Hibernians 0
Birkirkara 1
Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Xuereb (S. Pisani)), R. Soares, C. Failla, A. Pulis (J. Pearson), B. Kristensen, J. Lima, M. Dias, J. Vandelannoite, A. Cohen, P. Anizoba (E. Herrera)
Birkirkara: R. Gauci, R. Scicluna (R. Muscat), N. Vukanac, J. Zerafa, S. Bajada (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), G. Sciberras, P. Fenech, R. Pereira, A. Buhagiar, S. Shodiya (R. Camenzuli), J. Silva
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: W. Debattista, P. Apap
4th official: G. Tonna
Scorer: J.P. Mifsud Triganza 79 pen
Yellow cards: M. Dias, S. Shodiya, A. Xuereb, M. Muscat
Player of the match: Jackson Lima (Birkirkara)
TMI top 3: 1. C. Failla 2. G. Sciberras 3. J. Lima
Hibernians slumped to their first defeat in 10 league matches against Birkirkara yesterday that might dampen their title aspirations as they now have been overtaken by Valletta at the top.
A late debatable penalty decided the issue although the Paolites may feel aggrieved for having what looked like a legitimate goal disallowed some minutes earlier. This was always going to be a stern test for Hibernians against the in-form Stripes and especially without their top striker Luis Edison.
Birkirkara were buoyed by an encouraging draw against Valletta in the previous match and went into this game with some self belief, as their present form befits.
This win, albeit minimal, takes them back into third place.
While Birkirkara kept the same standard line-up and tactical poise that kept them unbeaten in the new year, Hibernians’ coach Mark Miller deemed it fit to make three changes to his side. In the absence of the suspended Luis Edison, Peter Anizoba started in attack. Adrian Pulis and Jason Vandelannoite were given the nod as wide backs, ahead of Pearson and Herrera who sat on the bench. That meant Clayton Failla was advanced in midfield.
A mundane first half produced very little goalmouth action with Hibernians lacking the slightest hint of penetration and Birkirkara unable to knit more than two passes together, in a slow build-up from both sides.
Hibernians only went close with two raking balls inside the Birkirkara area. The first, on 22 minutes, was played by Failla from the left for the unmarked Anizoba who hesitated too long and the chance went to waste.
Lima provided the next from the right, on the half hour, but found nobody to connect to.
And on 33 minutes, Failla’s diagonal shot from the edge of the area was parried by the grounded keeper Gauci, in the only shot on target during an unremarkable first 45 minutes.
Play remained chaotic even after the restart, but the second half was more eventful and equally controversial. Hibernians made two substitutions. The first, towards the hour, saw Herrera going in on the right flank instead of Anizoba, with Cohen moving towards the middle. A few minutes later, Pulis was forced to leave the pitch with some muscle problem, making way for Jonathan Pearson.
Birkirkara also put in Mifsud Triganza for the innocuous Bajada on 69 minutes as Hibernians looked likely to up the tempo.
On 72 minutes, a Lima inswinging free kick from the left was fisted out by keeper Gauci and as a goalmouth scramble ensued, Hibernians were awarded a corner. Cohen took the flag kick and Jackson Lima flicked the ball past keeper Gauci at the far post. Astonishingly, the referee had blown his whistle for some unknown infringement and the goal was disallowed.
Hibernians fluffed a chance on 78 minutes as Vandelannoite failed to connect on another Lima inviting free kick.
More controversy ensued a minute later when Scicluna, through inside the Hibernians area, fell when he was faced by the onrushing Muscat, to earn a penalty, although the keeper claimed there was no contact
Mifsud Triganza tucked it away to give Birkirkara the lead in a very crucial moment.
Visibly rattled, Hibernians tried to react.
Cohen reached for a high through ball, the flag stayed down, but his lob went over.
And in the dying minutes, substitute Pisani shot wide on Failla’s cross from the right. But that was too little too late for the Paolites to avoid defeat.