Eight-man Hibs hold out for a draw

Valletta 2
Hibernians 2

Referee Lorry Sammut stole the limelight yesterday as Hibs and Valletta fought out a 2-2 draw in a combative match that spewed a high dose of controversy.

Not for the first time this season, Hibs left the stadium seething with anger at what they perceived as a series of unjust decisions by the man in the middle.

Deprived of the aid of an instant replay, it is hard for us to judge the controversial decisions but the bare facts explain Hibs' frustration.

Two penalties against them, both scored by Sebastian Monesterolo, and three red cards, albeit the last two coming deep into stoppage time, undermined Hibs' bold bid to gain their first victory over Valletta this season and strengthen their hopes of finishing third.

Hibs were the livelier team but the decisive breaks went against them, giving the largely lethargic Citizens the chance to make a contest of the game in the last 15 minutes.

Although Hibs' grief was justified, the antics of two experienced players like Aaron Xuereb and goalkeeper Mario Muscat at the death let their team down.

With the exception of Jonathan Bondin and long-term injury absentee Massimo Grima, Valletta had a full complement yesterday. Not so for Hibs though. Coach Robert Gatt, himself barred from the dug-out as he completed his two-match touchline ban, had to make do without Peter Pullicino, Jonathan Pearson, Ben Camilleri and Antoine Zahra, all sidelined with injuries. Adrian Pulis was suspended.

Streamers and flags were conspicuous by their absence yesterday. This was due to an initiative by the newly-established Premier League Supporters Association by way of showing their appreciation of the significant religious value Holy Saturday has for the Maltese.

After only four minutes, Hibs threatened to nose ahead. Their chance stemmed from a cross by Dave Williamson which forced a half-clearance from Sean Sullivan. The ball landed in front of Baldacchino whose shot flew over the bar.

At the other end, a rasping drive from the distance by Monesterolo sailed close to the far post.

The opening exchanges were largely devoid of creative football although Hibs produced the more enterprising fare. After 18 minutes, Haruna Doda strode menacingly through the middle before releasing Cohen on the left but the latter's effort was too central to unsettle Sullivan.

Cohen should have made amends for his miss when Baldacchino found him unmarked in the centre of the box. Disappointingly for Hibs, Cohen miscued his shot and the ball drifted wide of the far post. Hibs continued to call the early shots, the active Doda mustering a powerful run towards goal despite Craig Dean's efforts to break his stride. The Nigerian managed to get a shot towards goal but his effort was deflected for a corner by Sullivan.

From the distinct possibility of taking the lead, Hibs found themselves one goal down. It was on 26 minutes when the referee whistled a penalty after Claude Mattocks was brought down by Baldacchino. Monesterolo blasted his shot to Muscat's right and into the net.

The Citizens could have doubled their lead within a minute of their breakthrough but Mattocks' firm grounder from just outside the penalty area came off the base of the post.

Valletta were now more prominent in the final third of the pitch but eight minutes from half-time, Hibs got back on level terms.

Williamson was the provider, putting in a cross in the centre of Valletta's area where Edmond Agius was granted abundant space by the ponderous City defenders. The young midfielder-cum-striker duly capitalised, lifting the ball over Sullivan with the instep of his right boot.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Hibs could have moved ahead when Andrew Cohen's through-pass reached Doda but the latter chipped the ball wide.

Doda was on the end of a well-hit cross by Baldacchino early in the second half. His downward header was stopped by Sullivan.

With Valletta's lightweight midfield clearly struggling to match their opponents' grafting and movement, Hibs piled on the pressure.

Their lively approach, typified by the inspirational Cohen, paid dividends on 58 minutes when Doda's free-kick sent the net bulging despite Sullivan getting a hand to the ball.

As Hibs celebrated their goal, Anatole Debono replaced Fenech who had been a marginal figure on the right of midfield.

Valletta rolled up their sleeves in an effort to get back in contention. Their hopes looked to have been bolstered when, with 15 minutes of the game remaining, Hibs' defender Kenneth Spiteri was sent off. The young defender was shown a straight red card, presumably for dissent, after he had just been cautioned for a foul.

Six minutes from time, the referee again infuriated the Hibs faithful when he whistled a second penalty for Valletta.

Having earlier ignored two penalty claims for the Citizens, Sammut pointed to the dreaded spot when Agius, chasing a lofted pass from Debono, appeared to have been pulled to the ground by Mintoff and Xuereb. Cue vehement Hibs protests but Monesterolo stayed aloof of the commotion around him to beat Muscat for a second time.

Hibs might have snatched a winner in the dying moments but Cohen's low strike was deviated to a corner by Mattocks.

More controversy ensued when Cohen was tripped by Forace on the edge of the box. Hibs shouted penalty but Sammut awarded them a free-kick after consulting assistant referee Alan Camilleri.

Tempers flared in stoppage time, Hibs finishing the match with eight men. Xuereb was expelled for a scathing lunge on Sullivan and Muscat received his marching orders after he spat at Dean. Amidst the confusion, Sullivan had reacted to the bad foul he suffered by pushing Xuereb but he escaped with just a yellow card.

Valletta: S. Sullivan-5.5, K. Cassar-5 ('82 K. Magro), B. Nisevic-5.5, C. Dean-5.5, R. Forace-5.5, D. Zarb-5.5 ('68 C. Camilleri), K. Fenech-5 ('58 A. Debono-6), C. Mattocks-6, I. Zammit-5.5, G. Agius-6.5, S. Monesterolo-6.5.

Hibs: M. Muscat, A. Xuereb, R. Mintoff-6, K. Spiteri, D. Williamson-7, E. Mbong-6.5, A. Cohen-8, R. Baldacchino-6.5 ('56 C. Failla-6), E. Agius-6.5, D. Camilleri-6, H. Doda-7.5.

Referee: Lorry Sammut.

Scorers: Monesterolo 27 pen., 84 pen.; E. Agius 37; Doda 58.

Yellow Cards: Zammit; Xuereb; Spiteri; Nisevic; Failla; Sullivan.

Red Cards: Spiteri 75; Xuereb 90; Muscat 90.

BoV Player of the Match: Andrew Cohen (Hibs).