Premier League highlights

The race for the 2008/09 Premier League title is still on following Valletta's victory over leaders Hibernians in Monday's match, played in front of a sizeable crowd despite the inclement weather.

Interest is not only focused on the top placings in the standings but also in the Relegation Pool as for the first time since this format was introduced, we have all four teams still with a chance to avoid the drop with only two matches for them to go.

However, the main topic of the three-day programme was the clash between Valletta and Hibs. A win for the latter would have practically spelt finis to the Citizens' bid to retain their title but it was not to be.

In a frantic first-half, Paulo Massaro put Valletta ahead but Zeferino Soares Borges pulled the Paolites level only for the in-form Dyson Falzon to put the Citizens back in front just before half-time.

Valletta had Roderick Briffa sent off in stoppage time but by then Hibs had ran out of time. Now, the Paolites are only three points in front at the top with a whole round of matches still to be played.

In other Championship Pool matches, Marsaxlokk thumped Floriana 5-2, with striker Julio Alcorse hitting four goals, and Sliema adding more woes to Birkirkara who conceded a third successive defeat after succumbing to a Miguel Ciantar goal.

In the red zone, a depleted Msida team breathed more life into their salvation cause after upsetting Ħamrun Spartans 2-0.

A victory for the Reds would have assured them of their status for next season but the Saints had other ideas. Goals from Andre Rocha da Silva (penalty) and Adrian Farrugia saw Msida move to the 15-point mark along with the same Spartans, one ahead of Qormi and Tarxien.

Qormi were also facing a must-win situation in their match against Tarxien. Alfred Effiong scored twice as the Yellows won 3-0 to get back in the reckoning.

The next matches, Ħamrun vs Tarxien and Qormi vs Msida could prove decisive.

Victories for Ħamrun and Msida will condemn last year's promoted duo back to Division One football next season.

Statistics: scorers, red cards

Birkirkara: Mifsud Triganza 7, Galea 7; Hartvig 4; Bajada 3, Buhagiar 3, Mallia 3, Dimitrov-Mihaylov 3; Tabone 2 (2 pens); Fenech, Sokolov, Anastasi, Cilia. Own goal - Caruana (vs Hibs). Red cards - Bajada (vs Marsaxlokk); Zerafa (vs Hibs); Holland (vs Msida).

Floriana: Darmanin 7; Anonam 6; M. Briffa 2, Madzar 2; Eboh, Brincat (penalty), Doffo, Caruana, Zarb. Red cards - Bugeja (vs Ħamrun); Caruana (vs Valletta); Borg (vs Birkirkara); Doffo (vs Hibs); Eboh (vs Tarxien).

Ħamrun: Comvalius 8 (1 pen.); Spiteri 6; Cucciardi 5 (1 pen.); Micallef 3; Kokavessis 2, Levnaic 2, Sultana 2 (1 pen.); Ortega (pen), Ryan Fenech. Red cards - Spiteri (vs Floriana), Spiteri (vs Msida), Spiteri (vs Floriana); Roderick Fenech (vs Marsaxlokk, vs Msida SJ); Bondin (vs Valletta).

Hibernians: Scerri 26 (3 pens); Cohen 7 (2 pens), Failla 7; Soares Borges 5; Farrugia 4; Camilleri 3, Caruana 3, Mbongo 3; Galabov 2; Grech, Callejas, Pulis. Own goals - Micallef (vs Ħamrun); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun). Red cards - Mbongo (vs Valletta), Scerri (vs Valletta), Galabov (vs Birkirkara).

Marsaxlokk: Alcorse 13 (6 pens); Pereira 10; Licari 3 (1 pen.); Cassar 2, Said 2; Mattocks, Barbara, Pullicino, Sammut, Kokavessis, Camilleri. Red cards - Camenzuli (vs Birkirkara); Said, Wellman (vs Msida).

Msida: Calcado 11 (2 pens); Aurelio 4; Da Silva 3 (1 pen); Magro, A. Farrugia, T. Farrugia, Camilleri. Red cards - Da Silva (vs Ħamrun); T. Farrugia (vs Marsaxlokk), Vella (vs Valletta), Calcado (vs Tarxien).

Qormi: Effiong 10; Chetcuti 5; Da Silva 4, Farrugia 4; Grima 2. Red cards - Chetcuti (vs Hibernians); Nwoko (vs Ħamrun), Fenech (vs Msida).

Sliema: Woods 7 (1 pen.); Muscat 4; Bjedov 3, Dronca 3 (1 pen.), M. Ciantar 2, Coto 2, Bajada 2; Severino, Azzopardi, Nisevic, Briffa, Turner, Mintoff. Red cards - Bjedov (vs Ħamrun), Scerri (vs Hibs); Chetcuti (vs Birkirkara).

Tarxien: Bueno 21 (2 pens); Chircop 2, Vella Critien 2, Rocha Dos Santos 2; Buttigieg, Tanti. Red cards - Carapic, Decesare (vs Qormi), Gatt Baldacchino (vs Msida).

Valletta: Priso 12 (3 pens.); Zammit 6, G. Agius 6 (1 pen.), Falzon 6; Frendo 2, Pace 2; Dimech, Bondin, Tolomeotti, Monesterolo, Grioli, Massaro. Red cards - Giglio (vs Msida); Priso (vs Qormi); Briffa (vs Hibs).

Next fixtures

Saturday (National Stadium): 15.00 Ħamrun Spartans vs Tarxien Rainbows; 17.00 Birkirkara vs Floriana.

Sunday (National Stadium): 15.00 Qormi vs Msida; 17.00 Hibernians vs Marsaxlokk.

Monday (National Stadium): 19.30 Sliema vs Valletta.