Hibernians 1
Bezzina 86;
Valletta 4
Denni 35, 47; Zammit 38 pen; Barbosa 72 pen;
This clash of heavyweights took a while to ignite.
Under choking pressure to put their title defence back on track after winning only once in their last eight league matches, Valletta had struggled to show their best against an erstwhile disciplined Hibs side who went into the game with a two-point gap on their rivals at the top.
Despite having some key players not at the peak of their physical powers, Hibs gave as much as they got in a low-key opening but two quick Valletta goals in the space of three minutes turned the game on its heads as the champions seized the initiative thereafter.
Mark Miller’s troops, yesterday featuring three new recruits whose presence provided a reminder of Valletta’s resolve to reassert their status as title favourites, went on to add two more goals in the second half to add gloss on a solid all-round display.
Although Valletta have more work to do to recapture the form that made them irresistible in the early months of the campaign, Miller and all those of Valletta persuasion, can’t have failed to be heartened by the assured outings of newcomers Luke Dimech and Jason Lee Vandelannoite and a man-of-the-match showing from Denni who was the catalyst of this win.
The 4-1 scoreline was a tad harsh on Hibs who had made the brighter start but the concession of a soft goal plus two penalties, the second of which highly debatable, scuppered their hopes of hanging on to top spot as they are now one point behind Valletta.
As was to be expected, Miller awarded a debut to Dimech, Belgian defender Vandelannoite and Senegalese forward Demba Toure.
Miller kept faith with 4-2-3-1 but indulged in some positional tinkering. Ian Zammit, a target for Sliema Wanderers, was the central figure in Valletta’s advanced midfield trio alongside Denni and Ryan Fenech. Their duties were to probe for openings and provide support for Toure.
In central midfield, Vandelannoite, yesterday gunning against his former team-mates, flanked William Barbosa as Dimech partnered Jonathan Caruana at the heart of defence.
In goal, Yenz Cini deputised for Manuel Bartolo who began a two-match ban yesterday. Reuben Debono, Valletta’s goalkeeping coach, was coaxed out of retirement to provide cover for Cini.
Hibs coach Michael Woods will have been relieved to learn that key players Andrew Cohen and Clayton Failla had declared themselves fit to start after both were ranked doubtful because of flu.
The Paolites were further buoyed by the return of Bjorn Kristensen and Rodolfo Soares who missed the goalless draw with Birkirkara with suspension and injury respectively.
Brazilian forward Allan Kar-deck, preferred to fellow countryman Anderson Ribeiro, positioned himself in front of Hibs’ midfield quartet of Jean Paul Farrugia, Jackson Lima, Cohen and Failla.
As kick-off approached, the atmosphere in the stands livened up as the two sets of fans raised the decibel level.
The game was preceded by a poignant moment as Hibs captain Mario Muscat made his way into the section occupied by his team’s fans and placed a bouquet of flowers in memory of Juan Barbara, the teenager who died recently after losing his battle with cancer.
Muscat’s gesture was greeted with a deafening applause.
The first chance came Hibs’ way after eight minutes. Failla produced a floating pass to release Kardeck who ran behind the City defenders only to shoot over.
Hibs produced the more cohesive stuff in the early stages. Ian Azzopardi did well to anticipate Kardeck as the latter was shaping up to connect with Failla’s cross from the right.
On 17 minutes, Denni cut the ball back to Barbosa from a free-kick but the latter’s grounder was blocked by Ryan Camilleri.
The game entered a lull before Valletta fashioned a glimmer of a chance when Dimech’s header from Denni’s free-kick came off a defender.
The two teams matched each other in the opening half-hour but both struggled to make an impact in attack. Then, out of nothing, Valletta broke the stalemate.
Muscat looked to have intercepted Zammit’s cross from the right but dropped the ball as he landed on the turf. Denni was on hand to flick home.
Hardly three minutes passed when Hibs suffered another setback. They were caught on the wrong foot at the back as Valletta broke on the counter. Denni strode into the box before cutting past Soares who brought down the Valletta forward. Referee Adrian Azzopardi immediately pointed to the spot and Zammit kept a cool head to hammer past Muscat.
A series of unorthodox tackles threatened to send tempers flaring before Azzopardi stopped play and cautioned Fenech.
Any hopes Hibs might have had of launching a fightback all but ebbed away as, two minutes into the second half, Valletta went 3-0 up. Fenech was the provider as he centred for the unmarked Denni who poked home.
Three goals in arrears, Hibs found it difficult to mount a reaction. On the hour, Zoran Levnaic nodded Cohen’s corner into the centre and Kardeck’s overhead kick was belted away by the City defenders.
Valletta survived a scare when, in a prolonged action, Kardeck directed the ball past Cini and into the goalmouth but no Hibs player got a touch to the ball.
With 18 minutes remaining, the referee further incensed Hibs when he whistled a second penalty against them after ruling that Camilleri had barged into Zammit as the latter was chasing a loose ball. Barbosa made no mistake from the spot.
In next to no time, Valletta threatened again but Fenech’s dipping header from the edge of the box fell on the crossbar.
The Citizens, who also brought on talisman Gilbert Agius in the second half, switched to cruise control but four minutes from time Hibs scored a consolation goal. Johann Bezzina, on a substitute, pounced on a half-clearance and unleashed a rasping drive that soared past the motionless Cini.
Valletta might have restored their four-goal cushion, however, after Gabriel released Toure but the latter’s tame effort was stopped by Muscat.
On the stroke of time, Hibs were reduced to 10 men after Soares was dismissed for a second booking following a foul on Gabriel.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-5, R. Camilleri-6 (74 S. Pisani), R. Soares, B. Kristensen-5, Z. Levnaic-5, A. Cohen-5 (70 J. Bezzina-6), J. Lima-4, A. Kardeck-5, C. Failla-6.5, A. Pulis-5.5, J.P. Farrugia-5 (53 U. Nwoko-4).
Valletta
Y. Cini-6, J. Caruana-6, J. Vandelannoite-6.5, R. Fenech-7 (86 E. Agius), I. Azzo-pardi-7, R. Briffa-6.5, L. Dimech-7, Denni-8 (73 Gabriel), W. Barbosa-6.5, I. Zammit-6.5 (73 G. Agius), D. Toure-5.5.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Kristensen; Soares; Fenech; Kardeck; Denni; Dimech; Muscat.
Red card: Soares (H) 90.
BOV player of the match: Denni (Valletta).
Attendance: 2,054.