BIRKIRKARA      1

HIBERNIANS      0                       

Birkirkara: J. Haber, E. Herrera, J. Zerafa, N. Vukanac,  R. Pereira , R. Scicluna (R. Camenzuli), G. Sciberras, A. Mendoza, P. Fenech,  J. P. Mifsud Triganza (R. Muscat), Jhonnattan (Joselito)

Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Pulis, R. Camilleri, R. Soares , J. Lima, A. Kardeck (J. Pearson), A. Cohen, B. Kristensen (J. Bezzina), C. Failla, M. Dias, J.P. Farrugia

Referee:  A. Arciola

Asst.refs:  D. Sultana, E. Grech

4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: J.P. Mifsud Triganza 42

Yellow cards: J. P. Farrugia, M. Dias, R. Pereira, R. Camilleri, E. Herrera, A. Kardeck, J. Zerafa, C. Failla, P. Fenech

Player of the match: E. Herrera (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3:  1. R. Pereira  2. E. Herrera  3. M. Dias

Birkirkara were back in the groove after their reverse against Sliema Wanderers the previous week to beat a disappointing Hibernians side by a solitary  goal shortly before the break, as the top four teams were in action at the National Stadium yesterday afternoon.

The Stripes seized on Hibernians’ early nerves and punished them for a below par performance, in a match almost completely devoid of distinction - without any hope of a spectacle.

At almost every stage, Birkirkara had been quicker on the ball. This was symptomatic of the Paolites’ slugishness, especially in midfield, as they looked scrappy and tame.

After their defeat against Sliema Wanderers, Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit deemed it fit to drop Ryan Camenzuli and Zach Muscat to the bench and give starts to Ryan Scicluna and Rodrigo Pereira. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza replaced the suspended forward Shola Shodiya. Justin Haber was returning in goal after a one-match ban.

On their part, Hibernians deployed Adrian Pulis as Soares’ partner in central defence instead of Jonathan Pearson and retreated Clayton Failla as left back. Kardeck started the match and Obinna Obiefule was a noteable substitute on their bench, back with the Paolites after failing to conclude his transfer abroad.

The towering presence of Soares and Pulis in the heart of the Hibernians’ defence stifled many of Birkirkara’s raking crosses, mostly coming from Herrera’s delivery from the right or his bursts down the flank.

The Stripes enjoyed more of possession but struggled to make it work in their favour. A Jhonnattan free kick from the left was cleared away and the Brazilian drilled another shot over from a distance.

The first clear chance had been to Birkirkara on the half hour. Mifsud Triganza advanced unhindered from the left and with Pulis caught between two opponents, Mifsud Triganza’s pass intended for Jhonnattann was erratic and Pulis could recover to smother the danger.

Hibernians rarely ventured into enemy territory and when Farrugia went inside the Birkirkara area, he was shrugged off the ball by Pereira.

Fenech tested keeper Muscat with a low drive from inside the area on the right followed by the game’s defining moment three minutes before the break. Herrera caught the Hibernians’ rearguard flat as he advanced through the middle, crossed low for the unmolested Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who showed no sympathy with a clinical low conversion. 

Hibernians failed to put up a decent reaction in the second half and never really troubled keeper Haber in the Birkirkara goal. Failla’s shot from outside the area soon after the restart, was easy prey for the Birkirkara shot stopper.

The Stripes remained sharper on the ball. Vukanac’s header on a Jhonnattann free kick was blocked by the busier keeper Muscat .

They should have doubled their lead on a couple of occasions. On 74 minutes, Herrera ran inside the Hibernians area but blasted the ball over. Five minutes later, Scicluna almost capitalised on an erratic pass from substitute Bezzina as he accelerated towards goal, but the onrushing Muscat just deflected his effort.

The Hibernians crowd’s frustration seemed to be growing as the match wore on and their players kept staring defeat in the face. Two chances to draw level in the late stages brought some positive respite for the Paolites though.

Cohen’s delightful dipping free kick thumped against the foot of the post to Haber’s right and, in added time, Lima’s cross was cleared in the path of Farrugia who wastefully skied the ball with a gaping goal at his mercy.

In between, Birkirkara squandered another good opportunity. Substitute Camenzuli shot over on Herrera’s inviting pass.