Hibs 2 Valletta 0

Hibs ruined Valletta's bid to set a new record for the longest unbeaten run in the league as Brazilian striker Edison Luis dos Santos hit a brace in a dramatic match that featured no fewer than four red cards, three of whom were for City players.

A draw would have been enough for Valletta to extend their undefeated sequence to 38 games but Hibs, who went into the match as joint-holders of the record, were clearly determined to halt their rivals' march.

After taking an early lead, Hibs were forced to absorb the champions' growing pressure but, after both teams had a player sent off in the first half, quickfire red cards to Valletta's Steve Borg and the incoming Ryan Fenech made things easier for the Paolites who scored a second in stoppage time to extend their unbeaten start.

The match produced explosive start as Hibs shook the champions with a goal inside the opening three minutes. Edward Herrera advanced menacingly down the right before delivering a precise cross towards the far post where Luis Edison escaped his marked and headed past Andrew Hogg, the Valletta goalkeeper.

Hibs were clearly up for the challenge as they stormed into Valletta who struggled to recover from Edison's early opener.

As the first half wore on, Valletta began to see more of the ball but their confused efforts were easily controlled by the Hibs defence.

On 27 minutes, Valletta striker Alfred Effiong headed wide from Edmond Agius's set-piece cross.

Poor marking in the City box almost gifted Hibs a second goal as the unmarked Edison rose to meet Andrew Cohen's free-kick but his header was too tame to trouble Hogg.

Valletta suffered another blow on 33 minutes when captain Gilbert Agius was shown a straight record for a late, sliding tackle on Cohen who had just dispossessed Jonathan Caruana close to the centre circle.

From the ensuing free-kick, Clayton Failla's firm grounder hit the base of the far post and Adrian Pulis's follow-on shot ended just wide of the other post.

The champions were rocking but they refused to give up. Steve Borg leapt above friend and foe to meet Briffa's cross from a right-wing free-kick but his header was punched away by the alert Muscat.

Four minutes from half-time, William Barbosa, Valletta's Brazilian striker, was close with a rising free-kick that sailed just over. More drama followed as, two minutes from half-time, Hibs left-back Pulis was dismissed after a late challenge on Effiong earned him a second yellow card.

Late in the first half, Jamie Pace tried to surprise Muscat with a long-range screamer but his effort finished just wide.

The Citizens came close to an equaliser two minutes into the second half. Ian Azzopardi's cross from the left disoriented the Hibs defence who struggled to take the ball away from Effiong. The loose ball fell to Denni who sped forward but his shot was diverted into the path of Briffa. The latter's effort was repelled by Diego Balbinot.

Moments later, Denni hit wide from the edge of the box. Valletta now did most of the running in search of an equaliser but Hibs held firm.

Briffa was denied by Muscat who blocked his close-range attempt from Barbosa's cross and, 15 minutes from time, Effiong headed wide from Agius's service.

As the match drifted into the last six minutes, Ousseni Zongo, who had just come on for Barbosa, came close to scoring an equaliser for Valletta but his well-hit shot was pushed away by Muscat.

The Citizens suffered a fatal setback when, a minute from time, defender Borg was shown a straight red for tripping the goalbound Edison after Hibs had broke on the counter. Valletta's woes increase as second-half substitute Ryan Fenech was also dismissed, presumably for use of abusive language, meaning that the Citizens finished the match with eight men.

In stoppage time, Valletta goalkeeper Hogg, who went up for a corner, cut the ball back for Denni whose shot from the edge of the box was deflected away for a corner. Hibs cleared the ensuing corner and, with Hogg having left his goal, Edison dos Santos ran clear unimpeded before tapping home to seal the Paolites' win.

Hibs' Herrera was voted BOV player of the match.

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