Day 25: Valletta 3 Hibernians 1 Published on: 16-04-2010
Premier League 2009/2010
Friday 16th April, 2010 - 20:00hrs - National Stadium.
Championship Pool
Championship Pool
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Valletta 3 |
Hibernians 1 |
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vs |  |
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VALLETTA F.C.
Andrew Hogg Steve Borg Kenneth Scicluna Terence Scerri Luke Dimech Jordi Cruyff Declan O'Brien (Kevin Sammut) Michael Mifsud Njongo Priso Roderick Briffa (Dylan Grima) Gilbert Agius (Dyson Falzon) |
HIBERNIANS
Mario Muscat Elton Crepaldi Morelato Yan Cauchi (Matthew Tabone) Andrew Cohen Triston Caruana (Jean Paul Farrugia) Ben Camilleri (Ndubisi Chukunyere) Edward Herrera Chris Camilleri Jonathan Caruana Aaron Xuereb Jonathan Pearson |
23' own goal Andrew Hogg (V)
32' Michael Mifsud (V)
72' Terence Scerri
74' Jordi Cruyff
Referee:
Kevin Azzopardi
Man of Match:
Njongo Priso (V)
Yellow cards:
D. O'Brien, N. Priso, G. Agius
Valletta hit back to keep title hopes alive
Valletta cut the gap on Birkirkara to four points this evening after coming from behind to beat outgoing champions Hibs 3-1 this evening.
Needing a win to keep their fading their title hopes alive, Valletta suffered a shock when their goalkeeper Andrew Hogg committed an own goal midway into the first half but the Citizens made a strong rally to overpower their battling opponents.
The early stages offered little goalmouth action. After 12 minutes, Hibs’ Edward Herrera hit a long-range shot that sailed wide of the far post.
Valletta midfielder Roderick Briffa then released Michael Mifsud with an excellent through-pass but the latter’s low effort was inches wide.
With Doding Priso using his speed and agility to good effect on the left wing, Valletta gained the upperhand.
On 19 minutes, Priso swept past Yan Cauchi and passed to Terrence Scerri whose weak flick was cleared away by the Hibs defence.
A minute later, Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper, denied Valletta with a point-blank save from Mifsud’s first-time effort.
Valletta found themselves 1-0 down in bizarre circumstances on 23 minutes.
There was no hint of danger for Hogg when Jordi Cruyff passed the ball back to the Valletta goalkeeper but the latter sent the ball curling into his own net after completely mishitting his pass towards Kenneth Scicluna.
In the final stages of the opening half, Muscat beat away a dangerous shot by Priso and Hogg fisted away a similar effort from Chris Camilleri.
Early in the second half, Hibs’ Yan Cauchi cleared Priso’s close-range attempt off the line after the Cameroonian winger had connected with Agius’s corner.
In an isolated raid, Cohen powered his way into the box but his cross-shot was repelled by Hogg.
Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper, frustrated Valletta again when pushing out Briffa’s screamer but 18 minutes from time, Valletta went ahead. Steve Borg’s powerful throw-in landed in the path of Scerri who controlled the ball before firing an excellent shot past Muscat.
Three minutes later, Valletta made it 3-1, Cruyff guiding the ball past Muscat from close in after getting on the end of a Briffa delivery.
Valletta’s Priso was named BOV player of the match.
Article by Kevin Azzopardi - Times of Malta
