Football – Bank of Valletta Premier League
Hibernians: M. Muscat, P. Pullicino, K. Spiteri, A. Pulis, A. Xuereb, E. Mbong, T. Scerri (E. Agius), A. Cohen, D. Camilleri, H. Doda (J. Vella), C. Failla (R. Baldacchino).
Birkirkara: B. Paris, L. Galea (M. Calascione), P. Monye, W. Camenzuli, E. Barbara (C. Nwoko), M. Galea, A. Zahra, J. Holland (JP Mifsud Triganza), K. Scicluna, R. Briffa, G. Mallia.
Referee: Joe Attard. Asst refs: N. Debattista, J. Rapa, 4th official: C. Pisani.
Scorers: E. Mbong 2, D. Camilleri 3, M. Calascione, JP Mifsud Triganza.
Yellow cards: P. Monye, J. Holland, M. Galea,
Player of the Match: Essiem Mbong.
TMI Top 3: 1. E. Mbong; 2. D. Camilleri; 3. P. Monye
It was Hibernians who maintained the pace with Sliema at the top of the standings when yesterday they demolished third placed Birkirkara with a certain amount of ease ... and a lot of drama near the end.
The victory enabled Hibs to remain three points off the Wanderers, but the Stripes are now a distant eight points off the leadership.
Play was more or less balanced in the first half, but Hibs had that something extra in Essiem Mbong. He not only scored two great goals to give his side a handsome cushion, but he was also the protagonist in midfield, where he was in dominant mood.
The Stripes lacked fire power up front. Despite seeing more of the ball, they rarely troubled Muscat in the Hibs goal as the Paolites' defence was in command against a feeble Barbara and Galea.
In the second half, the match seemed to have lost much of its interest when the Paolites quickly scored a third goal, but it was somehow reopened as Birkirkara twice pulled back goals to 3-1 and 4-2 before Camilleri sealed the scoreline with a third freekick, for a grand hat-trick.
Birkirkara will certainly lament the absence of Czech goalie David Simon between their posts, as the young Paris was at fault in some of the goals, especially the freekicks. But it is unfair to blame the inexperienced youngster for such a defeat. The defence, with the exception, perhaps, of Monye, had a poor evening.
After five minutes, a fine move between Holland, Michael Galea and Briffa ended with the latter's shot being tipped away by the diving Muscat and Pullicino then clearing definitely away before Mallia or Lino Galea could connect.
Hibs replied on 14 minutes with a splendid freekick by Cohen which just missed the target.
On 32 minutes, it Paris tipped sideways a dangerous low effort from Terence Scerri with Camenzuli clearing to corner. From the resultant corner, Cohen's cross was cleared as far out as Mbong who fired a fine first-time rising shot into the top corner, beating Paris all ends up.
Three minutes later, it was 2-0. Scerri, on the far side, beat his direct opponent and squared low for Cohen who quickly passed the ball to Mbong. The Nigerian hit home a low, hard shot to the delight of the Hibs fans.
The Paolites consolidated their lead on the 51st minute as David Camilleri hit home a fine freekick giving Paris no chance.
Soon after Birkirkara almost pulled one back, but George Mallia was robbed of the ball when on the point of shooting at goal after a fine pass by Monye.
The Stripes, however, scored on 62 minutes when substitute Calascione hit home after being served perfectly by Michael Galea.
Soon after, it was Mario Muscat who denied Chucks Nwoko a second goal as he turned to corner in style a dangerous header.
As the Stripes continue to press, Mifsud Triganza had a shot on the turn saved by the diving Muscat.
On 79 minutes, David Camilleri again put Hibs firmly in command with a perfect inswinger from a freekick, with Paris again taken completely by surprise.
Two minutes later, Nwoko and Failla appeared to have been injured while rising for a crossed ball in the Hibs area. The ball went to Galea who crossed low into the area and Mifsud Triganza was quick to hit home to make it 4-2. While Nwoko returned to his place soon after, Failla had to be hospitalised.
Hibs protested with the Birkirkara players. They expected the Stripes to hit the ball away when the two players were injured.
At the other end, soon after, Birkirkara coach Stephen Azzopardi was shown the way out by referee Attard after obviously passing some remarks which did not go down well with fourth official Clayton Pisani. Azzopardi was seen being escorted by the police as he went down, but during all this activity near the tunnel, David Camilleri again highlighted Birkirkara's defect yesterday as he netted again from another freekick from the right edge of the Stripes area to make the final score read 5-2.