Birkirkara 1

Hibernians 1

Birkirkara: S. Darmanin, L. Galea, R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, H. Doda, C. Nwoko, T. Paris (J. Galea), L. Dronca, Jean P. Mifsud Triganza, G. Mallia, A. Ciantar.

Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Pulis, A. Xuereb, R. Mintoff, E. Mbong, P. Pullicino, N. Chukunyere, A. Zahra (D. Camilleri), T. Scerri, R. Baldacchino (C. Nwankwo), A. Cohen.

Referee: A. Casha. Asst refs: P. Agius, J. Camilleri, 4th official: L. Sammut.

Scorers: A. Cohen, JP Mifsud Triganza.

Yellow cards: A. Xuereb, A. Ciantar, T. Scerri, N. Chukunyere,

Red card: S. Darmanin

Player of the match: W. Camenzuli.

TMI Top 3: 1. W. Camenzuli; 2. E. Mbong; 3. G. Mallia.

Hibernians failed to maintain the pace with Sliema and Valletta yesterday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a 10-man Birkirkara side.

In actual fact, the game appeared to have swung their way on 72 minutes and it was the usual Andrew Cohen who finally found the back of the Birkirkara net after a veritable assault which lasted the whole duration. That was because Birkirkara had goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin shown a red card after only six minutes after one of the assistants had noticed some infringement.

It was a big setback for the Stripes for whom young goalie Joshua Galea made his debut between the sticks, only because Justin Haber is also injured at present.

But despite having to absorb all that pressure from the Paolites, and even suffered the goal, they still had some energy left to hit back and force a draw through a Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza header.

In the circumstances, Hibernians left much to be desired as they found no solution to the massive rearguard provided by the Stripes.

Birkirkara fielded a heavily depleted side: so much, that they only had a bunch on untried youngsters on the substitutes’ bench apart from fielding Sammut and Paris in their starting line-up as well. They had Justin Haber, Etienne Barbara and Michael Galea out injured while Mark Anthony Bonnici and Patrick Monye were both serving a one-match suspension.

Birkirkara had an encouraging start and on the third minute, they almost opened the scoring. Doda received the ball in the area, turned round his opponent but saw his shot being palmed away by Muscat onto the upright, the ball rebounding out.

On six minutes we had a most controversial decision. Birkirkara had goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin being shown a red card for some unknown reason. Terence Scerri had anticipated the goalie on the edge of the box but his lob, though beating Darmanin went just wide of the upright. The assistant on the far side, Joe Camilleri, flagged for an infringement and Adrian Casha, who must have been closer to the action, went to get some consultation. The result was a red card for Darmanin. After several protests, the young Joshua Galea took his place after having substituted Paris.

For a few minutes tension escalated on the stands as the decision obviously did not go down well with the Stripes fans. But the police soon brought everything under their control.

Birkirkara appeared to be on the verge of collapse as in the next move, Scerri was unmarked in the area: his first shot was blocked by the goalie and his second attempt was cleared from over the line by Dronca.

Hibs now took over and Ckukunyere just missed the target on 21 minutes. Eight minutes later, it was Roderick Baldacchino who hit wide after being put through by Chukunyere.

On the 39th minute, Antoine Zahra lifted his effort well over the bar.

Till the interval, Birkirkara somehow or other managed to survive.

On the changeover, Birkirkara finally had an attempt on 55 minutes – a Mifsud Triganza effort which passed across goal.

Andrew Cohen responded with a good rising shot that went just over. Substitute Nwankwo had a header saved confidently by Galea.

On 63 minutes, a Camenzuli freekick had Muscat in difficulty, but the ball was cleared to corner.

Two minutes later, Mbong went past a couple of Birkirkara defenders, but his effort also went over.

The Paolites finally broke the deadlock on 72 minutes. Chukunyere crossed into the area. The ball seemed to have been missed by one and all. Not by the usual Cohen, however, who came in from the blind side to hit home from the angle.

Against all expectations, Birkirkara equalised on 84 minutes when Chucks Nwoko passed to Ciantar who crossed perfectly for Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza to head home past a bewildered Muscat.

It was a merited point for the fighting Birkirkara though it does not keep them close to the top.