Watch: Live blog – Hibs through but Sirens and Valletta crash out

The Europa League first qualifying round is played this evening and Malta is being represented by Sirens, Hibernians and Valletta. The Times of Malta will keep you up-to-date with all that is happening in the matches of Sirens against CSKA Sofia as well as Hibernians trip to FC Vaduz which kick off at 7pm.

We will also give extensive coverage to Valletta’s match against Bala Town at the Centenary Stadium. So stay with us to follow the journey of our representatives in Europe…

9.53pm Full time. Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Valletta’s European adventure ends here as Bala Town hold on for a historic win as it is the first time that the Welsh side qualified to the second qualifying round of the Europa League.

9.51pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Valletta throw caution to the win as six minutes of stoppage time are being played but they are looking too confused with Bala Town easily defending their fort.

9.46pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. One minute to go… time is running out for Valletta. Marukawa storms again in the area and his cross-shot is not touched home by Taylon from close in.

9.41pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. There is a stoppage in play as assistant referee Gian Marco Ercolani is receiving treatment to his calf which means more stoppage time for Valletta to get an equaliser.

9.35pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Valletta continue dominate proceedings but they are struggling to find any openings as Bala Town goalkeeper Alex Ramsay looks unbeatable.

9.29pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Eighteen minutes left for Valletta’s hopes to at least force extra-time. Valletta have not looked at their best but they need a goal if they are to extend their European adventure this season.

9.24pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Valletta are now growing frustrated with Taisei Marukawa replacing Shaun Dimech as the Citizens looked to add more speed to their attacking moves.

It was tough, but we did what we needed to do.Into the 2nd Qualifying Round we go! 👏👏👏

Geplaatst door Hibernians F.C. op Donderdag 27 augustus 2020

9.18pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. PENALTY MISSED… Mario Fontanella misses a great chance as his shot is saved by Alex Ramsay.

9.16pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Taylon comes on and wins penalty. The Brazilian had just replaced Matteo Piciollo and is upended by Antony Kay.

9.14pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Valletta protest for a penalty when Picciolo’s shot may have hit the arm of William Evans but the referee waved play on.

9.11pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Valletta continue to struggle to create chances as Bala Town continue to close all the spaces in their half.

9.08pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Penalty appeal… Bala Town protest for a penalty when Correia goes down in the area but referee waves play on.

9.06pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Bala Town again come out strongly in the second half and on 47 minutes Antony Kay dispossesses Jovanovic and storms into the area. He sends a low cross but Rowen Muscat was on hand to clear to a corner.

8.59pm Full time in Liechtenstein as Hibernians advance into the second qualifying round following their 2-0 win over Vaduz.

8.58pm Full time in Sofia. Sirens lose 2-1 to CSKA at the death to end their commitments in the Europa League.

8.53pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 2-1. Sowe puts his team ahead after beating tough pressure inside the box and his resultant shot is too powerful for Cassar to keep out.

8.50pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 2-1. Heartbreak for Sirens as CSKA score winner.

8.49pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Half-time Valletta trail at the break and will Jesmond Zerafa turn to his bench in a bid to turn this match around.

8.48pm FC Vaduz vs Hibernians 0-2. Huge chance for Hibs to kill the game off. Shola Shodiya squandered a great chance to make it 3-0, as he struck the post from inside the penalty area before Jurgen Degabriele’s rebound, sailed over the bar.

8.45pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Two minutes of stoppage time will be given as the Citizens continue their search for an equaliser.

8.42pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1. Valletta respond immediately when from an Alba corner kick, Jonathan Caruana sees his header finish just wide.

8.38pm BALA TOWN SCORE Valletta vs Bala Town 0-1… Steven Leslie sends a fine cross inside the area and skipper Chris Venables takes advantage of City’s slow-moving defence to fire home.

8.35pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 1-1. Sirens’ lead lasts just a few minutes as CSKA Sofia fight back to draw level. Ahmedov rifles the ball home with a first-time volley into the net with just over ten minutes left.

8.29pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-1. Sirens score their first Europa League goal in their history as Maxuel makes up for his missed penalty. Could this be an historic night for Sirens?

A swift counter attack kickstarted by Wilfried Demoraud leads to Maxuell firing from distance and into the net.

8.28pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-1. GOALLLL MAXUELL STRIKES

8.25pm FC Vaduz vs Hibernians 0-2. Red card for Hibs as Bjorn Kristensen picks a second booking. Minutes before Shola Shodiya almost wrapped up the match but his long-range shot finishes just over.

8.22pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-0. Valletta starting to assert their authority and on 19 minutes Miguel Alba picks Shaun Dimech on the edge of the area but the young midfielder’s shot is blocked by a defender.

8.20pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-0. CSKA’s Sowe skies a shot from inside the box after pressure from Sirens defender Raphael Dos Anjos.

8.18pm FC Vaduz vs Hibernians 0-2. Jurgen Degabriele played a wall pass with Gabriel Artiles with the Maltese forward nodding the ball in between the legs of the Vaduz goalkeeper and straight into an empty net to double the Paolites’ lead.

8.15pm FC Vaduz vs Hibernians 0-2. Jurgen Degabriele strikes again to put the Paolites in dreamland.

8.11pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-0. The visitors respond on eight minutes when Raul Correia makes space for himself but fires wide.

8.09pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-0. MISSED… Maxuell sees his shot saved by the CSKA Sofia goalkeeper. What a huge chance for Sirens…

8.07pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-0. PENALTY SIRENS. Maxuell is fouled inside the area by Mattheij and the referee points to the spot.

8.05pm Valletta vs Bala Town 0-0. Bright start for Valletta when after three minutes Matteo Piciollo shoots just over.

8.00pm Valletta vs Bala Town kick off…

7.57pm Kick-off is approaching for the match between Valletta and Bala Town at the Centenary Stadium. The Lilywhites are favourites but coach Jesmond Zerafa was still very cautious in the pre-match press conference.

7.50pm FC Vaduz vs Hibs 0-1. The half-time whistle goes also in Liechtenstein as Hibernians go into the break a goal to the good thanks to Jurgen Degabriele’s half volley.

7.48pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-0. Sirens goalkeeper Cassar dives to his side’s rescue after a backheel from Amos Youga goes directly towards the bottom corner. And that is that as the half-time whistle arrives with both teams heading into the break level.

7.47pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-0. Three minutes of stoppage time in Sofia can Sirens go at the break on level terms?

7.44pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-0. Yellow card… Ryan Scicluna is slapped with the first yellow card of the match for dissent after he concedes a foul. CSKA Sofia are piling up the pressure but Sirens have managed to hold firm so far.

7.36pm FC Vaduz vs Hibs 0-1. Swift reply from FC Vaduz as on 35 minutes Wieser’s shot finished inches wide from Calleja Cremona’s goal.

7.35pm FC Vaduz vs Hibs 0-1. 35 minutes on the clock and Jurgen Degabriele is Hibernians’ hero as the young forward sees his deflected shot finish into the back of the net… Massive goal.

7.30pm FC Vaduz vs Hibs 0-1. GOAAALLLL HIBS

7.25pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-0. INJURY BLOW FOR SIRENS… 28 minutes gone and Sirens wing back Romeu Romao is struggling to recover after a hit to the shoulder. Medics are signalling for a replacement and here he comes Jacob Walker to replace the Brazilian.

7.25pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-0. CLOSE… CSKA’s first real opportunity as Ali Sowe is left unmarked inside the area but his shot is saved by Sirens goalkeeper David Cassar.

7.22pm Valletta vs Bala Town We have some team news from Valletta FC for tonight’s match as coach Jesmond Zerafa has handed a debut to Serbian defender Mihailo Jovanoviv at the heart of the defence while new signings Taisei Marukawa and Taylon Nicolas start on the bench.

7.21pm FC Vaduz vs Hibs 0-0. The home side are starting to assert more authority on the match and on the ninth minute Wieser shoots from the distance but there was no trouble for Hibs goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona.

7.19pm CSKA Sofia vs Sirens 0-0. Close Another good chance for Sirens on nine minutes when CSKA Sofia’s defenders fail to clear the ball but Sirens forward Wellington miskicks his shot and the chance goes abegging.

7.16pm FC Vaduz vs Hibs 0-0. There has been a quiet start to the match between Hibs and FC Vaduz with scoring chances few and far between with the only attempt towards goal coming from Jake Grech that finished well side.

7.10pm CSKA SOFIA vs SIRENS CLOSE… Sirens were inches away from a dream start on their European debut. After only two minutes of play Maxuel Maia Da Silva forces his way past two defenders but shoots straight into the hands of CSKA Sofia goalkeeper Busatto.

7.07pm Stefano Sanderra, the Hibernians coach, has named new signings Leandro Almeida, Shola Shodiya and Jose Wilkson in his starting XI against FC Vaduz.

𝔼𝕌ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔸 𝕃𝔼𝔸𝔾𝕌𝔼 𝔽𝕀ℝ𝕊𝕋 ℚ𝕌𝔸𝕃𝕀𝔽𝕐𝕀ℕ𝔾 ℝ𝕆𝕌ℕ𝔻𝐅𝐂 𝐕𝐀𝐃𝐔𝐙 🆚 𝐇𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐂📋 The team news is in! Here's how we will line up this…

Geplaatst door Hibernians F.C. op Donderdag 27 augustus 2020

7.05pm Sirens coach Steve D’Amato has fielded his strongest team as he handed a debut to a host of new signings with Wilfried Domoraud, Maxuell and Samba Tounkara forming their three-pronged attack.

Veteran striker Michael Mifsud starts on the bench.

7pm Both matches involving Sirens and Hibernians have just kicked off and we will immediately give you some team news.

6.50pm Good evening everyone and welcome to our transfer blog. We will kick off our live blog with details from the opening two matches between CSKA Sofia and Sirens and FC Vaduz vs Hibernians.