Scerri bites back at tenacious Hibs

Hibernians 2
Clarke 45+2; Herrera 45+3
Valletta 2
Denni 44 pen.; Scerri 80

Clashes between Valletta and Hibs seldom fail to live up to the pre-match hype. Their first encounter of the 2010/11 season was certainly in keeping with this trend as these two rivals contrived to share four goals in a high-octane match.

On a night when goalkeeper Mario Muscat was subjected to all sorts of insults by the City fans, Hibs looked on course to dish out revenge on their captain’s behalf as a two-goal flurry in first-half stoppage time edged them 2-1 ahead after Valletta had opened the scoring just a few minutes earlier.

Having squandered a string of chances in the second half, Terrence Scerri punished his former team when heading home Valletta’s equaliser 10 minutes from time, in the process preserving his team’s unbeaten start.

Although the Paolites will probably feel disappointed at having conceded a late goal, they certainly did a good job of frustrating their more-quoted opponents who suffered the misfortune of losing Jonathan Caruana and Gilbert Agius, his replacement, to injury.

Hibs’ resolute display owed to their sound work ethic and the inspirational performance of Edward Herrera who gave Ian Azzopardi a torrid time on the right flank.

The Citizens deserve credit for keeping their composure after being hit by a double-blow in first-half stoppage time but their troubles to find a way past their battling opponents ought to have opened their eyes about the hurdles they’ll have to overcome if they are to reclaim the league title.

Captain Agius and Kevin Sammut were dropped from Valletta’s initial formation as coach Jesmond Zerafa handed starting berths to Steve Borg and Dyson Falzon. Borg was tasked with manning Valletta’s right flank with Roderick Briffa switched to the centre of midfield.

Hibs coach Mark Miller confirmed the 11 players who began last weekend’s 3-1 defeat of Floriana. Scottish striker Paul McManus was the focal point of Hibs’ attack in a 4-3-3 formation.

The game was 17 minutes old when Valletta had what looked like a legitimate penalty appeal turned down by referee Clayton Pisani.

A quick breakaway by the Citizens disconcerted the Hibs defence as Denni released Omonigo Temile on the left. The Nigerian’s swerving cross into the area was intended for Scerri whose towering presence was enough to unsettle Matt Clarke as the Hibs defender miscued his clearance.

Scerri was first to the loose ball but he appeared to have been brought down by Clarke as he was about to shoot amid shouts of ‘penalty’ but Pisani was unmoved.

The early exchanges were generally bereft of creative football as both sides struggled to get their passing game off the ground. Just past the half-hour mark, Cohen’s long-range screamer was fumbled by Andrew Hogg but the City goalkeeper reacted quickly to grab the ball.

At the other end, Muscat pushed away Denni’s cross-cum-shot from a left-wing free-kick. In this action, Jonathan Caruana suffered a head wound after an aerial duel with Aaron Xuereb.

Caruana was taken off on a stretcher as Agius was summoned from the bench to replace the Malta defender. The introduction of a midfielder for a defender prompted a spate of positional changes as Borg moved to centre-half and Briffa dropped to right-back.

Valletta’s spirits rose when they were awarded a penalty three minutes from half-time.

Falzon glided past Ryan Camilleri before directing a pass towards Scerri but Clarke ducked in to impede the City striker from advancing. As Scerri tumbled to the ground, referee Pisani pointed to the spot and Denni rifled his shot past Muscat.

Hibs staged an immediate reaction and equalised in the first two minutes of stoppage time, Clarke heading home from Cohen’s free-kick. The English defender was rightly cautioned by Pisani after he appeared to taunt the opposing fans during his goal celebrations.

That seemed that but more drama was in store. On the cusp of half-time, Hibs went ahead. Cohen again had a hand in his team’s second goal as his set-piece cross had the City defence in a tangle.

Hogg tried to punch the ball away but his tame clearance fell to Herrera whose first shot was blocked by the Valletta defence only for the Malta winger to hit the jackpot with his second attempt.

Valletta looked stunned. Two minutes into the second half, they shouted ‘goal’ when Ramon’s flick, after Muscat had dropped a Falzon corner, was cleared off the line by Caruana but Pisani stopped play for a foul on the goalkeeper.

On 59 minutes, Scerri did well to dart into the area after releasing Temile whose inviting cross sailed into the path of the City striker but the latter headed wide.

The Citizens continued to dominate possession but Hibs refused to wilt. Herrera, by far the best player yesterday, threatened to heap further misery on the misfiring Citizens when he breezed past Sammut and served the advancing Cohen. The Hibs talisman let fly a ferocious drive from an angled position but the ball came off the side-netting.

With 10 minutes remaining, Valletta made it two-all. Rising high at the far post to meet Sammut’s corner, Scerri powered his header past Muscat and into the corner of the net.

The joy of the City fans at their team’s equaliser was tempered by the sight of Agius being stretchered off after picking up a calf injury.

As Zerafa had already effected his three substitutions, Valletta were forced to soldier on with ten men.

Hibernians: M. Muscat-6.5, R. Camilleri-6, E. Herrera-8.5 (’85 M. Tabone), A. Pulis-6.5 (’90 J. Pearson), A. Xuereb-6.5, M. Clarke-7, Z. Levnaic-6.5, A. Cohen-7.5, R. Hart-6, T. Caruana-5.5, P. McManus-5.5 (’90 W. Chircop).

Valletta: A. Hogg-5, S. Borg-6, J. Caruana-5 (’39 G. Agius-5.5), I. Azzopardi-4, Ramon-6, R. Briffa-6, J. Pace-6.5, O. Temile-6.5, D. Falzon-6 (’62 I. Zammit-5), Denni-5 (’73 K. Sammut), T. Scerri-6.5.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Herrera; Levnaic; Falzon; Clarke.

BOV player of the match: Edward Herrera (Hibs).

Attendance: 2,714.