Late penalty earns Hibs a 1-1 draw

Zoran Levnaic (right) blocking the way for Valletta’s Terence Scerri. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Hibernians 1
Valletta 1

Valletta’s desire to make a fresh start was abundantly evident yesterday as no fewer than eight of the 11 players on the Lilywhites’ starting grid did not form part of last season’s squad.

Only Jason Lee Vandelannoite, Ian Azzopardi and Dyson Falzon survived Mark Miller’s guillotine – albeit the national team players were not involved in this pre-season tournament opener.

The Valletta coach awarded starting roles to three foreigners – Italian goalkeeper Pietro Marino, midfielder Milos Stojanovic, who played for Nadur Youngsters last season, and Dutch striker Hendri Gommans.

The rest of the line-up was mainly made up of a clutch of home-grown talent, including promising duo Llwelyn Cremona and Siraj Arab, and others who returned from loans elsewhere, namely Kurt Magro, Yessous Camilleri and striker Terence Scerri.

Hibernians included regulars Luis Edison, Andrew Cohen and Bjorn Kristensen in the starting formation but their inability to put their opponents to the sword had them enduring a nervy finish and they only got the equaliser from a penalty.

New Hibs coach Branko Nisevic included Matthew Gauci and Steve Pisani, back in the Paolites’ fold after a loan spell with Qormi and Floriana respectively.

Valletta’s first foray inside the opponents’ half saw Scerri make headway on the left before whipping in a cross towards Stojanovic whose drive finished just wide.

Stojanovic was again in the thick of things when Valletta broke the stalemate on 31 minutes.

Dyson Falzon delivered a perfect ball to Stojanovic and he headed it into the path of Camilleri who flashed in from nowhere before guiding a looping header over Hibs goalkeeper Chris Cassar.

Moments later, Cassar had to arch backwards to tip Scerri’s header over the bar and avoid a second goal.

On the other end of the pitch, Marino’s top-drawer save to turn Cohen’s free-kick over the bar was met by a loud cheer from the City supporters.

Past the hour, a fluid move opened up Hibs. Gommans darted into the box and squared to Scerri who looked odds-on to score but Zoran Levnaic’s double-block denied the burly City forward.

Five minutes from time, Gom-mans did well to control the ball but his shot on the turn was palmed away by Cassar.

Valletta continued to dominate but were made to pay in the final minutes when substitute Miguel Attard hauled Obina Obiefule inside the box.

A penalty was given and Obiefule calmly stroke the ball low into the net for Hibs’ equaliser.

Hibernians: C. Cassar, M. Ta-bone, Z. Levnaic, A. Pulis (68 K. Tanti), S. Pisani (81 T. Tabone), B. Kristensen, M. Gauci (57 S. Chir-cop), B. Muscat (89 I. Briffa), N. Chetcuti, A. Cohen (65 O. Obie-fule), L. Edison.

Valletta: P. Marino, K. Magro (83 G. Cassar), Y. Camilleri, J. Vandelannoite, I. Azzopardi (46 Samir Arab), Siraj Arab (34 I. McCarthy), L. Cremona, M. Stojanovic, D. Falzon (76 M. Attard), T. Scerri (65 M. Thorne), H. Gommans.

Referee: Andrè Arciola.

Standings

Next fixtures
Friday: Hibernians vs Sliema.
Saturday: Birkirkara vs Valletta.
Tuesday: Sliema vs Valletta.
June 26: Birkirkara vs Hibernians.

Note: All matches will be played at the Centenary Stadium at 8pm.