Hibernians 1 Floriana 0
Hibernians’ narrow win against Floriana, with a solitary second half goal from their best playert Jackson Lima, must have come as a great relief for the Paola club and their coach Michael Woods.
If nothing else, the three points should soothe any lingering nerves as Hibernians cat5ch up with Mosta and Birkirkara, five points adrift of leaders Valletta
Both teams needed a win to move out of their present crisis of form and that lent the match a lively approach, especially in the first half. Hibernians needed to put themsleves back on track after four winless matches in which they obtained only one point against neighbours Tarxien Rainbows.
Likewise, Floriana have now lost four of their last five matches, with only a draw against Qormi to show.
Pressure is already mounting on Stephen Azzopoardi. Since joining the Greens as their new coach last month, the team has suffered defeats against Valletta, Tarxien Rainbows and Hibernians.
Floriana meanwhile were a reshuffled side yesterday. They have parted company with their three foreigners, Sunday Wasiu, Aaron Brown and Francis Jeffers, the latter after making only two league appearances. Besides, Owen Bugeja and Trevor Cilia were missing through injury.
Hibernians had Mario Muscat returning in goal, Adrian Pulis in defence and Anderson Ribeiro starting in attack instead of Jean Paul Farrugia.
They took the early initiative as Floriana stayed composed and crowded their midfield, with Paris and Brooke Farrugia providing a good filter between defence and attack.
Hibernians had already gone close with a dangerous Lima rising shot when Floriana were forced to substitute the injured Tremarco with Sascha Borg. But that changed littloe tactically. Towards the quarter hour, Paris played the ball forward to put Darmanin clear, but the Floriana forward hesitated too long and the chance went to waste.
Both goalkeepers were kept busy in a flowing first half, which lacked real excitement but produced plenty of action nonetheless. On 19 minutes Hibernians’ keeper Muscat was forced to stretch himself to hold out Alhino’s effort, destined towards the top corner.
Floriana’s reply from goalkeeper Warner came midway through the half as he tipped over the bar a Pulis high cross shot from the left.
Past the half hour, Muscat needed to stretch himself to turn Paris’ grounder into another corner. On the other end, Warner dived to his right to push Lima’s meaty free kick into a corner.
With halftime looming, Pulis played a low inviting pass to Lima to advance inside the Floriana area but was thwarted again by the English shot stopper.
Play became scrappy in the second period as the two sides kicked the ball from one side to the other with less purpose.
The stalemate was broken on 55 minutes. Jackson Lima reached before Tyrone Farrugia and Pisani to connect to Dias’ cross from the right and stooped low to head past keeper Warner.
Floriana tried to summon some effort but Verma’s intelligent distribution found little support. On 64 minutes, Paris raked a high ball inside the Hibernians’ area. Darmanin lofted it over.
Hell broke loose two minutes later, when the referee showed Alhinho a second yellow card, and automatic red, for a foul on Failla in half pitch. But Floriana protested strongly, contesting a case of the mistaken identity, with Paris insisting that he was the culprit as both players came in contact with their opponent. At one point, the referee also consulted his assistant but finally he stood firm in his decision.
With a man less, Floriana had little more to offer, even though they seemed to throw away the towel too early. Keeper Warner saved his side from further derision on 78 minutes, holding out Lima’s shot.
And as the adrenaline faded, Floriana knew that their time was up. Darmanin confirmed his off day as he missed the target with practically the final shot of the match.