Valletta 1
Hibernians 2
Valletta: H. Bonello, S. Borg, S. Malano, M. Picciolo, J. Borg, M. Pena Beltre, J. Zerafa, I. Saleh, M. Alba, C. Gavrila (K. Nwoko 70'), M. Fontanella.
Hibernians: A. Hogg, D. Vella (B. Kristensen 69'), N. Radejovic, J. Mbong, M. Dias, J. Degabriele, T. Ntow, J. Bezzina, A. Agius, I. Blazevic (T. Tabone Desira 81') , A. Fonseca (N. Marcolino 46').
Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Ass.referees: Mitchell Scerri, Jurgen Spiteri
Fourth Official: Duncan Sultana
Scorers: M. Alba 56', N. Marcolino 79', A' Agius 90'
Yellow cards: J. Zerafa, I. Saleh, M. Alba, I. Blazevic.
Player of the match: Angel Miguel Alba (Valletta)
Attendance: 1481
Hibernians staged a late rally to send champions Valletta to the second consecutive defeat of the season. It was an exciting and entertaining match especially in the second period with Valleta taking the lead and with Hibernians turning the tide in their favour with two late goals.
It is surely an uphill start for Valletta in their quest to defend their title victory. Valletta's perfomance was surely better than that offered against the Wanderers, but they stil left the pitch empty handed yesterday. They had more of the ball but the best chances came hibs' way in the first half with the Paolites even hitting the piost.
On the resumption Valletta were somewhat lucky to escape a penalty incident in their area when Steve Borg appeared to handle the ball, but no penalty was given. Valletta forged ahead minutes later and had several scoring opportunities to kill the game with a second goal, as they were made to pay with Hibs' comeback.
Valletta have surely lost most of their solidity at the back, which was their winning card last season as they have alreadu conceeded five goals so far in two matches. Also coach Danilo Doncic seems to have little or no options, with several inexperienced youngsters yesterday on the substitute's bench.
Hibernians as was the case inb thei opener against Pieta, left it late but they were a solid outfit and at the end deserved their victory and will surely be one of the front runners this season after last year's disappointment.
On twelve minutes from a corner action Joseph Mbong hit the base of the upright with Bonello beaten. Valletta held territorial advantage but scoring actions were scarce. On 24 minutes Andrei Agius shot over the bar and on the other end Malano and Alba did likewise.
Two minutes from the break a picciolo central drive was well saved by Hogg and sixty seconds later, Malano lost a precious bal in midfield, but Bonello saved brilliantly Mbong's effort. From the corner action that followed Bonello saved Blazevic's low drive and Dunstan Vella missed a sitter from the rebound.
On the resumption Blazevic again tested Bonello and from the rebound substitute Marcolino hit the side netting. On 51 minutes a controversial decision in the City area when Steve Borg appeared to handle the ball but play resumed with a corner.
Three minutes later a Joseph Zerafa freekick was met by Gavrila whose header slammed against the crossbar. A minute later Miguel Alba fired fiercly from the edge of the area with Hogg completely beaten.
Valletta were now all over the place and Hogg saved his side off a Malano header and Fontanella shot incredible wide from the rebound. The same Fontanella fired straight in the Hibernians custodian from an ideal position four minutes later.
On 79 minutes Hibernians drew level when a Hogg long ball saw Marcolino and Steve Borg for the chase. The Valletta captain was in command but his back header towards Bonello was rather soft and in nipped Marclino to chip the ball over Bonello and into the net.
The match was now an open contest with both sides in search ov victory and on 90 minutes Andrei Agius passed twoards Degabriele whose drive was partially blocked by Bonello and from the rebound it was Andrei Agius who took the loose ball to fire home the winner.