Three City players see red as Hibs ruin rivals’ record bid

Valletta 0
Hibernians 2
Edison 3, 90;

Titles are normally won in May but this first-round showdown between Valletta and Hibs had the feel of a decisive clash.

The fierce rivalry between the fans of the two clubs aside, the game assumed an extra edge as Valletta had been gunning to establish a new mark for the longest unbeaten run in the league but their record bid ended in ignominy.

Breathing defiance from the off, Hibs stunned City as they toppled them in an absorbing but tetchy match which produced four red cards and a plethora of bookings.

Having fallen behind after just three minutes, Valletta rolled up their sleeves to try and claw back the deficit but frustration at failure to break down their resolute opponents boiled over as Steve Borg and Ryan Fenech were red-carded in the space of two minutes after captain Gilbert Agius had also been dismissed in the first half.

Hibs had also been reduced to 10 men after Adrian Pulis was sent off for two bookable offences but they kept shape and composure to withhold Valletta’s pressure before the lively Luis Edison applied the killer blow in stoppage time.

The Hibs celebrations at the final whistle said everything about how much this win meant to them as they had prevented Valletta from becoming the new, undisputed invincibles of Maltese football.

Tension was indeed high on the stands and reports after the game said that one elderly spectator died on his way to hospital after collapsing at the stadium.

The three points also elevated Hibs a point above Valletta in the standings and their lofty position will only increase their optimism about a possible tilt at the title.

As for Valletta, this upset could have some far-reaching repercussions not only because it wrecked their record bid but moreso because they will surely be without three key players for their next fixture and possibly more.

The absence of Michael Mifsud compelled Valletta coach Jesmond Zerafa to tweak his formation.

Gilbert Agius was awarded a first-team recall as Roderick Briffa was moved to the right of midfield and Alfred Effiong took up the central striker’s role.

Hibs coach Mark Miller sent out his strongest formation as Brazilians Marcelo Dias and Rodolfo Soares were both pronounced fit to start after shaking off knocks.

Edison was the attacking spearhead of Hibs’ 4-2-3-1 approach with Dias, Andrew Cohen and Clayton Failla operating behind the impish Brazilian who has been on fire for the Paolites so far this season.

Hibs stunned the champions when taking the lead inside the opening three minutes.

Edward Herrera was the catalyst as his powerful incursion down the right unnerved the back-tracking Valletta defence, especially left-back Azzopardi.

Herrera delivered an inch-perfect cross to Edison who, having eluded his marker, headed past Andrew Hogg at the far post.

Hibs’ flying start left no-one in doubt as to their resolve to extend their unbeaten run as well as their share of the record their opponents hoped to make their sole preserve.

The eagerness of their midfielders to break forward in numbers every time Hibs switched from defence to attack had Valletta under constant pressure. Edison’s relentless probing was also a cause of concern for the Citizens whose possession count grew as the first half wore on.

Yet, Valletta’s efforts failed to torment Hibs as their rearguard mounted a barricade in front of goalkeeper Mario Muscat who was not really tested in the opening half-hour.

On 27 minutes, Effiong headed wide from Edmond Agius’s set-piece cross.

Loose marking in the City box almost gifted Hibs a second goal as Edison, one of the smallest players on the field, was left completely unmarked as he rose to meet Cohen’s free-kick but his header was too weak to trouble Hogg.

Valletta’s evening took another disastrous turn when they were reduced to 10 men just past the half-hour. Defender Jonathan Caruana lost possession in midfield and Gilbert Agius lunged backwards to fell the advancing Cohen. Arciola brandished the red card to dismiss the City captain.

From the free-kick, Failla’s grounder flashed past the base of the far post and Pulis’s follow-on shot grazed the other post.

The champions were teetering but they refused to give in. Borg towered above friend and foe to reach Briffa’s cross from a right-wing free-kick but the defender’s header was fisted away by the alert Muscat.

Four minutes from half-time, William Barbosa was close with a free-kick that sailed over the bar.

A thrilling encounter produced more drama when, two minutes from half-time, Pulis was sent off after a late challenge on Effiong earned him a second caution.

Numerical parity restored, the Valletta fans now roared their team to greater efforts. Jamie Pace tried to surprise Muscat from the distance but his effort finished just wide.

The Citizens threatened to mete out the same punishment Hibs had inflicted on them when, two minutes into the second half, they came close to an equaliser.

Azzopardi’s cross from the left wreaked havoc in the Hibs defence who struggled to take the ball away from Effiong. The loose ball rolled to Denni who darted in but his shot was diverted into the path of Briffa. The latter’s effort was repelled by Diego Balbinot.

Denni was wide with a shot from the edge of the box as Valletta tore out of the blocks.

Tempers threatened to boil over when, incensed by Valletta’s refusal to kick the ball out as Edison lay prostrate, Kristensen made a heavy challenge on Denni.

Players from both sides confronted each other but, after calm had been restored, Kristensen and Denni got booked.

The game now became littered with nasty challenges. Hibs protested vehemently at Arciola’s decision not to give them a free-kick after Edison appeared to have been fouled on the edge of the box as he latched on to Herrera’s pass.

In next to no time, the ref had to deal with another contentious episode as Cohen hacked down the advancing Denni. The Hibs playmaker was cautioned.

In the meantime, Miller sought to confound Valletta by making a minor adjustment to his team’s strategy as Dias took over attacking duties from Edison who dropped to midfield.

Valletta grew increasingly impatient and confused with the result that their disjointed attacks were easily warded off by Hibs.

The Paolites were indebted to Muscat for keeping their lead intact as he blocked Briffa’s flick following Barbosa’s cross.

Zerafa made his first substitution 17 minutes from time, throwing in Dyson Falzon for Briffa as he looked to add width to Valletta’s attack.

The champions continued to push forward, Effiong heading just wide from Agius’s cross.

Another Valletta change followed, Ryan Fenech, who has just recovered from a dislocated shoulder, coming on for Edmund Agius as Zerafa unleashed all his attacking elements.

Ousseni Zongo, who had just replaced Barbosa, almost scored with his first touch but his strike from outside the box was kept out by the excellent Muscat.

The Citizens’ hopes all but ebbed away when, a minute from time, Borg was red carded for tripping the goalbound Edison after Hibs had broke on the counter.

More misery befell Valletta when Fenech was also given his marching orders, presumably for dissent, meaning that the Citizens ended the match with eight men.

In stoppage time, Hogg, who went up for a corner, teed up Denni whose shot from the edge of the box was deflected away for a corner.

Hibs booted the ball upfield and, with the City keeper at the other end of the pitch, Edison surged clear unimpeded before tapping home to seal the Paolites’ win.

Valletta
Hogg-5.5, J. Caruana-5, S. Borg, I. Azzopardi-5, A. Effiong-5, R. Briffa-5 (73 D. Falzon), J. Pace-6.5, E. Agius-7 (79 R. Fenech), G. Agius, Denni-7, W. Barbosa-5 (83 O. Zongo).

Hibernians
M. Muscat-7.5, R. Camilleri-6.5, A. Pulis, D. Balbinot-8, E. Herrera-8, C. Failla-7, A. Cohen-6.5 (85 J. Pearson), M. Dias-6 (73 P. Anizoba), R. Soares-7.5, B. Kristensen-6.5, Luis Edison-7.5.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Yellow cards: Effiong; Dias; Azzopardi; Pulis; Balbinot; Kristensen; Denni; Cohen; Pace.

Red cards: G. Agius (V) 33; Pulis (H) 43; Borg (V) 89; Fenech (V) 90.

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

Attendance: 4,485.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Hibernians	5	4	1	0	13	5	13
Valletta	5	4	0	1	12	5	12
Floriana	5	4	0	1	9	2	12
Sliema	5	3	2	0	9	5	11
Qormi	5	3	0	2	11	8	9
Birkirkara	5	2	1	2	7	7	7
Mqabba	5	2	1	2	6	7	7
Marsaxlokk	5	1	1	3	8	12	4
Balzan Youths	5	1	1	3	5	9	4
Tarxien	5	1	1	3	6	11	4
Ħamrun	5	0	1	4	3	9	1
Mosta	5	0	1	4	4	13	1