only committed two silly mistakes in Valletta’s two goals, but ended a shameful evening for him and his side with a late dismissal for two bookings.

Valletta fielded a reshuffled defence with the returning Jonathan Caruana and new signing Luke Dimech in the centre, Ian Azzopardi on the left and Roderick Briffa on the right. Yenz Cini was deputising for the suspended Manuel Bartolo in goal.

Other newcomer Jason Vandelannoite played in front of the defence, enabling William Barbosa to take a more advanced midfield role, with Denni and Ryan Fenech wide on the flanks. Demba Toure’ from Senegal was Valletta’s new striker, with Ian Zammit roaming in support.

Hibernians had centre back Rodolfo Soares and holding midfielder Bjorn Kristensen back from suspension and, in the absence of Marcelo Dias, their fluid 4-1-3-2 formation included Allan Kardeck and Jean Paul Farrugia in attack.

Both sides were well drilled tactically and conceded very few openings. Hibernians made the better start with their passing and incisive movement that was pleasure to watch within the first quarter hour.

After Failla shot his free kick wastefully over, Cohen’s long pass fell to Kardeck, who shot narrowly wide. On 12 minutes, Lima played a deft one-two with Kardeck to move clear on the right and send a low cross, but Cohen arrived fractionally late.

Gradually Valletta started to find pace and rythmn of their own. Fenech’s grounder was saved by the stretched keeper Muscat and on a Denni low free kick, Barbosa’s shot was blocked.

Valletta made the breakthrough in a two-minute burst that saw them take a double lead, with Rodolfo Soares carrying most of the responsibility.

On 35 minutes the Brazilian defender obstructed his keeper as he tried to reach for Zammit’s high cross from the right and as Muscat dropped the ball, Soares horrendously miskicked his clearance, gifting Denni Dos Santos with the easiest of chances in front of goal.

Two minutes later, another Soares erratic clearance presented Denni with another clear chance, and the Hibernians’ defender conceded a penalty with a late lunging tackle on Denni as he made his way inside the area. Ian Zammit tucked it away to give Valletta a comfortable two-goal cushion by the end of the first half.

Hibernians’ deficit increased within two minutes of the restart. Another defensive blunder again led to Valletta’s third goal as Camilleri was robbed of the ball by Fenech outside the box on the left and his cross was met by the unmolested Denni Dos Santos who obliged to hit in from close range.

The match was already as good as over, with everyone well aware that Valletta would not throw away a three-goal lead. Hibernians’ response was flacid. Failla’s cross was headed by Camenzuli and as Kardeck sent the ball across the face of the Valletta goal, there was nobody to connect and the chance went begging.

Cohen was replaced by Bezzina on 70 minutes and two minutes later Valletta put a flattering gloss on the scoreline when aswarded a second penalty as Camilleri pushed Zammit from behind inside the area.

This time, William Barbosa converted from the spot.

With four minutes remaining, Hibernians pulled one back through Johan Bezzina who beat Cini with a rising shot at the top corner after good work by Levnaic. But even that failed to warm their fans’ damp spirits on a night of frustration, further epitomised by Soares’ dismissal in the dying minutes and Kardeck’s heated arguments with Dimech after the final whistle.