Matchday 10: Valletta 0 Hibernians 2
09/12/2023
Hibernians scored a goal in each half through Ferdinando Apap and Giannis Bastianos to beat Valletta and return to winning ways.
The Paolites were at the back of a narrow defeat against Sliema Wanderers and have now moved to 16 points, in fifth position.
On the other hand, Valletta have now gone five matches without a victory as they remain on 10 points following their fourth defeat of the season.
Valletta’s coach Enzo Potenzia made two changes from last week’s defeat against rivals Floriana with Fernando Barrientos and Christian Gauci replacing Neil Micallef and Federico Vega.
Hibernians, on their part, also made two changes with coach Branko Nisevic welcoming back Eriks Santos and Luizinho Guedes in the starting line-up.
Valletta were looking to control the game through possession but it was Hibernians who threatened most with their fast positive transitions.
The Paolites had Alex Bruno and Jurgen Degabriele trying efforts from outside the penalty area but they could not beat Jake Galea.
Defender Ferdinando Apap came close to a wonder goal but his overhead kick went inches wide from Valletta’s goal.
Nonetheless, the Malta international was not to be denied moments later when he finished up a positive transition which he started after recovering the ball inside the defensive third.
Apap continued his run towards the box before being teed up by Robert Bairam and head home past Galea.
After the change of ends, Hibernians came out the strongest from the blocks with Degabriele having a shot sailing over the bar and Bastianos forcing Galea into action with a long-range save.
Nisevic’s side made their pressure count twenty minutes into second half when Alex Bruno hit a delightful curling finish to beat Galea.
Source: Times of Malta
Valletta: Jake Galea, Juan Bolanos Ramires, Enzo Ruiz (F. Vega), Fernando Omar Barrientos, Santiago Adrian Ferraris (D. Garba), Shaun Dimech (P. Ohaka), Christian Gauci, Federico Falcone, Brandon Paiber (A. Silas), Victor Luiz Prestes Filho, Jhonnattann Benites (D. Cardoso).
Hibernians: Ibrahim Kone, Ferdinando Apap, Kurt Shaw, Robert Bairam (Z. Grech), Jurgen Degabriele (A. Hovhannisyan), Bjorn Kristensen, Alex Bruno De Souza Silva (S. Okoh), Claudio Bonanni (G. Artiles), Giannis Bastianos, Eriks De Souza Santos Pereira, Guedes Luiz Henrique (R. Antwi).
Scorers: 47″ F. Apap, 65′ A. Bruno De Souza Silva (H)
Referee: I. Barbara
BOV player of the Match: A. Bruno (H)
