Champions Birkirkara claimed the new season’s first honour, winning the Super Cup again after seven years, by beating FA Trophy winners Hibernians 3-2. Confirming themselves yet again as a strong unit, Birkirkara enjoyed a three-goal lead, in a stunning seven-minute period in the first half and looked cruising to an impressive victory.

But they surrendered two goals in the second period as Hibernians made a late rally and came within reaching distance, only to fall short against a solid Birkirkara rearguard. Hibernians, losing finalists for the second year running, featured mostly the same familiar faces as last season, including the same five foreigners in their starting line-up. That meant there was no place for local talent Jean Paul Farrugia.

Young defender Neil Chetcuti was entrusted with the left back role, now that Adrian Pulis has called it a day. Jackson Lima played as right back in the absence of Ryan Camenzuli and Hibenrians lost something in midfield. Pearson and Soares played as centre backs but the defence left much to be desired and led to their downfall, conceding three first half goals in sloppy fashion. New coach Branco Nisevic has work to do in this sector. Birkirkara fielded their two new for- eigners – Demba Toure’  and Frank Temile – among a total of four in their starting line-up as the fifth, Brazilian Jonatahn Maciel was named among the substitutes, together with Joseph Zerafa, Ryan Scicluna and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza. The match went through a very slow start.

The unbearable heat at Ta’ Qali did not help in the players’ energy. The runs of their attacking trio, Shodiya, Temile and Toure’  did not allow the Paolites’ defence to settle in the game. A cagey start saw Hibernians huffing and puffing with a Lima free kick going over and a hurried shot by the same player from a distance easily saved by keeper Haber. On 27 minutes, Birkirkara really threatened when Temile went inside the Hibernians’ area but skied the final shot. The game seemed going nowhere until the deadlock was broken as Birkirkara jerked into shape and hit their opponents with three goals within seven minutes. On the half hour, Shodiya delivered a testing cross from the right and Demba Toure’ connected well, running through the middle to hit past the helpless keeper Muscat. Hardly four minutes later, Fenech’s free kick from the middle caused embarrassment to the Hibernians’ defence who failed to clear. The ball fell invitingly to Frank Temile who scored from close range to double his side’s lead. And on 37 minutes Hibernians collapsed to concede a third goal, yet again producing some really sloppy defending.

Herrera played a corner from the left and Zach Muscat darted in from the right to beat Muscat with an emphatic header and give the Stripes a most comfortable first half lead. Before the break, keeper Muscat saved Hibernians from further derision, producing a smart save off Toure’s powerful volley. Hibernians put in Matthew Tabone and Jean Paul Farrugia for the second half and were helped by an early penalty, hardly five minutes after the restart, awarded for Mendoza’ foul on Cohen. Clayton Failla tucked it away but Birkirkara still looked good enough to defend a two-goal lead as they kept their opponents at arms’ length.

On 52 minutes Temile ran dangerously inside the Hibernians area. Muscat repelled his low drive. On 70 minutes Hibernians had claims for another penalty turned down by the referee after Cohen came into contact with Camenzuli and fell inside the area. But Hibernians stepped up a gear and had taken the bit between their teeth by then. On 72 minutes, Edison narrowly missed the target when well served by Cohen. The two players combined well five minutes later for Hibernians’ second goal. Edison laid the ball in the path of Andrew Cohen to beat keeper Haber with a low drive. Hibernians belatedly, started to believe in a comeback and the final ten minutes produced some hectic moments with the Paolites probing for an equaliser. But the nearest they could go was from a Failla tame header as Birkirkara’s rearguard, even with the introduction of Brazilian Marciel, held on firmly to clinch the season’s first honour.