Valletta 3
Montebello 15; Da Silva Souza 50; Briffa 57;
Hibernians 2
Edison 76, 90 pen;

Valletta kept up their pursuit of leaders Birkirkara but how they were made to fight hard for the points.

A roar of relief leapt from the throats of the erstwhile buoyant City fans as referee Trustin Farrugia Cann’s final whistle confirmed a tight 3-2 victory over rivals Hibs in this lively contest.

Knowing that only a win would keep their title hopes alive, Valletta wilted under the pressure in the first half but Luke Montebello’s goal gave them something to cling on to.

For much of the opening period, Valletta appeared to have pressed the self-destruct button, looking out-of-sorts as the spirited Hibernians, spearheaded by the elusive Luis Edison ‘Tarabai’ and Jackson Lima, tore into their floundering opponents.

Only a couple of last-ditch interventions by the overworked City defenders and the woodwork kept Hibs at bay.

The half-time pause helped Valletta to refocus and two goals in 12 minutes looked to have ended the contest as the rejuvenated Whites surged three goals ahead but Hibs came back strongly.

With Edison on a one-man mission to torment the Valletta defenders, Hibs rallied.

Valletta made the cardinal mistake of shifting to cruise mode too early in the game and, as a result, lost their shape.

Their decline was punished by Hibs, or to be precise Edison, as the Brazilian struck a late double to conjure up a nervy finale. However, time ran out on the Paolites’ bid to salvage a draw as Valletta held on by the skin of their teeth.

Despite their fragmented showing, Valletta were justifiably delighted to come out of a potential banana skin with their title hopes still intact as their hard-earned victory moved them back to within two points of the champions with three games left.

Andre Paus’s decision to field the same team that started the 2-0 victory over Sliema Wanderers meant that returning midfielders Ryan Fenech, the team captain, and Edmond Agius had to settle for a place on the bench.

With Luke Dimech confirmed at centre-back and Steve Borg patrolling the right flank, Roderick Briffa stayed in central midfield alongside the industrious Irakli Maisuradze.

For the umpteenth time, Brazilian forward Denni was only conspicuous by his absence from the squad as Paus reaffirmed his confidence in Alan Da Silva Souza and Abdelkarim Nafti on the wings with young striker Montebello at the apex of City’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

The suspension of Jonathan Pearson impelled Hibs coach Branko Nisevic to make one change from the 2-2 draw with Mosta. Wing-back Clayton Failla, back in the starting formation, was deployed on the left as Ryan Camilleri moved back into the centre of defence. Nisevic opted for a two-pronged attack of Obinna Obiefule and Jean Paul Farrugia with Edison assigned probing duties behind the front duo.

Jackson Lima had a low shot saved by Nukri Revishvili after six minutes. Valletta’s Georgian goalkeeper made another routine save after Lima headed centrally from Failla’s cross.

After a somewhat indifferent start, Valletta began to assert themselves.

They didn’t have to take long to make a telling impact. The game was just over 14 minutes old when Da Silva Souza’s diagonal effort was deflected into the path of Montebello who was unmarked at the near post.

The young striker appeared to skew his first attempt but luckily for him the ball stayed at his feet and he duly dispatched it past Daniel Balzan, the Hibs goalkeeper.

The referee then waved away Valletta’s claims for a penalty when Montebello ended on the turf after being challenged by Timothy Tabone Desira.

Hibs were quick to serve up a reminder of their attacking threat as Lima darted forward through the middle before lofting the ball towards Edison whose well-struck volley grazed the top of the crossbar.

The game remained lively with the enterprising Hibs exuding defiance.

Danger loomed for the Paolites when Da Silva Souza, now tearing down the right wing, accelerated past Igor Radusinovic but the Brazilian spoiled the chance as his next touch sent the ball rolling into the hands of Balzan.

Da Silva Souza then served the marauding Borg but his ferocious strike was off target.

At the other end, Jonathan Caruana made a vital intervention as his timely tackle dispossessed Obiefule inside the six-yard box after good work by Edison.

Valletta grew increasingly erratic as the first half progressed. Ten minutes from half-time, Dimech hurled his body in the way of Edison’s shot.

Their collective loss of composure in the face of Hibs’ mounting pressure was inexplicable as most of the Valletta players looked out of their depth at this juncture.

Dimech came to their rescue when blocking Obiefule’s screamer and, moments later, the woodwork denied Hibs an equaliser.

Breaking clear on the counter, Edison showed excellent poise and footwork as he held off Maisuradze and Shaun Bajada before laying the ball for Farrugia who had burst into the box. The Malta U-21 forward unleashed a powerful drive that rattled the crossbar.

In a rare attack, Valletta threatened to extend their advantage as Da Silva Souza’s feints took him past Radusinovic but his cross-cum-shot was wayward.

Second best for most of the opening half, Valletta eased their fraying nerves with a second goal five minutes into the second half. Bajada played a big part as his measured cross from the left soared into the box and Da Silva Souza was on the spot to guide a first-effort into the far corner, to the unrestrained joy of the vocal City fans.

Balzan then prevented Valletta from adding to their lead when pushing away Nafti’s free-kick but on 57 minutes, the score became 3-0. Borg played an excellent through-ball to Briffa who surged into the box and flicked the ball past Balzan.

Hibs looked stunned but they should have resurrected their hopes when Failla’s cross landed at the feet of Farrugia who skied his shot.

Valletta were now in control but, despite their three-goal deficit, Hibs never surrendered.

They struggled initially to summon a reaction but, after Revishvili had saved Obiefule’s header, the Paolites pulled one back.

Edison charged into the box to reach Obiefule’s floated pass before lashing the ball over Revishvili and into the net.

Lateef Elford-Alliyu, who had replaced Nafti, almost restored Valletta’s three-goal cushion when he stole past Radusinovic but his shot was stopped by Balzan.

Agius, a late substitute for Da Silva Souza, did well to reach a cross in the box only to lift his shot over.

Hibs appealed for a penalty when Obiefule appeared to have been impeded by Maisuradze inside the box but the referee was unmoved.

Two minutes from time, the excellent Edison almost punished Valletta who had again failed to contain his run into the box but the Brazilian’s angled effort fizzed across the goalline and ended wide.

Hibs’ unflinching efforts yielded a stoppage-time penalty after Caruana was adjudged to have tripped substitute Jurgen Dega-briele in the box.

Edison made no mistake from the spot to set up a tense finale.

Valletta
N. Revishvili-6, J. Caruana-6.5, S. Borg-6, R. Briffa-6.5, L. Montebello-6.5 (64 R. Fenech-6), H. Barry-4, A. Da Silva Souza-6.5 (83 E. Agius), S. Bajada-6, I. Maisuradze-6.5, A. Nafti-5.5 (64 L. Elford-Alliyu-6), L. Dimech-7.

Hibernians
D. Balzan-5, T. Tabone Desira-5.5 (74 A. Cohen), I. Radusinovic-5, R. Camilleri-5, J. Lima-6.5, C. Failla-5, Z. Levnaic-6, B. Kristensen-5.5 (80 J. Bezzina), O. Obiefule-6.5, Luis Edison-8, J.P. Farrugia-5.5 (85 J. Degabriele).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Edison; Maisuradze; Revishvili.

BOV player of the match: Alan Da Silva Souza (Valletta).

Attendance: 2,325.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Birkirkara	29	23	3	3	66	22	44
Valletta	29	21	5	3	66	21	42
Hibernians	29	18	3	8	71	40	34
Mosta	29	14	5	10	55	51	28
Sliema	29	13	9	7	51	35	27
Balzan	29	9	4	16	31	50	17
Qormi	29	9	4	16	48	56	23
Naxxar Lions	29	10	6	13	37	51	23
Tarxien	29	8	6	15	40	50	22
Floriana	29	11	5	13	44	47	21
Vittoriosa	29	7	6	16	36	62	18
Rabat Ajax	29	1	4	24	20	80	4