BOV Premier League

Valletta extended their unbeaten league run to 11 matches as the Premier League pace-setters eased to a 2-0 victory over Hibernians to restore their seven-point lead at the top.

The Citizens went ahead after 22 minutes when Denni directed a powerful header past goalkeeper Mario Muscat but that proved to be the Brazilian’s last contribution.

Denni was taken off on a stretcher after suffering a hard blow to the head when colliding with Hibs’ Edward Herrera as he rose to meet Kevin Sammut’s cross for Valletta’s opener. The forward is recovering well but he was due to undergo more tests yesterday to ascertain that there is no further damage to his skull.

It took Valletta a while to recover from the setback of losing one of their more creative players but a goal from Terrence Scerri put their minds at rest. For Hibs, Monday’s defeat stretched their winless sequence to 10 matches and left them second from bottom.

On Friday, Tarxien Rainbows consolidated second place in the table with a 3-1 victory over Ħamrun Spartans. Daniel Mariano Bueno struck twice inside the opening two minutes to give Tarxien a headstart.

Ħamrun Spartans revived their hopes when Massimo Grima pulled one back 13 minutes into the second half but Ricardo Costa’s glancing header on the stroke of time sealed Tarxien’s win.

Champions Birkirkara moved up to third after a late Patrick Borg goal gave them a 1-0 win over fellow top-six rivals Floriana in a generally drab match on Monday.

Sliema Wanderers and Marsaxlokk failed to make inroads in the Championship Pool race after sharing the spoils in a one-all draw. Ruben Gravata Guereiro fired Marsaxlokk ahead five minutes from half-time but Jackson Lima levelled matters for Sliema five minutes into the second half.

In Sunday’s opening match, Qormi and Vittoriosa Stars gained a point each after their second-round match ended two-all.

Anthony Ewurum opened the scoring for Vittoriosa Stars but Cleaven Frendo equalised for Qormi in first-half stoppage time.

Qormi moved 2-1 up thanks to Ben Camilleri early in the second half but their hopes suffered a hammer blow when South Korean Kang Hojung was dismissed for two bookings a minute past the hour.

Vittoriosa’s increasing pressure yielded an equaliser 16 minutes from time, Brazilian Edison heading home from Leighton Grech’s cross.

Premier League statistics

The scorers

Birkirkara: Lattes 4; Vella 3, Galea 3 (1 pen); Cilia 2, Tabone 2 (1 pen); Fenech, Vukanac, Borg.
Floriana: Woods 2 (1 pen.), Mecerod 2; Dzhorov, Darmanin, Caruana, Agius.
Ħamrun Spartans: Spiteri 5; Pereira 4; Shields 3, Grima 3; Anizoba 2; Mangion, Fenech pen.
Red cards: Hrubsa (vs Floriana, vs Valletta), Bonnici (vs Floriana).
Hibernians: McManus 4; Cohen 3 (1 pen); Caruana, Clarke, Herrera, Farrugia, Pearson.
Red card: Pulis (vs Ħamrun Spartans).
Marsaxlokk: Effiong 7; Templeman 2, Guereiro 2; Alcorse pen, Koka-vessis, Deanov.
Red card: Alcorse (vs Valletta).
Qormi: Mallia 3, Frendo 3; Bjedov, J. Farrugia, Bello Osagie, Chetcuti, Camilleri.
Red cards: Bondin (vs Ħamrun), Hojung (vs Vittoriosa Stars).
Sliema Wanderers: Mifsud Triganza 3, Obiefule 3; Lima 2; Scerri.
Red cards: Mintoff (vs Birkirkara), B. Muscat (vs Vittoriosa).
Tarxien Rainbows: Bueno 5; Sergio 4, Ricardo Costa 4; Cristiano 3 (1 pen), Caruana. Own goal: Pearson (vs Hibs).
Valletta: Scerri 8 (2 pens); Denni 5 (1 pen), Sammut 4; Falzon 2, Pace 2; Zammit, G. Agius, E. Agius, Temile, Borg.
Red cards: Ramon (vs Floriana), Falzon (vs Ħamrun).
Vittoriosa Stars: Ewurum 4; Santos Silva 2, Edison 2; Micallef. Own goal: Gauci (vs Hibs). Red cards: Campagnoli (vs Valletta), Edison (vs Birkirkara), Mifsud (vs Valletta).

Next fixtures
Friday: (Tedesco Stadium) 7.30 p.m. Ħamrun Spartans vs Sliema ­Wanderers.
Saturday: (National Stadium) 2 p.m. Qormi vs Valletta; 4 p.m. Birkirkara vs Hibs.
Sunday: (Hibs Stadium) 2 p.m. Vittoriosa vs Tarxien; 4 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Floriana.