Floriana 1
Hibernians 3
Hibernians won their third consecutive match, defeating ten-men Floriana, to win the Euro Cup with maximum points, beating all three opponents in the process. They again demonstrated their strength in depth, their good physical condition as well as technical superiority throughout.
Floriana, who had lost both their previous matches, started with yet a different line-up, excluding Ivan Woods, Francesco Guzman, Jermain Brincat, Ryan Darmanin and Christian Caruana from their starting eleven, as they keep tinkering with their team set-up.
They introduced three new Albanian players. The familiar centre back Bledjon Guga, formerly of Balzan, as well as defending midfielder Ermir Strati and forward Erlis Frasheri.
Ominously for them Hibernians again fielded a strong team, although Clayton Failla and Triston Caruana were relegated to the bench yesterday.
They immediately took a stranglehold on the proceedings and, for the first quarter hour, the match unfolded into a shooting practice, with Floriana keeper Jurgen Borg denying them time and time again.
He tipped over the bar Kristensen’s powerful drive after six minutes and then saved on a Farrugia effort.
When Dias ran clear on a Cohen long pass, the Floriana shot stopper just deflected his square pass to put Farrugia off balance but when the ball rolled back to Dias, Borg blocked into a corner. And from Lima’s flag kick, the keeper again saved Vandelannoite’s firm header.
But Hibernians were always the more likely to score. The goal came on 19 minutes, ironically after keeper Borg had turned Farrugia’s shot into a corner. But when he missed the flight of the ball on Lima’s ensuing flag kick, Adrian Pulis was on hand to knock the ball over the goal line.
Hibernians held the initiative, even after Kristensen had to substituted just past the half hour, as Floriana laboured to knit their passes together, despite Clyde Borg’s vertical distribution to forward Frasheri. Lima twice went close for Hibernians with a diagonal shot and a cross shot from the right that clipped the bar.
Cohen put his free kick just over on 38 minutes but the Paolites were unable to increase their lead before halftime.
Hibernians made a slight tactical change after the restart as they substituted Pulis with striker Ndekre, retreating Herrera to right back and shifting Camilleri to the left. Farrugia played deeper in midfield.
On 50 minutes, Floriana were awarded a direct free kick from the edge of the area on the right. Ermir Strati, who had gone close with his effort in the first half, this time did better, leaving keeper Muscat hooked to his line.
But only seven minutes later, Hibernians regained the lead. Vandelannoite fell under rge challenge of keeper Jurgen Borg inside the area, to win a penalty which Andrew Cohen tucked away, sending the keeper the opposite way.
On 65 minutes, a Lima grounder was held out by the outstretched keeper and on Dias cross, Farrugia headed wastefully over.
The match took a decisive twist on 67 minutes. Floriana’s defender Micallef fouled Dias just outside the area, as he ran towards goal, and was sent off. Jackson Lima shot the free kick low beyond the keeper’s reach to secure Hibernians the win.
Triston Caruana could also add a fourth goal in the dying minutes when he thumped his shot against the bar.
Floriana: J. Borg, D. Pisani, T. Farrugia, M. Micallef, B. Guga, E. Frasheri (M. Spiteri), B. Farrugia, Jos.Borg (R. Brightwell), S. Borg,C. Borg (J. Brincat), E. Strati
Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri, R. Soares, J. Vandelannoite, A. Pulis (E. Ndekre), B. Kristensen (T. Caruana), E. Herrera, J. Lima, J.P. Farrugia, A. Cohen, M. Dias (M. Tabone)
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, C. Francalanza
4th official: M. Spiteri
Scorers: A. Pulis 19, E. Strati 50, A. Cohen 58 pen, J. Lima 68
Yellow cards: J.P. Farrugia, J. Vandelannoite, J. Borg, R. Soares
Red card: M. Micallef
Attendance: 425
Final Standings
Hibernians 9pts; Valletta 6pts; and Birkirkara 3 pts; Floriana 0pts