Birkirkara-Hibernians 2-1

Birkirkara: S. Sullivan, M.A. Bonnici, L. Galea, R. Sammut (P. Borg)(A. Bledzewski), W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione, H. Sbai, K. Scicluna, A. Paradiso, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, G. Mallia.

Hibernians: M. Muscat, K. Cassar (T. Caruana), R. Mintoff, A. Xuereb, N. Chukunyere, C. Doffo, E. Agius, C. Failla, R. Briffa, M. Bartolo, T. Scerri.

Referee: C. Lautier; Asst refs: K. Borg, N. Debattista 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorer: M. Calascione, C. Doffo, G. Mallia

Yellow cards: E. Agius, S. Sullivan

Red cards: S. Sullivan

A late goal scored by George Mallia gave ten-man Birkirkara their fifth consecutive Super Cup.

Birkirkara deserved the win against a Hibernians side that only lived to its expectations in the second half.

Goalie Sean Sullivan was sent off ten minutes from time but Birkirkara still managed to score the winner.

Birkirkara were the better team in the first fourty five minutes, thanks to their superior midfield set up. With their three-man set up in defence, Birkirkara practically had five players in midfield, outplaying their opponents.

Lino Galea and Bonnici, were as usual employed on the flanks, with Mallia, Camenzuli and Paradiso hovering all over the place. Paradiso gave another good account of himself and could be an asset this season for the champons.

Mifsud Triganza and Calascione tried to fill the gap of missing stars Michael Galea and Barbara, with the former being the most dangerous.

On their part Hibernians had four defenders at the back, marshalled by captain Aaron Xuereb. Terence Scerri was their sole striker, and was surely one of side’s best players.

Hibernians were left wanting in the midfield sector. Chukunyere, Failla and Bartolo were outplayed by their opponents. Edmond Agius had a very high work rate but was rarely effective in his side’s build up.

The first attempt at goal was made by the champions, with Paradiso running through from midfield and his pass found Camenzuli unmarked on the left whose grounder tested Muscat.

Birkirkara looked more organised in the early stages, and on seven minutes Mifsud Triganza was denied by Muscat after a good move between Paradiso and Lino Galea.

Seconds earlier Hatim Sbai failed to clear, but a surprised Scerri failed to hit the target. On fourteen minutes a dangerous George Mallia cross shot landed on the crossbar.

On twenty minutes Mario Muscat was again called in action blocking a fierce drive from the edge of the area by Mifsud Triganza, following a Mintoff short clearance.

Muscat’s best save came on 33 minutes when he deflected to a corner a dangerous freekick taken by Paradiso. Four minutes from the break Birkirkara had appeals for a penalty turned down, when Mifsud Triganza was pushed by Kevin Cassar, thus failing to hit home the rebound after another fine save by Muscat off a Calascione shot.

Just before half time Doffo made his presence felt with a freekick going inches wide, and in stoppage time Birkirkara took a deservedlead when Matthew Calascione headed home from close range a cross from the left by Mifsud Triganza.

No changes were made in the second half, with the Stripes looking capable of holding to their lead. However on 56 minutes Chukunyere showed some flashes of his glorious past, winning a ball in midfield and passing to Argentine Cesar Pablo Doffo who beat Sullivan with a perfect grounder.

Hibs were now playing the better football with Chukunyere creating some anxious moments for the Birkirkara defence. On 63 minutes Muscat again saved his side tipping over the bar a dangerous overhead-kick by Calascione.

The match was now more balanced with Hibernians penetrating the Stripes’ defence with relative ease. Chukunyere had a brilliant slalom on 78 minutes but his shot went wide.

Ten minutes from time the already booked Sullivan floored Scerri outside the area and the ex-Valletta goalkeeper was sent off on his debut. Bledzewski had to come in for Patrick Borg whohad just came in as a substitute thirty seconds before.

Hibs pressed in the final minutes trying to capitalise on their numerical superiority. But the Champions had the last laugh as George Mallia scored from close range after the Hibernians’ defence failed to clear a havoc in front of goal.

Substitute Bledzewski showed impressive skills in the dying seconds denying Terence Scerri of a certain goal.