Malta round-up: Valletta beat champions

Valletta FC stormed to the top of the Premier League table with an emphatic 5-2 win over champions Hibernians FC tonight.

Debono opener
Darren Debono's powerful header put the leaders ahead after nine minutes. Daniel Bogdanovic doubled the score line eleven minutes later with another headed goal and Chris Oretan's neat-headed flick put the result beyond doubt just before the interval.

Dominance reasserted
Three minutes into the second half, Hibernians' best player Nigerian Ndubisi Chuckunyere put the champions back in the game, but Bogdanovic hit another goal on 50 minutes to reassert Valletta's dominace. Chuckunyere was again on target three minutes later but Gilbert Agius sealed the issue with his fifth goal of the season.

Licari double
On Saturday, Pietà Hotspurs FC striker Malcolm Licari scored twice to seal a 2-0 win against Marsaxlokk FC, who are still looking for their first win in their debut Premier League season.
Late in the game Brandon Zammit of Marsaxlokk was dismissed for a second bookable offence, and Pietà's Daniel Cummings was also shown a red card for protesting against a decision.

Thrilling derby
Also on Saturday, Marsa FC got their season back on course with a thrilling 3-2 derby win over rivals Hamrun Spartans FC.
Minabo Asechemie put Marsa ahead after 30 minutes. Veteran Alan Mifsud doubled the score on the stroke of half-time with a low shot but two minutes after the restart Kevin Borg revived Hamrun's hopes with a powerful strike. Marsa soon extended their two-goal lead thanks to Kenneth Abela's flying header before Hamrun loyalist Stefan Sultana scored his side's second on 75 minutes to ensure a tense finale.

Mosta beaten
Edward Aquilina's Sliema Wanderers FC beat newcomers Mosta FC 4-0 in the first of the two Sunday games. Double strikes from Nenad Veselji and Danilo Doncic put Sliema briefly top of the table. In Sunday's other fixture Birkirkara FC relinquished their unbeaten record with a surprise 3-1 loss against Floriana FC.

Professional foul
The opening goal came when William Camenzuli felled Floriana striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza in the penalty area and Georgian striker Grigol Gvazava beat Justin Haber from the spot.
On 62 minutes Birkirkara's hopes of getting back in the game were dashed when Kenneth Scicluna was dismissed for a professional foul on Mifsud Triganza.

Consolation goal
Three minutes later Floriana doubled their lead when Jonathan Holland beat Haber with a low strike. Birkirkara scored a consolation goal two minutes into added time when Chucks Nwoko found Clint Micallef unmarked and he beat Matthew Camilleri in the Floriana goal.