Valletta needed a late goal from defender Steve Borg to see off Mqabba on Sunday and retain their six-point lead over Hibs at the top.
Mqabba stunned the champions when new signing John Nwoba’s close-range header put them ahead after eight minutes. The Citizens had to wait until 10 minutes into the second half to level matters, Michael Mifsud hitting home from close in after substitute Alfred Effiong’s shot had been parried away by Kris Calleja.
An upset looked on the cards as the score was still 1-1 when the game entered its final stages but Borg showed composure by rifling a dipping shot past Calleja three minutes from the end to give the leaders a 2-1 win.
The Paolites had temporarily closed the gap to three points after a 2-1 win over neighbouring rivals Tarxien Rainbows.
Andrew Cohen and Peter Anizoba were on target in the opening 22 minutes to put Hibs on velvet but a string of saves from David Cassar kept Tarxien in the game.
The Rainbows pulled one back when Jimmy Mayasi scored from the penalty spot 13 minutes from time.
Floriana came through a difficult opening to defeat Qormi 2-1. Qormi looked well-placed to make it two wins in a row and bolster their Championship Pool bid after Abubakar Bello-Osagie fired them ahead after 14 minutes and Floriana defender Eric Akoto was dismissed nine minutes later.
But, Akoto’s sending-off turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Floriana who staged a bold reaction to turn the score in their favour with goals from Clyde Borg and Christian Caruana before the end of the first half.
The second half produced no goals and Qormi also finished the game with 10 men after Brazilian Jorginho was shown a straight red in stoppage time.
Sliema Wanderers missed the chance to all but seal their place in the top-six pool after going down 2-1 to Balzan Youths on Sunday.
Ryan Fenech opened the scoring for Sliema after 16 minutes but Pedrinho equalised for Balzan 10 minutes later.
Both teams were reduced to 10 men in the dying moments after Sliema winger Danail Mitev and Balzan defender Jonathan Francica were red-carded but it was the Youths who had the final say when Miguel Ciantar, a second-half substitute, punished his parent club with a late goal.
Balzan have now moved one point ahead of Qormi in sixth place and trail Sliema and Birkirkara by two points.
An early goal from Moises Avila-Perez proved crucial for Birkirkara who missed a hatful of scoring chances in a narrow 1-0 win over Marsaxlokk.
Further down the table, the clash between relegation strugglers Mosta and Ħamrun ended two-all.
Obinna Obiefule scored twice for Mosta who led 2-0 with only seven minutes left but Dene Shields’s penalty handed the Spartans a lifeline and Kevin Sammut’s volley rescued a point for Ħamrun.