Valletta 3
Jhonnattann 60; Borg 67; Nafti 71;
Hibernians 2
Jorginho 63; Caruana 80og;

Valletta provided a clear statement of intent on their title credentials this season when they had the better of champions Hibernians to head into the Christmas holidays three points clear at the top of the Premier League standings.

In the build-up to this top-of-the-table clash, City coach Paul Zammit had challenged his players to produce a strong performance and prove they had what it takes to mount a serious challenge for the major honour and snatch the title back from the Paolites.

And Zammit’s men certainly gave a positive response, producing an all-round collective effort which saw them edging the pre-match favourites in all departments on the pitch.

The injury to winger Marcelo Dias on 19 minutes left the Paolites weak on the flanks and Valletta duly profited.

Inspired by the surging runs of their Brazilian duo, Jhonnattann and Romeo Romau, they cut open the Hibs defence to score three goals in the space of 11 second-half minutes and secure their most important win so far this season.

Although these are still early days to talk about title-deciding outcomes, yesterday’s win will increase the belief in the Valletta camp by several notches. For sure, they will be among the leading candidates for the championship crown next May.

Jhonnattann was back in the fray as he recovered from a wrist injury to start ahead of Njongo Priso who was not included in the 18-man squad.

Branko Nisevic, the Hibs coach, had to rely on young keeper Rudy Briffa in the absence of Juergen Borg who was serving a one-match ban as Jonathan Pearson replaced Andrei Agius who was also suspended for this match.

Both sets of players seemed to be gripped with tension in the opening minutes with Dias and Claudio Pani, of Valletta, both going into the referee’s book after rash challenges on each other.

They were quickly followed by goalkeepers Briffa and Nicky Vella who were also booked for dissent as referee Fyodor Zammit struggled to keep order at first.

Hibs had the better start as on 12 minutes Jorge fed Jorginho whose shot was deviated just wide.

Valletta responded five minutes later when in a swift break, Abdelkarim Nafti fed Federico Falcone and the Argentine’s lob was pushed over by Briffa.

Hibs were forced to make their first change when Dias succumbed to an ankle injury. He was replaced by Joseph Mbong.

Valletta suffered the same fate a few minutes later as the reliable Pani also sustained an injury. Jean Borg replaced the Italian.

On 29 minutes, Falcone again came close when he hit a shot from the distance that finished just over.

A minute later there was a moment of hesitation in the Hibs defence when Briffa failed to hold Jhonnattann’s free-kick but Rui Da Gracia Gomes was alert to avert the danger before any City player could intervene.

The young Hibs goalkeeper made up for that error five minutes from the break when he dived full stretch to push away Jhonnattann’s inswinger from a free-kick.

At the other end, Vella needed two attempts to block Jorge’s shot.

In time added on Ryan Camilleri picked Nafti inside the penalty area but the Tunisian’s angled drive failed to reached the desired target.

Valletta seized the initiative on the restart.

Romau sped past Clayton Failla and delivered a dipping cross towards Jhonnattann whose volley was pushed away by Briffa.

Four minutes later, Romao was again the provider when his throughball found Falcone who anticipated Pearson but his shot was stopped by Briffa.

Hibs had a free-kick on 54 minutes. However, Da Gracia Gomes saw his effort finish just over.

At the other end, keeper Briffa was again alert to tip over Borg’s dipping shot.

Valletta were showing better ideas at this stage and on the hour they took the lead.

Jhonnattann ran towards the Hibs defence and fed Falcone whose shot was cut by a defender. The ball again fell to the Brazilian who hit a rasping drive that flew into the bottom corner of the net.

The City fans were in seventh heaven but Hibs equalised three minutes later.

Camilleri failed to cut Gilmar’s throughball towards Jorginho whose grounder rolled under the hands of the diving Vella and into the far corner of the net.

But the drama was not over yet as Valletta regained the lead on 66 minutes.

Jhonnattann’s corner was met by Borg who headed firmly home.

Borg’s goal galvanised the Citizens and a minute later they almost hit a third when Jhonnattann glided into the box and sent a low cross towards Falcone but Failla just managed to anticipate the Argentine and intercept the pass.

Hibs had their backs against the ropes and on 71 minutes they conceded again when Roderick Briffa picked Jhonnattann who beat Mbong’s challenge before releasing Nafti who slid his shot into Briffa’s net.

The champions looked jaded but they were back into the match ten minutes from time.

Jorge found space inside City’s penalty area and his intended cross from the right-hand side beat Vella following a deflection off defender Jonathan Caruana.

Tension was high and Valletta had a scare four minutes from time when Cohen’s delivery from a corner caused panic inside the box but Vella did well to save his fort.

Valletta
N. Vella-6, J. Caruana-6.5, R. Camilleri-6, J. Gill Cruz-7, R. Briffa-6.5, F. Falcone-6, C. Pani (25 J. Borg-7), U. Calistus-6.5, Jhonnattann-8 (85 N. Pulis), A. Nafti-6.5 (90 J.P. Mifsud Triganza), R. Romau-6.5.

Hibernians
R. Briffa-6, R. Da Gracia Gomes-6.5, J. Pearson-5, J. Lima-5.5 (86 J.P. Farrugia), M. Dias (19 J. Mbong-5.5), A. Cohen-5, B. Kristensen-5.5, C. Failla-5, Jorginho-6, Gilmar-5 (69 J. Degabriele-5), Jorge-6.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Dias, Pani, Vella, Rudy Briffa, Cohen, Camilleri, Rod. Briffa.

BOV player of the match: Jhonnattann (Valletta).

Attendance: 1,094.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Valletta	16	12	1	3	36	16	37
Hibernians	16	10	4	2	37	19	34
Birkirkara	16	9	5	2	35	16	32
Floriana	16	10	2	4	29	16	32
Tarxien	16	8	4	4	28	14	28
Balzan	16	8	3	5	24	19	27
Mosta	16	7	4	5	24	19	25
Sliema	16	6	3	7	22	25	21
Pembroke	16	5	3	8	22	27	18
Qormi	16	2	3	11	17	28	9
Naxxar Lions	16	2	2	12	14	47	8
St Andrew’s	16	0	0	16	7	49	0