NAXXAR LIONS-HIBERNIANS       0-2

Hibernians’ aura of invincibility is still alive.

Coach Nisevic’s side claimed their tenth league win in succession with some ease despite a stop-start performance that failed to maintain their early season sparkle.

Poor finishing meant the leaders Hibernians had to make heavier work of it than they should have done against an unimpressive Naxxar, but Hibernians were always the better side, with Clayton Failla and Andrew Cohen pulling the strings.

Their opponents yesterday, winless in their last three outings, were deprived of three key players, regular goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi, midfielder Albert Bruce and forward Daren Falzon, all suspended. David Reano, Uchinne Eminike and Pape Gueye were also released by the club and yesterday the Lions gave a debut start to new signing Jorge Silva, formerly of Tarxien, as Gilmar Ribeiro returned to the side after missing the previous match against Floriana.

Hibernians also had some regulars missing, with Rui Gomez on international duty, and Marcelo Dias and Johann Bezzina starting on the bench.

Naxxar did not sit back though and, though hardly creative, they tried to harass the leaders, determined to stand up to their opponents and show they were no soft touch.

The Naxxar goalkeeper Luke Pecorella  was a sizeable obstacle for the Hibernians’ attack, but he was not being afforded much protection from his defence. He and Clayton Failla were the main protagonists in an evenly balanced first half.

After 25 minutes, Hibernians were awarded a penalty when Edison was felled by Scicluna inside the Naxxar area. Pecorella distinguished himself with a one-handed save off Failla’s powerful shot from the spot.

Hardly three minutes later, Failla atoned for that miss. His firm direct free kick towards the top from some 25 metres out left the young goalkeeper hooked to his line. As Hibernians finally made the breakthrough. On 37 minutes, Failla again tested Pecorella with a close drive but the Naxxar shot-stopper was again up to task, saving into a corner.

Pecorella continued to steal the limelight for good and bad reasons as he lost possession when outside his area after the restart, but Edison’s effort at goal was saved by defender Scicluna before crossing the line.

Naxxar gave away too many free kicks outside their area, to Hibernians’ liking, although Failla failed to find the target with a couple of tries. Towards the hour, Cohen played an inviting pass to the wide Mbong, who was blocked by keeper Pecorella.

Within a minute, the Naxxar custodian failed to hold Kristensen’s low cross and Luis Edison was on hand to easily tap in his 20th league goal of the season.

With any inspiration or penetartion remaining elusive for Naxxar, Hibernians could play with greater freedom and authority, although they still squandered chances.

On 69 minutes, Cohen crossed from the left and the ball fell neatly to the unmolested Lima who contrived to loft the ball over the Naxxar goal.

 

But Hibernians were never in danger and, after effecting all their three substitutions, the Paolites could savour yet another victory that keeps them firmly top of the league and a cut above the rest.

BALZAN FC=FLORIANA-       3-2

Balzan won this battle of the surprise packages to hold on firmly to fourth place and  extend the sequence of five undefeated league matches, including a draw against Birkirkara.

Floriana were punished for their defensive frailties and fell flat early in the match, conceding two goals and having their striker Amadou Samb sent off by the half hour. Their revival in the second half never materialised.

Balzan were effervescent, disciplined and sharp for the first half hour, until Guobadia’s penalty miss seemed to dampen their spirits and they fizzled out in the second half, despite enjoying numerical superiority for a whole hour.

It was only in the late stages that Balzan scored their third goal, with Osa Guobadia the scorer, to atone for his first half miss.

Balzan were buoyed by the return of their creative player Edison Zarate and defender Clive Brincat, as well as their 5-0 win against Tarxien Rainbows the previous week.

The two changes for Floriana, also in some vein of good form after their win against Naxxar Lions, were starts to Neil Spiteri and Amadou Samb, replacing Conor Borg and Gary Muir.

Balzan made the more assertive start and were quick out of the blocks, hitting their opponents with two goals within the first 20 minutes.

The latecomers were still finding their seat when the Floriana keeper Gauci failed to hold Grioli’s cross from the right, when challenged by Micallef, and the ball fell invitingly to Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who fired in to put Balzan in front after three minutes.

Predictably Balzan began playing with more confidence and authority after that. The unsettled Floriana almost conceded another five minutes later when Grioli played a long ball forward for Piccioni to chase but shot over.

But there was denying Balzan after 17 minutes when awarded a penalty for Clyde Borg’s handling, on a Bezzina corner, inside the Floriana area. Gianmarco Piccioni doubled his side’s advantage with his spot kick.

Balzan should have wrapped up the match and made sure of the points before the half hour. They were awarded a second penalty as Bezzina, through inisde the Floriana area from the left, was tripped by Samb from behind. The Floriana forward was also sent off but, surprisingly, Guobadia stepped up to take the penalty but shot feebly and keeper Gauci held out his effort.

They paid for that failing though as Floriana, trying to regroup after Gary Muir’s introduction for Spiteri, pulled one back two minutes before the break. Steve Bonnici found space to head in Pisani’s deep cross from the left, beating the inoperative keeper Sultana from close range.

For all their disastrous first half, Floriana were still in contention in the second and despite their numerical disparity, they were finding more comfort on the ball, following Balzan’s too laid-back approach.

Balzan looked to have lost much of their initial gloss, giving away possession too cheaply,although Piccioni was thwarted by keeper Gauci’s smart save into a corner soon after the restart.

With Plut, largely anonymous, Floriana had neither the craft nor the pace to threaten as Balzan retreated deeper putting numbers behind the ball. The Greens badly needed a poacher to finish the job as they put in Giovanni Galea for defender Briffa.

Until four minutes from the end of this scrappy half, Balzan were still clinging to their slender lead but then they were showcasing their attacking qualitiies again. Following a series of headers inside the Floriana area on a Zarate corner, Osa Guobadia lobbed the ball beyond Guaci’s reach.

Floriana had some scant consolation in added time when Giovanni Galea finally found the target upon his second attempt, after keeper Sultana had only parried Plut’s long range drive.