The race for the remaining two Championship Pool spots has reached a decisive stage as three teams, Birkirkara, Hamrun Spartans and Hibernians, are involved in a tight scrap to avoid the dreaded Relegation Pool.
Valletta regained sole leadership after a close 2-1 win over Birkirkara on Monday night put them three points clear of their nearest rivals. Sliema Wanderers had temporarily joined the Citizens and Marsaxlokk at the top of the standings, on 32 points, with a 2-1 comeback win over Pietà Hotspurs on Saturday.
As things turned out, Birkirkara and Hamrun are only one point away from 'safety'.
The Stripes saw their three-match unbeaten run dented by Valletta. George Mallia deflected Heiner Backhaus's flick into his own goal on 58 minutes and the Citizens doubled the score with a Sebastian Monesterolo penalty later on.
Substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza's stoppage-time penalty was scant consolation for Birkirkara.
Also on Monday, Hamrun halted a three-match losing streak when they came from a goal down to beat Floriana 2-1. The Greens came into the match with their place in the Championship Pool already wrapped up following Hibs' surprising upset to Msida on Saturday.
The pressure was all on the Spartans who despite having six players missing through injury and suspension still did well to cancel out Yala Bolasie's opener with well-taken goals from Alfred Effiong and Roderick Fenech.
Marco Gerada's team are now sixth with 26 points, the same as Birkirkara, and will seal their place in the Championship Pool with a draw against direct rivals Hibs who are in danger of missing the cut for the first time since the format was introduced in 1999.
At Corradino, the Paolites produced the better fare but found a resolute Msida side, who had debutant keeper Matthew Camilleri in excellent form, in their way.
Priso Doding put Msida ahead on 81 minutes and Brazilian substitute Gilberto Dos Santos converted an 88th-minute penalty to leave Hibs in seventh place on 24 points.
If Birkirkara lose to Floriana next Friday and Hibs beat Hamrun on Monday, a decider (between Hamrun and Birkirkara) would be needed to determine the sixth team in the Championship Pool .
Premier League statistics
Birkirkara: M. Galea 4, Tabone 4 (1 pen.), Hartvig 4, Mifsud Triganza 4 (1 pen); Bajada 3; Sylla 2; Tamboulas, Yanchev, T. Paris, Fenech, Anastasi. Own goal: Rod. Fenech (vs Hamrun).
Floriana: Darmanin 8; Micallef 4; Bolasie 3, C. Caruana 3, Mifsud 3 (moved to Hibernians), Krsteski 3 (1 pen.); Brincat 2, Cilia 2, Cassar 2; M. Caruana, Sevasta, Levnaic. Red cards: M. Brincat (vs Mqabba); Krsteski (vs Sliema); Gauci (vs Hibs); Cassar (vs Mqabba); Bugeja (vs Marsaxlokk). Missed penalty: Mifsud (vs Msida).
Hamrun: Spiteri 7; Sultana 6 (2 pens), Effiong 6; Roderick Fenech 2, Ryan Fenech 2, Mangion 2; Briffa, Cucciardi. Own goals: Conceicao (vs Marsaxlokk); Scicluna (vs Valletta). Red cards: Ryan Fenech (vs Pietà); Timotic (vs Birkirkara); Briffa (vs Pietà).
Hibernians: Scerri 6; Cohen 5 (1 pen.); Agius 2, Alcorse 2 (moved to Marsaxlokk); Doffo, Edafe, Chukunyere, Failla, Mifsud. Own goal: Said (vs Sliema). Red cards: Failla (vs Floriana), Edafe (vs Floriana), Edafe (vs Marsaxlokk).
Marsaxlokk: Licari 7 (1 pen.); Barbara 6; Alcorse 4, Frendo 4; Sammut 3 (1 pen.); Gomes 2, Pace 2; Pullicino, Da Silva, Camenzuli, Templeman. Own goals: Borg (vs Msida); Agius (vs Floriana). Missed penalty: Gomes (vs Sliema). Red cards: Conceicao (vs Pietà); Alcorse (vs Sliema).
Mqabba: Pereira 6 (1 pen); Zarb 2, Silva 2 (2 pens); Gatt Baldacchino, Calleja, Nogueira. Red cards: Pereira (vs Birkirkara); M. Psaila (vs Birkirkara); P. Psaila (vs Pietà).
Msida SJ: Doding 8 (2 pens); Pedrinho 5; A. Farrugia 3; T. Farrugia 2, Borg 2; Baldacchino, Ogbonna, Magri, Gilberto dos Santos 1 (pen). Red cards: A. Farrugia (vs Birkirkara); Brincat (vs Hibs); Pedrinho (vs Mqabba); Spiteri (vs Marsaxlokk); Doding, Cachia, Grima (all vs Sliema); Bartolo (vs Valletta). Missed penalties: Doding (vs Hibs); Pedrinho (vs Marsaxlokk).
Pietà Hotspurs: Herrera 5, Deanov 5; Kondev 4 (3 pens); Q. Refalo 2, Deliminkov 2; Galabov, Goodlip, Pulo. Red cards: Aquilina (vs Valletta); Kondev (vs Marsaxlokk); Montfort (vs Msida); Q. Refalo (vs Hamrun). Missed penalties: Kondev (vs Msida), Herrera (vs Hibs).
Sliema: Barbara 6 (1 pen.); Woods 6 (3 pens), Madzar 4, Said 3; Anonam 2, Briffa 2; Milovanovic, Muscat, Bajada, Bartolo, Da Silva, Turner. Own goals: Bonnici (vs Mqabba); Sciberras (vs Pietà). Red cards: Bajada (vs Hamrun); Pace (vs Birkirkara); Da Silva (vs Marsaxlokk). Missed penalties: Woods (vs Birkirkara); Barbara (vs Floriana).
Valletta: Monesterolo 14 (3 pens); Zammit 8; Giglio 3 (1 pen.), Temile 3; Scicluna 2, Agius 2, Backhaus 2; Mattocks, Bondin, Mifsud, Camilleri. Own goal: Mallia (vs Birkirkara). Red cards: Zammit (vs Pietà); Mattocks (vs Mqabba); Monesterolo (vs Floriana); Bezzina (vs Hibs). Missed penalties: Monesterolo 2 (vs Pietà).
Next fixtures
Friday (National Stadium)
Floriana vs Birkirkara 18.00
Marsaxlokk vs Valletta 20.00
Monday (National Stadium)
Mqabba vs Msida 18.00
Hibernians vs Hamrun 20.00