Hibernians 1
Jorge 15;
Valletta 0

The excellent team spirit and one-for-all mentality that underpinned Hibs’ title success last season came to the fore in the second half of this combative match against Valletta.

Second best for most of the first half and trailing to Jorge’s fine strike, Valletta came roaring back after the change of ends. They drove forward relentlessly with Njongo Priso leading the charge but Hibs were unflappable, mounting a strong rearguard action to repel everything Valletta threw at them.

The sight of Brazilian Jackson Lima making two headed clearances reflected Hibs’ defensive resilience as the champions grounded out a 1-0 win to retain top spot.

While the champions again justified their status as title favourites, especially in the opening half when they outshone their rivals with their irrepressible attacking, Valletta’s second-half showing demonstrated that they are not far from Hibs.

The Citizens are still a works-in-progress and their first-half woes will have worried coach Paul Zammit who had also seen his team struggle to get going in the first 45 minutes of their 1-0 defeat to Balzan but the way Valletta came back at Hibs in the second will have heartened their fans who applauded the players off the pitch.

Hibs coach Branko Nisevic named a familiar formation with Brazilian duo Jorginho and Jorge spearheading their 3-4-1-2 set-up.

Valletta mirrored Hibs tactically as Zammit reverted to three at the back with the returning Romeu Romao operating behind Priso on the right with Llywelyn Cremona, preferred to Roderick Briffa, pushing up in support of Federico Falcone.  Jhonnattann missed out with a wrist injury.

The early exchanges were balanced but Hibs began to exert a modicum of control as the game drifted past the 10th minute mark.

Andrew Cohen tested waters with a sizzling drive from the distance that was touched away by Henry Bonello, yesterday facing the team he helped to win the title last season.

This came on 12 minutes. Hardly three minutes elapsed and Hibs put their noses in front.

The speed and power of Marcelo Dias were crucial as the Brazilian right-back roared forward before picking out Jorge, who had been left completely unchallenged. The next thing the ball was in the net as Jorge’s fulminating first-time drive left Bonello rooted to his spot.

Midway into the first half, Jorginho charged into the box but his shot was deflected away by Jonathan Caruana.

The onus was now on Valletta to press forward but they were finding it hard to make inroads into Hibs’ half as the defensive trio of Andrei Agius, Rodolfo Soares and Rui Da Gracia Gomes held things tight.

With Valletta down to 10 men as Caruana was receiving treatment after picking up a knock, Hibs threatened to increase their lead.

Dias found Failla inside the box, again on the right side of Valletta’s defence, but the Malta wing-back skewed his effort.

Caruana, who had prominent at the back for Valletta, came off on 32 minutes. The Malta defender was eventually replaced by Briffa who stationed himself in midfield as Zammit changed to 4-3-3.

Cremona, now operating on the right wing, had a shot saved by Rudy Briffa, the young Hibs goalkeeper.

At the other end, Bonello smothered away Bjorn Kristensen’s drive.

Hibs should have doubled their advantage five minutes from half-time as Jorge’s cross from the right soared towards Soares at the far post but his header came off the upright with the ball ricocheting off Bonello before going out.

The Valletta goalkeeper blocked Jorginho’s grounder as the champions, with Dias a dynamic figure on the right, stayed in command.

On the brink of half-time, Jackson Lima fired wide after robbing Ian Azzopardi of the ball.

Valletta were let off the hook five minutes into the second half as Cohen’s free-kick triggered a goalmouth melee but Soares hit wide.

Reprieved, the Citizens would have levelled but for a fine save from Briffa who leapt into the air to tip Briffa’s dipper over the bar.

The white-shirted players cranked up the pressure, Briffa rifling marginally wide from outside the box.

Zammit’s troops continued to swarm forward in search of an equaliser but Hibs were compact in defence.

In a rare counter-attack, Cohen freed Jorginho who blasted high. Jorge was closer, his volley, from Failla’s service, whistling past the near post.

With 20 minutes left, the Paolites had another great chance as Jorge and Jorginho combined to unlock the Valletta defence. As Jorge delivered a low ball into the six-yard box, Bonello rushed out to close down Jorginho but missed the ball only for Cremona to clear.

Abdelkarim Nafti came on for Bruce as Priso switched to the right wing. Nisevic also made his first change, Gilmar coming on for Cohen.

The Valletta players couldn’t believe their eyes when, six minutes from time, Nafti’s right-wing cross dropped kindly to Priso at the far post but the Cameroonian incredibly mishit his effort in front of a gaping goal. The danger was not over for Hibs as Falcone swooped but the Argentine’s effort was blocked.

It was all Valletta now. Romao’s cross eluded both Falcone and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, who had come on for Cremona.

That was that as Hibs held off Valletta’s frantic efforts to restore their two-point lead over Balzan.

Hibernians
R. Briffa-7, R. Da Gracia Gomes-7, J. Lima-6.5, R. Soares-6.5, M. Dias-7.5, A. Cohen-6 (78 Gilmar), B. Kristensen-6, C. Failla-6, A. Agius-7, Jorginho-6, Jorge-7 (86 J. Pearson).

Valletta
H. Bonello-6, J. Caruana-6.5 (36 R. Briffa-6.5), I. Azzopardi-6.5, R. Camilleri-6.5, J. Cruz Gill-7, A. Bruce-6 (72 A. Nafti-6), N. Priso-6.5, F. Falcone-5.5, L. Cremona-6 (80 J.P. Mifsud Triganza), C. Pani-6.5, R. Romao-5.5.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Dias; Pani; Jorge; Camilleri.

BOV player of the match: Marcelo Dias (Hibs).

Attendance: 2,127.

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