HIBERNIANS-    3

ST ANDREWS -  1       

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

St Andrews: J. Galea, N. Belacevic, K. Kesinovic, E. Beltre’, M. Johnson, D. Camilleri, J. Farrugia, I. Paz (J. Walker), K. Nwoko, F. Udoh (R. Darmanin), A. Friggieri

Referee: P. Farrugia

Asst.refs: P. Abela, M. Borg

Additional asst.refs: F. Zammit, E. Grech

4th official: E. Spiteri

Scorers: B. Kristensen 14, N. Belacevic 18, J. Lima 28, Jorginho 69

Yellow cards: N. Belacevic, Jorginho

Player of the match: Jorginho (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Lima  2. Jorginho 3. I. Paz

Hibernians secured a 12th league title after beating St Andrews 3-1 yesterday, encouraged by a good number of supporters at Ta’ Qali National Stadium.

Balzan, who drew with Hamrun Spartans on Saturday, left the door ajar and the Paolites made sure to open up an unassailable four-point lead with one match remaining.

Hibernians needed this after defeat against Birkirkara. There had still been periods when the Saints’ players, fresh from a Valletta win the previous weekend, had threatened to wrest the initiative but the more clinical team would prevail.

Hibernians emphatically checked the recent hint of a stagger and rediscovered the relentless, ruthless form that earned them this season’s BoV Premeir League title.

Hibernians gave away an early lead, through Bjoirn Kristensen, too quickly, when caught unawares by Nenad Belacevic’s bombshell from a distance.

Any doubts that Hibernians would wilt were ruled out. This time they refocused quickly and energetically. Jackosn Lima’s long range drive restored their lead before the half was over and shook them awake once again.

The ensuring goal was scored by Jorginho 20 minutes from time and that was enough for the Paolites to seal the title in a hard fought season, with plenty of ups and downs.

Jackson Lima was outstanding for the newly crowned champions, striking delicious passes from deep when he was not trading challenges with Joseph Farrugia in midfield.

Hibernians had Rui Gomes back in their three-man defence for the first time this season after a long injury. Dias and Failla were the wing backs with Johann Bezzina starting in midfield.

That meant there was no place for Boljevic and Degabriele in their starting line-up.

St Andrews’ coach Danilo Doncic also tweaked his side. Forward Ziga Kastrevec was suspended and Che dropped. Michael Johnson and Kyrian Nwoko started instead.

Hibernians took less than a quarter hour to open the scoring. Bezzina had his effort blocked by the Saints’ defence, the ball rolled to Bjorn Kristensen who beat keeper Galea with a low drive from outside the area.

But Hibernians’ celebrations lasted only four minutes. Nenad Belacevic drilled a left-foot shot from 25 metres out that rendered keeper Hogg helpless.

Hibernians were not to be demoralised though. Midway through the half, Dias had his shot turned into a corner  by the Saints’ keeper in a raid down the right.

(Photos Domenic Aquilina)

The Paolites’ resolve in responding stood them in good stead as they regained the lead on 28 minutes. Keeper Galea was partially at fault when he failed to hold out Jackson Lima’s drive from outside the area and the ball ended over the line.

Ribeiro tried to emulate him two minutes later but his shot missed the target.

St Andrews threatened an equaliser on 36 minutes. On Farrugia’s long sailing free kick inside the Hibernians area, the ball was headed out by Kristensen and fell to Paz who shot over.

Hibernians remained the better team even in the second half and could have added further goals before the hour. Jorginho reached for the ball, on a Failla free kick from the left, before keeper Galea but his header went inches wide. Ribeiro headed another Failla free kick straight on the goalkeeper before being replaced by Degabriele.

Jorginho’s contribution, running the channels and unsettling defenders, needed a proper reward. That came on 69 minutes when he made progress through the middle and , with two St Andrews players chasing, he went inside the area

From that point there was an inevitability about the final result. Hibernians kept playing for time as the Saints looked resigned to defeat, reserving the afternoon for their opponents’ celebrations in front of an euphoric support.

GZIRA UNITED -  1

BIRKIRKARA -     1

 

Gzira U: J. Borg, J. Bondin, C. Gatt Baldacchino, A. Machedo Neto, I. Azzopardi (K. Pulo), I. Adeshina (A. White), J. Corbolan, M. Avila Perez, Z. Scerri, A. Cohen,G. Conti

Birkirkara: H. Bonello, E. Herrera (J. Brincat), C. Bubalovic, G. Sciberras (M. Desira Buttigieg), M. Andelkovic, R. Scicluna, J. Zerafa, V. Plut, P. Jovic, E. Agius (M. Guillaumier), G. Muir

Referee: T. Farrugia Cann

Asst.refs: P. Apap, R. Aquilina

Additional asst.refs: M. Spiteri, E. Mangion

4th official: D. Petrovic

Scorers: I. Adeshina 67, V. Plut 85

Yellow cards: P. Jovic, A. Cohen, C. Gatt Baldacchino, M. Andelkovic, K. Pulo

Player of the match: A. Cohen (Gzira U)

TMI top 3: 1. Z. Scerri  2. V. Plut  3. A. Cohen

Attendance: 1,940

 

 

Gzira disrupt Stripes’ momentum

 

SILVIO VELLA

Vito Plut saved Birkirkara from severe embarrassment with a late equalsier, earning his side a scarcely deserved point against gallant Gzira United who had taken a surprsie lead shortly after the hour..

This might not have represented the most difficult assignment remaining for Birkirkara in their pursuit for a place in European competition but it was a result underpinned by Gzira’s relentless energy and organisation.

Closing the Stripes down industriously, concentrating assiduously and winning their fair share of tackles, Darren Abdilla’s side ensured they finish a positive season with a bang.

For long stretches, Birkirkara carried their customary, incisive threat but their final delivery often undermined the quality of their approach work.

Gzira offered Birkirkara the space to dominate central midfield. Thanks largely to the prodigious work-rate of Zachary Scerri and Moises Avila Perez , however, the Stripes were unable to control the contest but still, as so often this season, Nikola Jaros’ team found a way with Plut’s equaliser.

They remain unbeaten in their last ten matches as they tie up with Valletta in third place.

Birkirkara had two key players suspended in the likes of Migiel Alba and Srdan Dimitrov. Gary Muir was given a rare start as right back, with Predrag Jovic replacing Vukanac at the back. Edmond Agius started in midfield instead of Matthew Guillaumier as Ryan Scicluna was also given the nod.

Gzira rested several players, following their draw against Floriana the previous week. Andre White, Souleyman Diamoutene, Karl Pulo and Carlos Reyna were all relegated to the bench as Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Ian Azzopardi and Antonio Neto returned in defence and Zachary Scerri and Andrew Cohen regained their places in midfield. Juan Corbolan was injured midway through the first half and had to be substituted.

As expected, Birkirkara made the more assertive start. Scicluna was the first to test the Gzira keeper Jurgenn Borg after four minutes. Jovic struck the post on the quarter hour.

A bright start suggested a captivating contest ahead. We were misled.

As Gzira disrupted their rhythm, the Stripes failed to be incisive enough in their build-ups, with Vito Plut very much starved of service for the opening 45 minutes.

Birkirkara threatened again three minutes before the break with an Agius fierce inswinging free kick from the left that keeper Borg did well to fist out.

Gzira also had their half chances in the first half, all coming from their pivot Cohen. On 23 minutes he picked Avila Perez’s pass but shot wide. The Gzira midfielder also placed his low free kick narrowly wide past the half hour and then his grounder from outside the area made light work for the Birkirkara custodian Bonello.

After receiving a hard knock, defender Azzopardi did not make it for the second half and was replaced by Pulo.

Only Birkirkara posed a genuine threat until the hour. On 54 minutes, a Muir low powerful free kick was ably turned into a corner by keeper Borg. On the hour, Plut advanced down the right flank, sent a cross towards the middle but Herrera was far from composed as he ran to connect to it.

 But as their frustrations were growing, Gzira produced the sucker punch on 67 minutes, even if there was an element of fortune about it. Scerri played the ball wide on the left to Reyna who crossed low for Inge Adeshina to squeeze the ball over the line with his outstrteched leg when challenged by Jovic.

With the side continuing to malfunction Birkirkara introduced James Brincat and Matthew Guillaumier as they probed for an equaliser. But Gzira looked menacing again on 73 minutes with a Reyna powerful shot that forced keeper Bonello into a difficut save, turning into a corner.

Gzira’s renewed optimism was cruelly punctured five minutes from time when Vito Plut unleashed a powerful shot from outside the area that beat keeper Borg for the only time in the match.

Birkirkara pressed further upfield, with Jovic joining in attack, in the final frentic minutes and keeper Borg again denied them with a good stop on a Bubalovic effort.