Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1113313
33 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 MAY 2019 SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE for Valletta two minutes from half-time. Following a long ball forward, Nwoko headed the ball towards the Argentine who finished well wide from close range. Valletta missed another chance to score during the ad- ditional time prior to half-time. Santiago Malano's free-kick stamped off the wall. The ball filtered through for Nwoko who was stopped by Jovicic. Seconds later, Fontanella drilled a low shot that was well saved once more by Jovicic. Jovicic saved Hibernians again on the 54th minute. Alba de- livered the ball towards Bojan Kaljevic whose header from close range was tipped for a cor- ner by the twenty-four year old goalkeeper. Valletta finally equalised on the 59th minute. Alba's deliv- ery from a corner went into the path of Nwoko whose header was saved by Jovicic. Malano took the rebound, but was once more denied by Jovicic. Next it was Kaljevic who tried to score, but his header stamped off the upright. However, from the re- bound, Jonathan Caruana made sure to score as he placed the ball inside the net to the joy of Valletta's supporters. Gilbert Agius's men remained on the offensive and threatened Hibs again on the 71st minute. Substitute Bogdan Gavrila fired a powerful shot from distance that sailed marginally wide. Hibs were fortunate not to suffer a late goal on the 90th minute. Rowen Muscat's volley from distance nearly stunned Jovicic, but the latter managed to tip the ball behind him and thus the game went into the ex- tra time. Valletta's efforts paid off on the 98th minute. Fontanella re- ceived the ball from Nwoko and went past Marcio Barbosa Da Silveira before placing the ball past Jovicic. The Citizens kept on pushing forward and created another opportunity on the 105th min- ute. Gavrila's diagonal effort ended up centimetres off target. Hibernians had a rare chance on the 113th minute. Marcolino tried his luck from distance, but his effort ended up wide. However, Valletta were supe- rior. In fact, four minutes later, Nwoko went through past An- drei Agius, but failed to score from an angled position. Despite this, when everything seemed lost for Hibs, Marco Sahanek made himself a hero for the Paolites on the 118th minute. The forward received a through pass from Dunstan Vella before slotting the ball in- side the bottom corner. Valletta didn't have enough time to react as the score re- mained 2-2 and so a penalty shoot-out was needed to deter- mine the winners. During the penalty shoot-out, Valletta were more precise and scored all penalties. Alba, Ma- lano, Gavrila and Fontanella managed to score from the eleven metres mark. On the other hand, Grech and Fonseca scored for Hibs. However, Sa- hanek and Marcolino missed their penalties. Valletta starting line-up: Henry Bonello, Jonathan Caru- ana (Ryan Camilleri-77), Steve Borg, Santiago Malano, Kyrian Nwoko, Jean Borg, Enmy Pena Beltre, Rowen Muscat (Antonio Monticelli-96), Miguel Angel Alba, Bojan Kaljevic (Bogdan Gavrila-67), Mario Fontanella Hibernians starting line-up: Marko Jovicic, Nemanja Rado- jevic (Daneel Abela-117), Mar- cio Barbosa Da Silveira (Timo- thy Tabone Desira-100), Joseph Mbong, Jake Grech, Bjorn Kristensen (Dunstan Vella-68), Isaac Ntow, Taylon Marcolino, Marco Sahanek, Andrei Agius, Tiago Fonseca Referee: Malcolm Spiteri Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Duncan Sultana Fourth Official: Stefan Pace BOV Player of the Match: Taylon Marcolino (Hibs)