HIBERNIANS –  3

BALZAN FC-        1      

Hibernians: A. Hogg, R. Soares (J. Bezzina), D. Boljevic, M. Dias, J. Lima, C. Failla, B. Kristensen, Jorginho (D. Vella), J. Degabriele (M. Jallow), G. Ribeiro, A. Agius

Balzan: I. Janjusevic, D. Grima, B. De Oliveira, B. Kaljevic, R. Fenech (L. Micallef), S. Bezzina, A. Souza (M. Lepovic), A. Effiong, E. Serrano, P. Fenech, M. Piciollo

Referee: A.M. Sant

Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, P. Apap

Additional asst.refs: M. Apap, P. Farrugia

4th official: W. Debattista

Scorers: C. Failla 35, A. Effiong 44, J. Bezzina 55, Jorginho 75

Yellow cards: B. De Oliveira, D. Grima, P. Fenech

Red card: B. Kaljevic

Player of the match: M. Dias (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Lima  2. M. Dias  3. B. De Oliveira

 

Hibernians showed all their intent yesterday as they beat direct challengers Balzan for the first time this season to consolidate their primacy in a crucial period and preserve a degree of intrigue in the title chase.

Balzan, untouchable for so long at the top and a side that had won 16 games already, with the best attack in the BoV Premier League, succumbed to their second consecutive defeat and, stay further adrift of the leaders.

First versus second at kick-off  always had the ingredients of an intriguing match but it was never a high-calibre contest.

Hibernians were much the sharper side. Always on the front foot, they exploited time and space on the ball, scoring three times to keep firmly in control.

Hibernians have now won four consecutive league fixtures and remain unbeaten in the last seven.

It proved a highly disappointing afternoon for Balzan, who started the match against the leaders with high hopes. They still looked good for their first half 1-1 draw, after falling behind, but their threat and concentration deteriorated after the interval as Hibernians delivered a lesson in ruthlessness.

The teams had the usual look about them in the starting line-ups. Balzan’s offensive plan had Alan Souza and Matteo Piciollo playing wide on the flanks. Alfred Effiong started in a central role behind their most advanced man Bojan Kaljevic. Paul and Ryan Fenech provided a barrier in front of the back four, composed of central defenders Bruno De Oliveira and Elkin Serrano, with Steve Bezzina and Dylan Grima the wide backs. Balzan had midfielder De Barros suspended.

Jorginho, Gilmar Ribeiro and Jurgen Degabriele formed Hibernians’ attacking trident, with Jackosn Lima and Bjorn Kristensen providing the central midfield partnership. Rodolfo Soares, Andrei Agius and Dejan Boljevic made up the Paolites’ three-man defence, with Marcelo Dias and Clayton Failla their wing backs on the right and left respectively.

Balzan were the ones to carry the first threat after six minutes. Souza broke from midfield and played the ball wide to Kaljevic who promptly shot from some distance, only missing the target by a few inches.

Hibernians’ response came four minutes later. A Ribeiro inswinging free kick from the left was fisted out by the Balzan keeper Janjusevic. Then, Failla ran in from the blind side to connect to Dias’ run and cross from the right but Grima was quick to block.

The Balzan right back was at pains to deal with Hibernians’ insidious attacking play on the flank and, when caught between Ribeiro and Failla on a Lima cross from the right, the ball bounced invitingly for Clayton Failla to hit in past the helpless keeper Janjusevic and put the leaders in front after 35 minutes.

Suitably stung, Balzan looked like wilting.

Four minutes later, Degabriele found space inside the Balzan area but was blocked by De Oliveira into a corner at the point of shooting.

Balzan’s competitive qualities earned them an equaliser on the stroke of halftime though. When Hibernians failed to clear their lines, following a Ryan Fenech corner from the left, Alfred Effiong, standing at the far post, headed in from close range.

Rodolfo Soares could not make the second half for Hibernians after some thigh problem when colliding with the Balzan keeper in the first half. Johan Bezzina was introduced in midfield, with Lima retreating further in defence.

Balzan were again on the backfoot after hardly ten minutes of the resumption. Degabriele, standing on the edge of the Balzan area, rolled the ball square to the unmarked Johann Bezzina who shot low past the outstretched keeper Janjusevic.

The game hurtled from one end to the other, but with less intensity, as Balzan probed for an equaliser but stayed cautious not to expose themselves at the back.

On the hour Piciollo chested Effiong’s cross but shot over.

On 74 minutes Balzan had strong claims for a penalty turned down by the referee as Paul Fenech fell when he came into contact with keeper Hogg inside the eight-yard box.

And hardly a minute later, Balzan were undone by another outbreak of sloppiness. Jorginho took the ball in his stride from 25 metres out, avoided Serrano and scored with a defiant strike to secure the points for the Paolites.

It was a deflating moment for Balzan, who vented their frustration when Kaljevic was shown a red card for arguing with the referee after the final whistle.

 

FLORIANA -        1

VALLETTA -         1        

Floriana: J. Haber, E. Ruiz, E. Pepe, A. Monticelli, S. Pisani, M. Fontanella, I. Varela, S. Nayar (C. Borg), A. Cini, R. Camenzuli, N. Chiesa

Valletta: D. Bartkus, J. Caruana, S. Borg, S. Malano, L. Montebello, J. Borg, C. Pani, U. Uchenna, L. Aguirre, V. Alihno, R. Romao (M. Mifsud)

Referee: G. Tonna

Asst.refs: L. Portelli, C. Francalanza

Additional asst.refs: M. Spiteri, M. Degabriele

4th official: P. Abela

Scorers: M. Mifsud 82, R. Camenzuli 86

Yellow cards: A. Monticelli, N. Chiesa (M. Grech), I. Varela, J. Haber, D. Bartkus, E. Pepe, S. Malano, R. Camenzuli, V. Alihno

Red card: J. Haber

Player of the match: V. Alihno (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. S. Malano  2. V. Alihno 3. R. Camenzuli

Attendance: 4,510

Floriana and Valletta played a 1-1 draw in this highly charged derby on an occasion when everything seemed amplified. A ground accustomed to housing its share of empty seats for league fixtures, welcomed the season’s highest attendance. By the time the game was over the decibal count had hightened appreciably and the evening felt electrified by a collective adrenaline surge.

It was no absorbing contest, although simmering with occasional tensions and passing reminders about the sporting enmity between the two sides, but the teams roused themselves for a grandstand finish.

Valletta had most of the game, certainly in terms of shots on goal and the territorial advantage, but Floriana were stubborn opponents who had their moments.

The goals took long in coming. Valletta thought they had won the game when they broke the deadlock through substitute Michael Mifsud with eight minutes of normal time remaining but Ryan Camenzuli equalised for the Greens four minutes later to share the derby spoils.

With Balzan losing against Hibernians earlier in the afternoon, a muted anticipation pervaded the Valletta support. A win would have taken them into second place, three points adrift of the leaders, whom they play in midweek. As it stands, Valletta now sit in sexcond place with Balzan, five points behind the Paolites with five matches to go.

Injuries and suspensions deprived Floriana of Scicluna, Jurgen Pisani, Vella and Samb. Enzo Ruiz returned in defence and Ignacio Varela in attack.

Because of the foreigners’ quota, Valletta coach Paul Zammit again opted to leave Massimiliano Velasco out of the squad, with Luke Montebello starting in attack. Defender Ryan Camilleri did not recover in time from a shoulder injury he suffered in the Malta international against Slovakia and Jean Borg played instead.

The champions had the edge in a barren first half, during which Floriana produced very little in terms of goal scoring opportunities. Before the quarter hour Camenzuli has stopped Malano from progressing through the middle and set Varela through but the Floriana forward put his effort narrowly wide.

Valletta threatened but without creating too much of clear-cut note. Towards the half hour, Aguirre’s cross shot from the left forced the Floriana keeper Haber to throw himself backwards and hold the ball out into a corner.

Valletta’s best chance came on 35 minutes. Aguirre broke from midfield, played the ball wide to Borg who crossed low for the advancing Malano whose effort was held out by Haber’s reflex save.

And an Alihno dipping shot from a distance landed on the roof of the net.

Floriana showed some improvement in the second half and Valletta were finding the going tough in central midfield, but Alihno and Malano kept showing industry in that sector. Uchenna looked subdued by his usual standards.

Past the hour, Nayar’s header was saved by Bartkus, in the first real test for the Valletta custodian.

On 68 minutes, Michael Mifsud was introduced for Romao and four minutes later Alihno advanced through the middle. His rising shot went over.

Uchenna stood in a promising position when connecting to Malano’s cross but he missed the target.

Valletta had needed a lift. They were the dominant team but it was still goalless and they were struggling to prise apart Floriana and create the moment for the knock-out blow.

But as the Valletta fans howled in frustration to their side’s profligacy, that came eight minutes from the end.

Michael Mifsud  ran inside the Floriana area from the right, avoided an opponent as he cut towards the middle to beat Haber with a low drive.

Valletta’s joy lasted only four minutes though as, rather abruptly, they lost their defensive confidence. Jean Borg was caught off balance when trying to stop the ball reaching Fontanella and the ball fell invitingly to Ryan Camenzuli who scored from close range.

Hell broke loose as Camenzuli pulled off his shirt in jubilation and was booked but keeper Haber was also shown a second yellow card and duly dismissed in the process. Strong protests from the Floriana bench followed and seven minutes of added time were assigned by the referee after play was restored, but that failed to change the end result.