2008–09 Maltese Premier League

Maltese Premier League
Season 2008–09
Champions Hibernians
10th Premier League title
Relegated Marsaxlokk
Champions League Hibernians
Europa League Valletta
Birkirkara
Goals scored 387
Average goals/game 2.93
Top goalscorer Malta Terence Scerri (26)

The Maltese Premier League 2008–09 was the 94th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football in Malta. It began on 23 August 2008 with a scoreless draw between Floriana and Hamrun Spartans and ended on 24 May 2009. The first goal in the season was scored by Ivan, who plays for Qormi. Hibernians were crowned champions on the 23 May 2009, winning their 10th title, surpassing rivals Valletta by two points.

Changes from 2007–08

Competition modus

In the First Round, every team played each opponent twice, once home and once away, for a total of 18 games. The league was then split in two pools. Earned points were halved. Teams that finished in positions 1–6 compete in the "Championship Pool" and teams finishing in positions 7–10 play in the "Relegation Pool".

First round

Standings

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
1 Hibernians 18 13 2 3 49 19+30 41
2 Valletta 18 11 7 0 31 11+20 40
3 Birkirkara 18 9 5 4 31 28+3 32
4 Sliema Wanderers 18 7 5 6 24 240 26
5 Floriana 18 6 4 8 18 21−3 22
6 Marsaxlokk 18 6 4 8 28 33−5 22
7 Msida Saint-Joseph 18 6 3 9 20 28−8 21
8 Hamrun Spartans 18 5 2 11 24 37−13 17
9 Qormi 18 3 6 9 16 26−10 15
10 Tarxien Rainbows 18 4 2 12 22 36−14 14

Source: kicker.de (in German)
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Note: Teams ranked 1 through 6 qualified for the championship pool, teams ranked 7 through 10 play in the relegation pool. Earned points were halved and taken over to the respective pools.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Results

Home ╲ Away BIR FLO HIBHAMMRSMSJQORSLITARVAL
Birkirkara 0–1 0–6 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 4–2 1–0 2–2
Floriana 1–2 2–1 0–0 3–1 0–1 0–22 0–0 3–1 0–1
Hibernians 3–2 1–1 1–0 4–1 5–1 3–0 2–3 2–0 1–1
Hamrun Spartans 0–1 0–1 1–4 4–3 1–0 3–2 0–2 0–4 1–3
Marsaxlokk 1–1 2–1 2–3 4–2 2–1 1–1 1–2 2–1 0–1
Msida Saint-Joseph 2–2 4–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–0 0–2
Qormi 0–1 0–0 1–3 1–4 1–3 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–2
Sliema Wanderers 2–3 0–3 0–1 0–3 0–0 2–1 1–1 4–2 1–1
Tarxien Rainbows 1–3 3–0 2–7 1–1 3–1 0–2 0–3 1–0 1–3
Valletta 1–1 2–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 2–2

Source: kicker.de (in German)
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
2The match from 25 January 2009 was awarded to Qormi with a score of 2–0 because Floriana fielded an ineligible player.[1]
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second round

Championship Pool

Standings

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
Qualification or relegation
1 Hibernians (C) 28 19 5 4 73 25+48 42 2009–10 UEFA Champions League First qualifying round
2 Valletta 28 17 9 2 50 18+32 40 2009–10 UEFA Europa League First qualifying round
3 Birkirkara 28 12 7 9 43 45−2 27
4 Marsaxlokk (R) 28 10 6 12 46 52−6 25 Relegation to Maltese First Division 2
5 Sliema Wanderers 28 10 8 10 33 41−8 25 2009–10 UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round 1
6 Floriana 28 7 6 15 25 44−19 16

Source: maltafootball.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Points earned in the first round have been halved.
1Sliema Wanderers won the Maltese Cup 2008–09 and thereby qualified for the second qualifying round of UEFA Europa League.
2Marsaxlokk were relegated to the First Division for the 2009-10 season due to their involvement in a bribery scandal.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Results

Home ╲ Away BIR FLO HIBMRSSLIVAL
Birkirkara 3–1 0–4 1–2 0–0 3–1
Floriana 0–2 0–2 2–1 1–1 0–2
Hibernians 2–0 4–1 2–2 0–0 0–0
Marsaxlokk 2–2 5–2 1–4 0–3 0–1
Sliema Wanderers 1–0 3–0 0–5 1–3 0–3
Valletta 4–1 0–0 2–1 1–2 5–0

Source: maltafootball.com
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation Pool

Standings

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
Qualification or relegation
7 Qormi 24 7 6 11 30 31−1 20
8 Tarxien Rainbows 24 6 5 13 32 44−12 016DG
9 Msida Saint-Joseph 24 7 5 12 25 40−15 016DG,1
10 Hamrun Spartans 24 7 3 14 31 48−17 0161

Source: maltafootball.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Points earned in the first round have been halved.
1While Msida Saint-Joseph and Hamrun Spartans were relegated, they were returned to the Premier League in the wake of corruption scandals involving Vittoriosa Stars and Marsaxlokk.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Results

Home ╲ Away HAM MSJ QORTAR
Hamrun Spartans 3–0 0–2 1–1
Msida Saint-Joseph 2–0 0–5 2–2
Qormi 1–2 2–1 1–2
Tarxien Rainbows 5–1 0–0 0–3

Source: maltafootball.com
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Deciding game

Because Tarxien Rainbows, Msida Saint-Joseph and Hamrun Spartans were tied on points after all matches played, their head-to head results in Relegation Pool were decisive. Hamrun Spartans had the least points in those matches and were therefore immediately relegated. However, Tarxien Rainbows and Msida Saint-Joseph were equal on points in their two matches and they played a decision game to determine the second relegated team. The match was played on 8 May 2009 at Hibernians Ground. However, in the wake of a corruption scandal, both Hamrun Spartans and Msida Saint-Joseph were returned to the Premier League.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Msida Saint-Joseph 1–1 (aet, p. 4–5) Tarxien Rainbows

Top goalscorers

Source: maltafootball.com

Scorer Club Goals
Bulgaria Stilyan Petrov Hibernians 26
Bulgaria Stilyan Petrov Tarxien Rainbows 23
Bulgaria Stilyan Petrov Marsaxlokk 17
Cameroon Njongo Priso Valletta 15
Brazil Pedro dos Santos Calçado Msida Saint-Joseph 13
Nigeria Alfred Effiong Qormi 12
Brazil Marcelo Pereira Marsaxlokk 11
Malta Andrew Cohen Hibernians 9
Netherlands Sylvano Comvalius Hamrun Spartans 9
Malta Ivan Woods Sliema Wanderers 9
Goals total 387
Matches total 132
Average per match 2.93

References

  1. ↑ Qormi FC protest is upheld
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