Hibernians nullify City to seal title crown

Hibernians 0
Valletta 0

Hibernians are on cloud nine... or rather ten.

Thrust in a last-day showdown with perennial title rivals Valletta, Hibs, the long-time Premier League leaders, captured their 10th title after grinding out the point they needed to be crowned champions.

A bumper crowd gathered at the National Stadium to witness the last and decisive act of a thrilling title race. The atmosphere was electric but cagey as Hibs and Valletta vied for the top prize in Maltese football. That honour went to Hibs after a nervy, but largely dull, match ended as it started.

Hibs boast the most prolific forward line in the league but they can defend too. Mark Miller is an advocate of attacking football but he's also a pragmatist.

Two points to the good at the top, Hibs went into this duel needing only a point to win the title and Miller duly concocted a cautious plan aimed at nullifying Valletta's attacking weaponry.

Making a mockery of suggestions that their young players might buckle under the pressure, Hibs showed excellent composure, tactical discipline and, above all, resolute defending to repel everything that the much-vaunted Citizens threw at them.

Valletta held the initiative for long stretches but their performance was devoid of flair and bite, two key attributes when facing spirited opponents who defended as if their lives depended on their not conceding a goal.

Their resilient display paid the desired dividends as the referee's final whistle confirmed Hibs as the top team, much to the delight of their jubilant fans.

The players soon embarked on a lap of honour before all eyes were drawn to the platform on the pitch and the glittering BOV trophy that was presented to Hibs captain Mario Muscat by Malta FA president Joe Mifsud.

Thousands of flag-waving fans headed to Ta' Qali hours before the match was due to start.

The enclosure filled up quickly, prompting the police to close the gates connecting the south and north sections to the west side.

More and more supporters streamed into the stadium as kick-off beckoned. The efforts of the hard-core fans to encourage more people from Paola to attend this match clearly paid off as Hibs not only thronged half the enclosure but also took up a sizeable portion of the north stand.

A glance at the other side of the stadium was one to behold as the Valletta faithful transformed half the venue into a sea of red and white. Not only did the City supporters fill their side of the enclosure but thousands crowded half the Millennium Stand as well as the south end.

The section of the Millennium Stand reserved for neutral fans was also packed.

A boisterous roar rose into the air as the two teams jogged on to the pitch for their warm-up routine but the decibel level reached a peak when the players ran onto the field for kick-off.

Miller made only one change from the team that thrashed Birkirkara 4-0. Elkien Cauchi made way for Zeferino Soares Borges, who missed Monday's clash due to suspension.

The team selection of Paul Zammit contained one surprise as the City coach left Roderick Briffa out of the first XI and awarded a recall to Ian Zammit. The latter was entrusted with the responsibility of leading Valletta's attacking charge with captain Gilbert Agius playing off his shoulder and Doding Priso and Dyson Falzon lending support from the wings.

Soares Borges was employed as a target man for Hibs with Andrew Cohen and Clayton Failla taking up wide positions.

In the early stages, Dyson Falzon's cross from a right-wing corner was easily fielded by Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper.

A fluent move by Valletta ended with Gilbert Agius heading the ball to Priso, City's most enterprising player in this initial period. Priso sped into the box only to be dispossessed by the attentive Edward Herrera.

Needing a win to pip Hibs to the title, Valletta were the more assertive side early on but Miller's men had a solid look about them with Christian Callejas acting as an effective shield for his defensive allies.

Scoring chances proved elusive for much of the opening 25 minutes. Zammit tried his luck with a diagonal shot that flew high and wide.

In an isolated foray, Soares Borges made a good run into the box before floating a dangerous cross that flew tantalisingly across the face of goal but found no takers.

Minutes later, Soares Borges got on the end of a through-ball from midfield and held off Luke Dimech's overtures but his effort flew wide.

The significance of the occasion appeared to take its toll on the players as well as the fans as the tetchy nature of the opening exchanges was reflected in the erstwhile subdued mood on the stands.

Hibs were more intent on keeping Valletta at bay than to create some problems of their own up front, their prudent approach certainly conditioned by the fact that a point was all they required to secure the title.

The sight of Terrence Scerri stretching on the sidelines raised the spirits of the Hibs fans.

An ankle injury had kept the Malta striker out of the last game but Scerri was declared fit yesterday and eventually entered the fray 10 minutes into the second half when replacing Jonathan Pearson.

Scerri's introduction triggered a spate of positional switches as Soares Borges dropped to midfield and Galabov moved to the right.

Dimech broke down a menacing Hibs move when heading away a low cross by Failla.

On the hour mark, Steve Bezzina unleashed a sizzling shot but a deflection altered the trajectory of the ball which sailed just over the bar.

Moments earlier, Zammit had effected his first substitution, putting in Seba Monesterolo for Edmond Agius. Gilbert Agius was switched to central midfield as Monesterolo proceeded to partner Zammit up front.

Valletta appealed for a penalty when Zammit's flick-on from Justin Grioli's cross appeared to strike Aaron Xuereb's arm but the referee saw nothing untoward.

Midway into the second half, Scerri almost gave Hibs the lead.

Latching to a long pass from Callejas, Scerri drew two City defenders out of position while drifting towards the box before producing a chip that Andrew Hogg, the City goalkeeper, managed to divert onto the near post.

For all their endeavours to transfer the ball to their strikers as quickly as possible, Valletta just lacked the cutting edge to penetrate the crowded Hibs defence.

With eight minutes remaining, Zammit brought on Briffa for Falzon.

The Hibs fans became more vociferous as the game moved into the final five minutes with the score still 0-0.

Hibs might have scored in stoppage time when Scerri headed the ball on to substitute Ben Camilleri who sprinted into the box, evaded Hogg but fired wide from an acute angle.

At the death, Valletta also came close to scoring when Priso crossed for Jamie Pace whose close-range flick ended over the bar.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-6, J. Caruana-7.5, E. Herrera-7.5, A. Xuereb-7, J. Pearson-6 ('55 T. Scerri-6.5), A. Pulis-6.5, C. Callejas-7, A. Cohen-7, R. Galabov-6, Z. Soares Borges-5.5 ('80 B. Camilleri), C. Failla-6.5.

Valletta
A. Hogg-6, J. Grioli-6.5, K. Scicluna-7, L. Dimech-6, S. Bezzina-5, E. Agius-5.5 ('60 S. Monesterolo-5), J. Pace-6, G. Agius-5.5, D. Falzon-5 ('83 R. Briffa), D. Priso-6.5, I. Zammit-5.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Soares Borges; Muscat; Monesterolo.

BoV player of the match: Clayton Failla (Hibs).