Hibernians-Valletta 1-3

Hibernians: J. Borg, R. Camilleri, I. Radusinovic, M. Bartolo (J.P. Farrugia), S. Chircop, A. Cohen (J. Degabriele), B. Krsitensen, C. Failla, Z. Levnaic, J. Lima (J. Bezzina), O. Obiefule

Valletta: N. Revishvili, J. Caruana, S. Borg, R. Fenech (L. Cremona), E. Agius, R. Briffa, S. Bajada, D. Dos Santos (A. Da Silva Souza), I. Maisuradze, L.Alliyu (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), A. Nafti

Referee: A. Arciola

Asst.refs: W. Debattista, A. Borg Cardona

Additional asst.refs: A.M. Sant, G. Tonna

4th official: R. Vella

Scorers: D. Dos Santos 33, J. Caruana 36, A. Nafti 58, J.P. Farrugia 70

Yellow cards: I. Radusinovic, B. Kristensen, A. Da Silva Souza, N. Revishvili

Player of the match: A. Nafti (Valletta)

TMI top three:  1. A. Nafti  2. R. Fenech  3. D. Dos Santos

Attendance: 1018

Valletta were back to winning ways, to keep themselves on track behind leaders Birkirkara, following a comfortable and deserved win against inferior Hibernians, exposing problems that have plagued the side this season.

Valletta showed swagger and as Hibernians found it hard to settle in the match, the Citizens paved the way to victory with two first half goals scored within three minutes past the half hour. A third towards the hour sealed the issue and condemned Hibernians to a second consecutive defeat that plumets them into fourth place behind Sliema Wanderers this morning.

Following their disappointing draw with Sliema Wanderers, Valletta made a couple of changes yesterday. Hamza Barry was not included in the squad and Edmond Agius started the match. Striker Lateef Alliyu finally made his league debut after a long injury and replaced Mifsud Triganza in Valletta’s starting line-up.

Worse than their opponents, Hibernians had been beaten by Mosta at the weekend. Yesterday their thin squad was further depleted by absences of the injured defender Jonathan Pearson and the suspended forward Luis Edison. Ryan Camilleri and Igor Radusinovic were the central defenders with Scott Chircop and Matthew Bartolo wide backs. Zoran Levnaic started the match as a fifth defender at the back.

Hibernians resisted Valletta’s slick football for the first half hour, during which they could have even opened the scoring. But once Fenech, Nafti, Denni and Alliyu combined to telling effect, there was no denying Valletta winning.

Toawards the quarter hour Obiefule received an inviting ball from Cohen. Surrounded by Briffa and Agius inside the Valletta area, he lacked enough space and only won a corner.

Valletta looked menacing with long range shots from Fenech and Nafti before they made the breakthrough past the half hour, following a fast break. Obiefule’s blocked miskick inside the Valletta area ran loose to Nafti on the left. He intelligently bypassed Alliyu, in an offside position in the middle, and played a deep cross towards the advancing Denni Dos Santos down the right to go past the grounded keeper Borg and slot the ball in.

On 36 minutes Valletta doubled their lead, with Hibernians conceding from a set piece. Defender Jonathan Caruana turned attacker to head in Bajada’s swinging corner from the right and give his side a comfortable lead by halftime.

Hibernians put in Jean Paul Farrugia for Matthew Bartolo at halftime to give their attack some required impetus as they reverted to a four-man backline.

They had claims for a penalty turned down on 54 minutes when Failla came into contact with Briffa inside the area but only four minutes later, Valletta made the points safe. Fenech possessed himself inside the Hibernians area and played a short pass to Alliyu who crossed at the far end for the unmolested Abdelkarim Nafti to beat keeper Borg for the third time in the match.

Hibernians’ task became even harder. Staring at defeat in the face, they withdrew Cohen and Lima on the hour and put in youngsters Jurgen Degabriele and Johann Bezzina. They pulled a goal back on 70 minutes. Degabriele played the ball towards Jean Paul Farrugia who beat the otherwise inoperative keeper Revishvili with his shot on the turn.

Valletta maintained the tempo and on 73 minutes keeper Borg repelled shots from Agius and Denni on the rebound before Nafti’s free kick sailed just over the Hibernians’ goal.

But the match had long been over as a contest.