City crowned but Hibs walk tall

Valletta 1
Mifsud 19;
Hibernians 2
Failla 10 pen; Kristensen 75;

There is clearly no love lost between Valletta and Hibs.

Valletta are over the moon after beating their rivals to the title but this only seemed to have galvanised the Paolites’ resolve to gatecrash the champions’ title party as the two powerhouses went head-to-head in the final game of the 2011/12 BOV Premier League season.

This ferocious rivalry, this no-holds-barred attitude set the tone for yesterday’s encounter which drew thousands of City fans to the National Stadium.

Keen to uphold their reputation as the most passionate, colourful fans in Maltese football, the Valletta faithful, carrying flags and scarves and sporting different costumes, created an electric atmosphere but the few die-hard Hibs fans who braved this cauldron of noise also had plenty to smile about.

Mark Miller, the Hibs coach who is reportedly being courted by none other than Valletta, declared before the match that his team “will try to go out and win the game but not to deliberately spoil their title party” but the way his players applied themselves on the pitch epitomised their desire to upstage the champions on their day of glory.

Hibs succeeded in exacting a measure of revenge on Valletta as they defeated the champions 2-1 in a high-octane game that belied its ‘academic’ status, given that the result had no bearing on the teams’ position in the final classification.

In terms of intensity and commitment, this was probably one of the most entertaining matches of the outgoing season and it would have been a pity had the irresponsible behaviour of some supporters overshadowed the occasion.

For, after the final whistle, scores of Valletta fans ran onto the pitch and headed towards the section of the Millennium Stand housing the Hibs ultras who, it must be said, had initially infuriated their rivals by unfurling a Valletta flag in a mocking gesture.

As more supporters jumped past the outnumbered police officers, the trouble threatened to escalate as the two sets of fans continued to provoke each other while some Hibs appeared to hurl objects at those of Valletta.

The tension rose as the fans charged towards the iron gate separating the stands from the pitch but calm was restored when the Hibs supporters left the stadium.

In the meantime, the Valletta fans in the stands had regained their voice as chants of “We are the champions” echoed around the stadium.

A roar of almost guttural intensity emanated from the throats of the City faithful as captain Gilbert Agius held aloft the BOV Premier League trophy.

The start to the game had been explosive as a party mood reigned at the stadium.

Jonathan Caruana embarked on a surging run on the left before releasing Gilbert Agius whose first-time flick was too weak to trouble Mario Muscat in the Hibs goal.

On six minutes, Michael Mifsud, Valletta’s mobile forward in front of the interchanging trio of Gilbert Agius, Denni and Roderick Briffa, was clean through but he speared a shot over the bar.

At the other end, Jackson Lima’s corner dipped dangerously in the City box but Briffa pushed the ball over.

This preceded a spell of Hibs pressure which yielded a goal after 10 minutes. They were awarded a penalty after Edward Herrera’s cross from the right appeared to come off the right hand of Steve Borg as the City defender tried to close down Andrew Cohen.

Clayton Failla rammed his shot past the diving Andrew Hogg to send the Hibs fans into raptures.

It was clear that Hibs were up for the challenge but Valletta rallied. The score became one-all on 18 minutes. Bursting on to a through-ball from Denni, Mifsud sped into the box before beating Muscat with a low drive.

Replays showed that Mifsud may have been in an offside position when he latched on to Denni’s pass.

The match remained fiercely-contested. Unbowed, Hibs continued to pile the pressure on Valletta. A deflection took the sting out of Jackson Lima’s piledriver as the ball fell kindly for Hogg while the fired-up Dias fashioned a venomous shot that was deflected away for a corner.

William Barbosa unleashed one of his trademark screamers from the distance but Muscat touched the ball away for a corner.

The game continued to ebb and flow as the two sides displayed a refreshingly attacking mindset. Lurking outside the Valletta box as Hibs mounted another attack, Rodolfo Soares slipped past his marker before directing a rising shot which was blocked by Hogg.

Miller was forced into his first substitution 10 minutes from half-time as Dias’ participation was cut short by injury. Luis Edison ‘Tarabai’ was summoned from the bench to replace his fellow Brazilian countryman at the tip of Hibs’ 4-1-4-1 formation with the likes of Cohen, Failla and Lima pushing on from midfield.

Three minutes from half-time, Ryan Camilleri floated an excellent cross as Bjorn Kristensen ghosted his way into the box only to blast his shot high and wide.

Muscat then saved a curling drive from Denni but Valletta squandered a glorious chance to put their noses in front just before half-time.

Close to the halfway line, Gilbert Agius relied on his skill to stroke a lofted pass forward and in the direction of the breaking Denni who had escaped the attentions of the Hibs defenders. The Brazilian strode into the box before squaring to the unmarked Mifsud who hit wide in front of a gaping goal.

Within three minutes of the start of the second half, Mifsud could have redeemed himself for his glaring miss as the nippy striker’s speed took him past three defenders but his final effort was too central and Muscat blocked.

Cohen then tried his luck with a spinning free-kick that was off target. Lima was closer as his well-struck free-kick drifted dangerously towards goal before Hogg leapt to his right to turn the ball around his near post.

The danger for Valletta refused to go. From the ensuing corner, Lima’s cross was met by Kristensen whose backheader from an acute angle dropped just wide of the far post.

Valletta’s casual start to the second half simply invited the dynamic Hibs to attack them.

Nine minutes into the second half, Cohen exposed Valletta’s defensive frailties as the Hibs playmaker wove his way through before whipping in a teasing cross that induced Mady Panandetiguiri to haul down Tarabai.

Referee Malcolm Spiteri pointed to the spot but Failla’s strike hit the base of a post, to the evident relief of the Valletta players and fans.

Barbosa had a low shot saved by Muscat but it was Hibs who were producing the more cohesive stuff. A minute past the hour, Hogg beat away Lima’s free-kick as the Paolites kept pressing forward in numbers.

A swift Valletta breakaway saw Gilbert Agius directing a raking pass to the steaming Mifsud whose superb volley was smothered away by Muscat.

Valletta were pegged back by Hibs but the Whites’ counter-attacking threat remained conspicuous.

On 66 minutes, the crowd rose in unison to give Gilbert Agius a standing ovation who made way for Terrence Scerri. A visibly emotional Agius saluted the City fans before being embraced by coach Jesmond Zerafa.

Agius’s body language and the intensity of the applause from the City fans led to suggestions that this may have been the captain’s final league appearance for the club but the 38-year-old later said that he has not made a decision about his future.

With 20 minutes remaining, Denni broke clear on the counter but his exquisite chip drew a top-drawer save from Muscat.

Five minutes later, Hibs went ahead, Kristensen heading home from close in after meeting a perfect cross from Cohen who had peeled away from Caruana.

Zerafa promptly introduced another striker, Alfred Effiong, for Panandetiguiri as Roderick Briffa moved to right-back.

Valletta’s confused efforts were easily withheld by the resolute Hibs as the match entered stoppage time. Tarabai was sent off after getting a second booking for time-wasting, meaning that the Brazilian can’t play in Hibs’ FA Trophy semi-final against Ħamrun Spartans.

Valletta
A. Hogg-6, J. Caruana-5, S. Borg-6, G. Agius-6.5 (66 T. Scerri-5.5), I. Azzopardi-7, R. Briffa-5, E. Agius-5, Denni-6.5, W. Barbosa-6, M. Mifsud-5.5, S. M. Panandetiguiri-5 (77 A. Effiong).

Hibernians
M. Muscat-8, R. Camilleri-7 (83 S. Pisani), J. Pearson-6.5, R. Soares-6.5, C. Failla-6, J. Vandelannoite-7, B. Kristensen-7, Jackson Lima-7, E. Herrera-7, A. Cohen-7.5, M. Dias-6.5 (35 L. Edison).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Missed penalty: Failla (H) 55.

Yellow cards: Kristensen; Failla; Edison; Panandetiguiri; Briffa.

Red card Edison: (H) 90.

BOV player of the match: Mario Muscat (Hibs).

Attendance: 4,171.

Final standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Valletta	32	25	5	2	75	24	53
Hibernians	32	22	6	4	74	26	47
Birkirkara	32	17	4	11	55	37	38
Floriana	32	16	6	10	47	35	33
Sliema	32	9	14	9	47	47	24
Balzan	32	9	6	17	36	67	18
Qormi	32	15	2	15	54	48	33
Mosta	32	10	8	14	45	47	27
Tarxien	32	11	3	18	45	54	27
Ħamrun	32	9	7	16	46	70	25
Mqabba	32	9	7	16	39	54	24
Marsaxlokk	32	5	2	26	34	88	8