Matchday 14: Valletta 4 Hibernians 0
19/12/2022
Valletta were in fine form as they scored four goals in the second half to beat Hibernians 4-0.
The Citizens were clearly a better side right from the start but it was only during the second half that they finally managed to break the deadlock and from then onwards, they never looked back to register a most comfortable win.
Valletta are still in a lowly eighth place but these three points enable them to close in on the teams lying just ahead of them.
On the other hand, Hibernians missed the opportunity to move back in second place, remaining in third place, one point behind Gżira United and ten behind leaders Ħamrun Spartans.
Valletta held the initiative in the early stages, going close with a Kilian Bevis powerful drive, served by Paiber, on 12 minutes but Justin Haber turned the ball into a corner.
Two minutes later, a free-kick by Paiber was saved in two attempts by the Hibs goalkeeper.
Flavio Cheveresan missed a good opportunity for the Citizens on 32 minutes when he hesitated before trying to conclude off an inviting cross by Andrea Zammit and the ball being cleared into a corner.
One minute from the end of the first half, Bjorn Kristensen addressed the ball in the direction of Thaylor Aldama on the right but the latter left the ball for Jurgen Degabriele whose attempt at point blank was blocked into a corner by the Valletta goalkeeper.
Four minutes in the second half, Valletta managed to break the deadlock.
Shaun Dimech sent Cheveresan through on the right and the latter advanced into the area before rounding the goalkeeper and placing the ball at the back of the net.
The Citizens doubled the score on 61 minutes.
Brandon Paiber concluded a good move with an assist for Zammit on the right who slotted the ball past Haber with a diagonal shot.
Valletta were clearly in command and eight minutes from time, they sealed the issue with a third goal.
Ulrich N’Nomo Ngong intercepted a cross from the right by Ali Diakite and concluded a good run on the left flank with a low shot which saw the ball end in the bottom right corner.
Two minutes in added time, Valletta scored a fourth goal.
Brandon Paiber sent Kilian Bevis through on the right and the French forward rounded the goalkeeper to deposit the ball inside the empty net.
Source: Times of Malta
VALLETTA: A. Guarnone, E. Ruiz, J. Borg, A. Zammit (81 L. Cremona), S. Dimech (89 P. Ohaka), E. Pena Beltre, B. Paiber, U. N’Nom, J. Willy, F. Cheveresan, K. Bevis.
HIBERNIANS: J. Haber, K. Shaw, G. Llerena, T. Aldama, J. Grech, J. Morillas (84 G. Mensah), J. Degabriele, B. Kristensen (74 D. Vella), J. Zerafa (66 Z. Grech), A. Diakite, R. Soares(66 Y. Muritala).
Referee: G. Tonna
Yellow Cards: E. Pena Beltre, A. Zammit (V), J. Grech, Muritala, Z. Grech, Diakite (H).
Scorers: 49′ F. Cheveresan, 61′ A. Zammit, 82′ U. Nnomo, 90′ K. Bevis
Man of the Match: A. Zammit (V)
