Hibernians 3
Balzan Y. 1
Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri, A. Pulis, D. Balbinot, E. Herrera, C. Failla, B. Kristensen, M. Dias (T. Caruana), A. Cohen, S. Pisani (P. Anizoba), L. Edison (J. Pearson)
Balzan Y: F. Tabone, J. Francica, C. Ciantar, R. Forace, Y. Camilleri, D. Grima, N. Tasic, P. Calcado, M. Ciantar (A. Agius), F. Bernardes (R. Farrugia), L. Micallef (B. Bondin)
Referee: A. Azzopardi
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, R. Vella
4th official: K. Azzopardi
Scorers: Y. Camilleri 16, L. Edison 35, C. Failla 65, A. Cohen 89
Yellow cards: B. Kristensen, M. Ciantar, J. Francica, B. Bondin
Red card: J. Francica
Player of the match: Adrian Pulis (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. A. Pulis 2. D. Grima 3. L. Edison
As expected, Hibernians beat Balzan Youths to go temporarily at the top of the standings, but the end result flatters them. The Paolites had to fight hard for this win and it was only in the second half that they showed some superiority to deserve the three points.
Against a defensive Balzan side, which perhaps played the best match of the season so far, they found it extremely difficult to penetrate, especially after Balzan took an early lead through Yessous Camilleri.
On the plus side, Balzan had Pedro Calcado back after suspension and were always dangerous with his free kicks. Hibernians could only equalise through an individual spectacular goal of their Brazilian Luis Edison, his fifth this season, and then won the game after resumption with two other goals, both resulting from set pieces, that derailed gallant Balzan.
Hibernians, who had defender Soares missing and Ryan Camilleri played in central defence alongside Balbinot, had more of possession in the early stages but remained mostly in second gear with slow and predictable build-ups.
Balzan defended in numbers and allowed their opponents little comfort on the ball. Tasic, Grima and Forace provided very good cover in front of the defence in Balzan’s 4-3-2-1 set up.
The Youths were bolstered by an early lead just past the quarter hour. They won a free kick for a foul committed by Kristensen in midfield. Defender Yessous Camilleri turned striker as he anticipated Muscat’s sortie to head in Calcado’s sailing kick.
Balzan remained much on the ball. On 23 minutes Grima won a good ball in midfield, ran down the right and crossed towards the middle but Micallef failed to put his head to the ball.
Hibernians meanwhile were allowed to shoot from a distance. Failla and Pisani both missed the target before on 34 minutes, from a Failla corner, Pisani ran into space but again shot wide.
One minute later, Pisani played the ball short from the edge of the area on the right to Luis Edison who beat keeper Tabone hands down with an exquisite shot at the top corner and equilibrium was restored.
Hibernians stepped up a gear in the second half and always looked the more likely to score. On Edison’s cross, Disa headed tamely in the keeper’s safe hands and then Cohen had his effort blocked.
The goal came on 65 minutes. Cohen’s free kick from the left fell to Pulis, whose effort was blocked, the ball ran loose in the path of Clayton Failla who drilled his shot in the roof of the net.
Balzan were rattled and could not summon enough effort to trouble the Paolites’ defence although they still harried their opponents with a couple of crosses. They looked menacing on 75 minutes with another Calcado free kick, tipped over the bar into a corner by keeper Muscat.
Balzan were undone with two minutes remaining. Their central defender and captain Jonathan Francica was sent off for a foul on Edison which earned him a second caution. From the edge of the area on the left, Andrew Cohen placed the ensuing free kick at the far end, out of the keeper’s reach to make sure of full points.