BOV Premier League

Valletta retained their three-point lead over Hibs at the top of the Premier League after a 4-0 victory over Ħamrun Spartans. The Paolites had temporarily joined their rivals in first place after seeing off Marsaxlokk in Saturday’s opening game.

Facing a depleted Ħamrun Spartans side, Valletta missed an early penalty when Denni’s low strike was blocked by Andrea Cassar but the latter was beaten by William Barbosa’s angled drive from the spot after the champions were awarded a second penalty just past the half-hour.

Denni atoned for his penalty miss when doubling Valletta’s lead six minutes from half-time but the Whites had to wait until the final stages to seal their win.

Captain Gilbert Agius made it 3-0 with a glancing header and substitute Ousseni Zongo wrapped up the scoring with a sizzling drive in stoppage time.

Hibs overcame the absence of a host of first-choice players as a first-half brace from Malta U-21 international Steve Pisani gave them a 2-0 victory over the crisis-hit Marsaxlokk who only had 14 players on their teamsheet.

Floriana consolidated third place in the table after Andre Grabowski struck early in the second half to hand the Greens a 1-0 success over Tarxien Rainbows who remained second from bottom.

The race for the Championship Pool continued to intensify last weekend as Birkirkara, Qormi and Sliema Wanderers all dropped points while surprise package Balzan Youths won to move closer to the top-six zone.

Birkirkara failed to make amends for their 2-0 upset to Qormi as they were held to a goalless draw by bottom side Mosta. The Stripes, who were the better side but lacked the killer touch up front, ended the match with nine men after Spanish striker Moises Avila Perez and Shaun Bajada were sent off in stoppage time.

Brazilian playmaker Pedrinho scored twice in the last six minutes as Balzan Youths shocked Qormi to register their second win in a row.

In the opening game of last weekend’s six-match programme, a depleted Sliema Wanderers team figured in a one-all draw with Mqabba.

Roderick Bajada gave Sliema an early lead when scoring with a curling free-kick but Brazilian Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli equalised for Mqabba midway through the second half.

Premier League statistics

Scorers, red cards

Balzan Youths: Bright 4; Ciantar 3; Pedrinho 2; Tasic, Camilleri, Farrugia, Grima, Forace.
Own goal: Camilleri (vs Ħamrun).
Red cards: Pedrinho (vs Qormi, vs Mqabba), Francica (vs Hibs), Forace (vs Tarxien), Ciantar (vs Valletta).

Birkirkara: Avila Perez 8; Cilia 4 (3 pens); Grech 2, Pereira 2; Buhagiar, Zerafa, Vella, Muscat, Fenech.
Red cards: Decesare (vs Mosta), Grech (vs Qormi), Avila Perez, Bajada (vs Mosta).

Floriana: Caruana 4; Woods 3 (1 pen), Grabowski 3; Cassar 2; Odwong, Mintoff, Farrugia, Micallef, J. Borg, Darmanin.
Own goal: Everton (vs Tarxien).
Red cards: Amamoo (vs Sliema); Bartolo (vs Birkirkara).

Ħamrun Spartans: Grima 4, Ribeiro 4; Shields 3 (1 pen); Luis Silva, Sammut, Toneto Porcari, Agius, Polli.
Red cards: Agius (vs Balzan), Polli (vs Birkirkara), Sammut (vs Balzan).

Hibs: Edison 15; Failla 8; Caruana 2, Pisani 2; Soares, Cohen, Anizoba.
Red card: Pulis (vs Valletta).

Marsaxlokk: Obiefule 10; Deanov 4; Farrugia 2, Lattes 2; Kokavessis, Campagnoli.
Red cards: Templeman (vs Hibernians), Brincat (vs Qormi).

Mosta: Zammit 3 (1 pen), Martin 3; Mvondo 2; Aboulezz, Arilson.
Own goal: Buhagiar (vs Birkirkara).
Red cards: Ossok (vs Hibs); Tisbi (vs Qormi).

Mqabba: Mazzitelli 7 (1 pen); Mamic 6 (1 pen); Azzopardi, Briffa, Potezica.
Red cards: Mazzitelli (vs Marsaxlokk), Mamic (vs Hibs), Timotic (vs Hibs).

Qormi: Farrugia 8 (4 pens); Jorge Pereira 5; Nwoke 4, Bello Osagie 4; Bartolo, Sciberras, Bondin.
Red card: Duff (vs Birkirkara).

Sliema: Mitev 6 (3 pens), Lima 4; Bajada 4; Jorge 3; Mifsud Triganza 2; Scerri, Ani, Frendo, Galabov.
Red cards: Scerri (vs Hibs), Grech (vs Floriana), Mitev (vs Marsaxlokk), Mifsud (vs Hibernians).

Tarxien Rainbows: Bueno 6 (1 pen); Ricardo 3; Anonam 2, Galvao 2; Everton, Carabott.
Own goal: Pereira (vs Birkirkara).
Red cards: Anonam (vs Mosta), Costa (vs Balzan), Suguino (vs Valletta).

Valletta: Denni 7; Barbosa 6 (1 pen); Effiong 5; Zongo 4; Mifsud 2, Pace 2, Borg 2, Briffa 2, G. Agius 2.
Red cards: G. Agius, Borg, Fenech (vs Hibs).

Current standings

Next fixtures

Friday (Tedesco Stadium)
18.00 Mosta vs Balzan Youths; 20.15 Ħamrun vs Tarxien.

Saturday (National Stadium)
14.00 Sliema vs Floriana; 16.00 Qormi vs Valletta.

Sunday (Hibs Stadium)
14.00 Mqabba vs Marsaxlokk; 16.00 Hibs vs Birkirkara.