Birkirkara-Hibernians 0-2
Birkirkara: B. Paris, L. Galea, R. Sammut, P. Fenech (J. Zerafa), J.P. Mifsud Triganza, A. Tabone, M. Anastasi (T. Paris), L. Lombardi (A. Ciantar), S. Bajada, G. Mallia, E. Yanchev
Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Xuereb, J. Caruana, A. Pulis, C. Failla (B. Camilleri), E. Uzeh (J. Pearson), P. Doffo, N. Chukunyere (J. Alcorse), T. Scerri, A. Cohen, E. Agius
Referee: A. Azzopardi asst.refs: C. Micallef, A. Camilleri 4th official: M. Borg
Scorers: N. Chukunyere, T. Scerri
Yellow cards: C. Failla, G. Mallia, E. Agius
Player of the match: Andre Cohen (Hibernians)
TMI top three: 1. A. Cohen 2. T. Scerri 3. A. Pulis
Hibernians moved up places after this clear win against Birkirkara, producing a solid performance which never cast any doubt on the final outcome. In fact the Paolites dominated their inferior opponents for long stretches and could have even won by a bigger margin. They outplayed Birkirkara in midfield and with Cohen pulling the strings, they always looked firmly in command, creating the afternoon’s better play.
Birkirkara were disappointing to say the least and only a pale shadow of the team which beat Floriana the previous week and at times looked as bleak as the weather at Ta?Qali. Totally subdued in midfield, their strikers were starved of service and never really looked dangerous in attack.
Hibernians gave starts to Scerri and Pulis but Alcorse again sat on the bench for a whole hour.
Birkirkara were bereft of the services of the suspended Hartwig in defence and Lombardi started the match instead.
Hibernians were off to an explosive start pushing forward in search of an early goal. The Birkirkara rearguard somehow kept them at bay and past the quarter hour, the Stripes ironically created the best chance. Mifsud Triganza, standing in front of goal, found the ball at his feet, but incredibly failed to conclude.
Hibernians?response, on 22 minutes, nearly gave them the lead. Cohen freed Scerri on the right, his effort was blocked by the Birkirkara defence and Cohen’s shot on the rebound was deflected into a corner.
On 35 minutes Scerri headed Cohen’s corner over the bar as Hibernians were totally in command. Birkirkara were forced to substitute the injured Anastasi with Paris, their hero in the previous match against Floriana.
But for all their work rate, Hibernains failed to penetrate the Birkirkara rearguard and the stalemate prevailed at halftime.
The Paolites?pressure continued even after the restart, causing anxious moments in the opponents?defence as Scerri played the ball to the unmarked Chukunyere, who served Failla. The latter lofted the ball from close range.
But the Hibernians?goal was in the air and on 57 minutes Ndubisi Chukunyere ran in well for Cohen’s through pass. His pacey run took him past two opponents and the goalkeeper to steer the ball low into an empty goal.
That deserved lead galvanized Hibernians and although Birkirkara tried to put up some reaction, they lacked the cutting edge to trouble Muscat in goal.
Hibernians in fact kept the upperhand and threatened further on 66 minutes when Scerri headed Pulis?cross wide.
In fact Birkirkara succumbed to concede Hibernians?second goal seven minutes from time when Terence Scerri deflected with his head Doffo’s deep free kick from the right, beating keeper Paris at the top corner on the far post.