Hibs survive City onslaught

Valletta: S. Darmanin-6, J. Bondin-5.5 ('73 D. Zarb-6.5), M. Grima-6, B. Nisevic-6, S. Bezzina-6.5, K. Fenech-6 ('60 D. Falzon-6.5), U. Edafe-6.5, D. Camilleri-7, I. Zammit-6.5, G. Agius-6.5, S. Monesterolo-5.5.
Hibs: M. Muscat-7.5, K. Cassar-6, J. Caruana-6, A. Xuereb-6.5, A. Pulis-7, E. Agius-6 ('81 M. Bartolo), C. Failla-5.5 ('88 J. Vella), A. Cohen-6.5 ('88 U. Nwoko), T. Scerri-6.5, P. Doffo-6.5, N. Chukunyere-6.5.
Referee: Paul Caruana.
Scorers: Scerri 6; Chukunyere 11; Zarb 77.
Yellow cards: Chukunyere; Fenech; Grima; Bondin; Cohen
BoV player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibs).

Feeding off on the significant tonic provided by Birkirkara's victory over Floriana in the day's curtain-raiser, Hibernians tore out of the traps to surge into a two-goal lead inside the opening 11 minutes of their needle match with Valletta.

Buoyed by their flying start, Hibs were on cruise control for most of the first half but their hold-what-you-have approach in the second half and a brave comeback from Valletta made for an entertaining second half.

A 77th minute goal from Valletta substitute Dylan Zarb set up a tense finale as the Citizens strove to atone for their disastrous first-half performance but the resolute Paolites dug in to hang on to their slim lead and a win which takes them within touching distance of a Championship Pool berth.

Only a slump of mammoth proportions can deny the Paolites a place in the top six as they now have a four-point advantage and a game in hand over seventh-placed Floriana.

The surviving members of Hibs' old guard were all included in the starting formation.

Robert Gatt did the sensible thing of recalling goalkeeper Mario Muscat, who had been rightly dropped after his erratic performance in the 3-2 defeat to Birkirkara last month, and Adrian Pulis to give his line-up a more familiar look.

Muscat reclaimed the captain's armband even though the Hibs' teamsheet bore the signature of Andrew Cohen as skipper.

Valletta had no selection problems but that did not stop coach Paul Zammit from making a few alterations to his team.

Midfielder Keith Fenech returned to the first team on the back of his positive showing as a second-half substitute in Valletta's 2-0 win over St George's. Fenech was preferred to Dyson Falzon while Steve Bezzina kept his place at the expense of the returning Rennie Forace.

Hibs could not have hoped for a better lift-off as they moved ahead after just six minutes. A long clearance from the Hibs' defence caught the City defence on the hop as Terence Scerri sped past Massimo Grima and Bezzina to prod a low shot past the diving Saviour Darmanin.

Five minutes later it was 2-0, Ndubisi Chukunyere rising unmarked at the far post to head Andrew Cohen's perfect cross past Darmanin.

The lax marking by the City defenders must have infuriated coach Zammit who, in the build-up to the match, had called on his players to make amends for their disappointing performance in the 3-1 defeat against Hibs in the first round. Two goals down after 11 minutes and the Citizens' prospects of redeeming themselves for that first-round upset, looked remote.

As Birkirkara's 1-0 win over Floriana in yesterday's early kick-off rubberstamped Valletta's place in the Championship Pool with four matches to spare, complacency may have filtered through the City ranks just before the start of this match.

After Hibs' early flurry, there was a notable drop in the rate of scoring chances as the first half took shape.

Valletta's Argentine striker Sebastian Monesterolo unleashed a typically thundering drive from a shortly taken free-kick but the resolute Hibs defenders stood in his way.

Just past the half hour, Muscat effected a routine save from a central Gilbert Agius effort and at the other end, another low strike from Scerri was deflected just wide of the post.

Valletta displayed more commitment as the first half moved into its final stages but their build-up was largely confused. In time added on, Hibs defender Aaron Xuereb did well to intercept a potentially dangerous cross from Ian Zammit.

Valletta threatened to cut the deficit on 49 minutes but Agius's swiftly-taken free-kick ricocheted off the bar.

A stupendous save from Muscat prevented Valletta from reopening the issue six minutes into the second half. The Hibs goalkeeper plunged to his right to scoop away Zammit's goalbound header following a free-kick by David Camilleri.

Zammit's half-time talk clearly had an uplifting effect on the Citizens for they dominated proceedings early in the second half.

Referee Paul Caruana had earlier incensed Hibs when he punished Jonathan Bondin's off-the-ball push on Cohen with a yellow card.

In their first foray into the Valletta half, Scerri's cross-shot was touched away by the alert Darmanin.

Valletta remained the brighter side though, Muscat again putting himself in evidence when fisting away an inswinging Agius corner.

A sweeping counter-attack by Hibs saw Pablo Doffo teeing up Cohen whose grounder from the distance whistled just wide of the near post.

The exchanges in the second half were full of commitment and fighting spirit as Valletta's pressure was met with a resolute response from Hibs.

Valletta's efforts reaped their just reward 13 minutes from time when Zarb, who had just replaced Bondin, scored with virtually his first touch.

The City youngster showed remarkable poise when curling a shot past the startled Muscat, the ball hitting the underside of the bar before dropping behind the goal-line.

On 84 minutes, Grima twice foiled Hibs when getting in the way of shots by Doffo and Chukunyere. It was then Nisevic's turn to deny Hibs the killer goal with a last-ditch tackle on Scerri as Gatt's men grew increasingly menacing on the counter.

In stoppage time, Hibs sighed with relief when Monesterolo blasted over from an inviting position.