Hibs - 2, Valletta - 4

Valletta strengthened their title push this afternoon after a 4-2 victory over champions Hibs in an exciting match at the National Stadium.

Two Hibs goals in the opening minutes of the second half rattled Valletta, who had taken the lead through Gilbert Agius, but the Whites produced a strong reaction to turn the score in their favour with three goals in nine second-half minutes.

Thanks to this victory, Valletta are now three points clear of Birkirkara at the top but the latter have a game in hand.

Hibs coach Mark Miller gave Portuguese striker Miguel Lopes de Pina a chance to press his claim for a permanent deal by including him in the starting team. Also making a return for Hibs were Andrew Cohen, a second-half substitute in the 2-2 draw with Birkirkara, Etienne Barbara, who missed the last match because of suspension, and Uruguayan midfielder Christian Callejas who has recovered from a knee injury.

Valletta also had an important player of their own making a comeback yesterday as captain Gilbert Agius was handed a first-team recall after serving his two-match ban.

The first chance of the game fell Valletta’s way when, on 13 minutes, Dyson Falzon made a good run on the left before passing to Agius who fired over.

Jonathan Caruana headed Aaron Xuereb’s cross over the bar for Hibs but on

17 minutes, Valletta forged ahead. Jamie Pace’s shot from the distance was deflected into the path of Agius who had time to control the ball and drill his shot past the diving Mario Muscat.

Eight minutes later, Terrence Scerri tried to surprise Muscat with a powerful shot from outside the area but the ball flew over the bar.

As Hibs struggled to make a reaction, Scerri had other chances to increase Valletta’s lead but his finishing was inaccurate.

Hibs were a different lot at the start of the second half. Their strong opening rattled Valletta to the extent that the champions overturned the deficit in the space of three minutes. Caruana made it 1-1 with a strong header from a cross by Cohen who then put Hibs ahead when nodding home Barbara’s cross.

Suddenly, the force was with Hibs but Valletta fought back like lions.

They mounted waves of attack and Agius levelled matters 20 minutes from the end with a rasping shot after an excellent pass from Roderick Briffa.

Six minutes later, Kevin Sammut put Valletta back in front after Hibs had failed to clear Kenneth Scicluna’s cross from a free-kick. The Citizens sealed the issue 11 minutes from time when substitute Doding Priso beat Muscat with an angled shot.