Valletta-Hibernians 2-3

Valletta: P. Marino, Y. Camilleri (A. Nafti), L. Dimech, D. Falzon (I. Azzopardi), R. Fenech, J. Vandelannoite, S. Bajada (I. Zammit), H. Barry, R. Briffa, D. Dos Santos, A. Nyang

Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson, J. Lima, R. Soares, M. Dias (M. Bartolo), A. Cohen, B. Kristensen (J.P. Farrugia), C. Failla, Z. Levnaic (M. Bartolo), L. Edison

Referee: A.M. Sant

Asst.refs: A.Camilleri, C. Francalanza

4th official: G. Tonna

Scorers: D. Dos Santos 22, H. Barry 29, Z. Levnaic 43, L. Edison 49, J.P. Farrugia 75

Yellow cards: R. Soares, B. Kristensen, L. Edison, M. Bartolo, L. Dimech, R. Briffa

Red card: D. Dos Santos

Player of the match: R. Camilleri (Hibernians)

TMI top three: 1. R. Camilleri  2. J. Vandelannoite  3. L. Edison

Attendance: 1,863

Valletta were deprived of the 100 per cent record after this defeat by Hibernians on the second day of the new campaign to leave the Paolites alone at the top of the standings with a perfect start.

In an entertaining contest between two of the most competitive teams in the BOV Premier League, Valletta surrendered a two-goal cushion as they were unable to weather Hibernians’ second half fight back after having Denni Dos Santos sent off on the stroke of halftime.

Valletta were already two goals to the good before the first half hour, courtesy of stunning strikes from Denni and Hamza Barry and looked heading towards a second straight win.

But Hibernians, who looked completely out of sorts for more of the first half and trailed their opponents by two goals, reduced the deficit shortly before the break. They made their numerical superiority count in the second half as they equalised early after the restart and then capitalised on a Valletta defensive blunder to score the winner through substitute Jean Paul Farrugia.

Hibernians had Rodolfo Soares back in their defence, but Jonathan Caruana was still out injured. Obiefule therefore had to sit out on the bench, with Luis Edison their most advanced player.

Valletta were forced to replace the suspended Edmond Agius with Shaun Bajada, in an otherwise unchanged starting eleven.  

After a frantic but uneventful first 15 minutes in which both sides gave each other an exploratory pummelling without producing anything resembling an opening, Valletta took a straglehold on the match with two well taken goals through individual efforts.

It was clear from the start that Valletta tried to fashion most of their attacks down the right flank where Failla was highly exposed, with the Hibernians’ three-man backline stretched to the limit.

Nyang’s forages were already caution enough. On 22 minutes Denni Dos Santos found power and precision to beat keeper Muscat at the top corner.

Seven minutes later, Hamza Barry gained ground as he took a loose ball in his stride and again beat the helpless Hibernians keeper with another blistering rising shot that might have taken a slight deflection off Pearson.

To add to theire woes, Hibernians were forced to substitute the injured Marcelo Dias past the half hour.

However the first half offered more twists and turns as Hibernians pulled a goal back on 43 minutes, Zoran Levnaic heading Lima’s corner kick from the left  against Yessous Camilleri’s body and into the net.

With halftime looming, Valletta were reduced to ten men. Denni elbowed Camilleri as he tried to win possession and was rightly shown a straight red card.

Hibernians regained confidence, their support began to make the noise again and it took only four minutes of the second half to level matters. Luis Edison poinced on a Ryan Camilleri pass inside the area, evaded Vandelannoite’s block and beat keeper Marino with a low drive at the near post.

Valletta, visibly rattled, introduced Tunisian forward Nafti for defender Yessous Camilleri. It might have looked a risky strategy as emboldened Hibernians kept pressing forward with more self belief. On a Lima free kick from the left, Kristensen could not manage sufficient pwer with his header to trouble keeper Marino.

Hibernians also put in Jean Paul Farrugia for Kristensen and they went tantalisingly close to taking the lead on 74 minutes. Cohen found the ball at his feet on the edge of the eight-yard box but the Valletta keeper blocked.

On the other end Muscat produced a smart save off Bajada’s shot.

On 75 minutes, Briffa and his goalkeeper combined in some sloppy defending to gift Hibernians the winning goal. Jean Paul Farrugia  got the better of Briffa on the edge of the Valletta area and as keeper Marino rushed out to foot the ball it fell straight at the feet of Farrugia to steer it coolly into an unattended goal.

Valletta were unable to recover and Fenech’s late grounder, saved by keeper Muscat indicated that their time was up.