Balzan-Hibernians 0-2
Balzan: G. Schelski, S. Bezzina, R. Dos Santos, J. Grioli, A. Scicluna, F. Vignaroli, K. Magro, D. Grima (G. Calabretta), L. Micallef (A. Agius), E. Zarate (R. Darmanin), J. Armario Negrin
Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson, R. Soares, C. Failla, M. Dias (S. Chircop), B. Krsitensen, A. Cohen, J. Lima, O. Obiefule, L. Edison Dos Santos
Referee: M. Apap
Asst.refs: P. Apap, P. Abela
Additional refs: C. Lautier, T. Farrugia Cann
4th official: C. Pisani
Scorers: L. Edison 52, O. Obiefule 55
Yellow cards: M. Dias, S. Bezzina
Player of the match: M. Dias (Hibernians)
TMI top three: 1. B. Kristensen 2. M. Dias 3. F. Vignaroli
With Valletta winning on Saturday, Hibernians could not afford to drop points against Balzan yesterday to keep up the chase with the leading duo. The Paolites played with great expertise to beat their opponents with two second half goals after they had been denied by the woodwork in the first half.
Although far from impressive, Hibernians’ performance yesterday was their latest demonstration of what can happen when a team places all their trust in their speed of passing and refinement on the ball. Their two strikers, Luis Edison and Obinne Obiefule scored the goals but behind them, there was the movement and creativity of Marcelo Dias, Jackson Lima and Andrew Cohen. In the more withdrawn midfield position, Bjorn Kristensen was excellent and therefore there was no need of anything extravagant.
Balzan went into the new year with a new cast. Central defender Ramon Dos Santos joined them from Vittoriosa Stars, Chilean offensive midfielder Edison Bilbao Zarate, formerly with Qormi, has been reunited with former coach Jesmond Zerafa, while other defensive midfielder Kurt Magro joined them on loan from Valletta. All three were inlcuded in the starting line-up yesterday as Balzan had new reserve keeper Manuel Bartolo on the bench and also await the clearance of their former Brazilian ‘love’ Pedrinho Calcado to make his return with the club.
Combining well with Fabio Vignaroli and Dylan Grima, the new acquisitions were supposed to provide Balzan with a solid network in midfield that stifled all the Hibernians’ initiative.
Balzan had actually passed the ball reasonably well in the opening exchanges. They looked competitive but toothless in the first half but as the match wore on, Zarate never really looked fully confident, maybe taking one too many touches. It was again down to Fabio Vignaroli to provide his team’s main inspiration. But the lack of punch up front, especially with Negrin only a peripheral figure, Balzan looked inferior to their opponents.
The Paolites, with Jonathan Pearson back in defence and Obinne Obiefule again given a starting berth in attack, leaving Zoran Levnaic on the bench, enjoyed more of the possession in the first half, but with a flat three at the back, they always ran the risk of being caught by some quick break from Balzan.
The half’s most noteworthy episode, after 23 minutes, was Kristensen’s shot from outside the area that thumped against the top corner of the bar but when the ball rebounded towards Obiefule, he was ruled offside.
Past the half hour, Hibernians had claims for a penalty ignored by the referee when Luis Edison was challenged by Ramon Dos Santos inside the area.
Balzan however were not goal shy and had efforts from Zarate and Micallef that lacked precision or enough power to beat Mario Muscat in goal.
Hibernians made things easier after the interval as they put both feet on the accelerator and hit Balzan with two quick goals within three minutes soon after the restart. The Paolites had already looked menacing on 49 minutes. On a Failla sailing free kick, Soares’ back header was saved into a corner by the Balzan keeper Schelski.
Balzan immediately responded when Magro and Negrin were at the end of a sweeping move but failed to capitalise as the latter hit feebly from inside the area and keeper Muscat stretched himself to save on the ground.
Balzan paid for that missed opportunity. As Hibernians broke away on 52 minutes, Dias’ cross from the right cut the entire Balzan defence and the unmarked Luis Edison tapped in the ball from close range.
Hibernians doubled their lead only three minutes later with a symetrical move, starting from Kristensen’s long ball forward to Edison, who crossed from the byeline on the left towards Failla to shoot. The Balzan keeper repelled his effort but the loose ball fell invitingly to Obinne Obiefule to hit in.
A two-goal cushion put Hibernians firmly in the driving seat and they could lower a gear, without exerting themselves too much. They still went close again when Failla laid an inviting pass for Lima to fire his shot over the bar. Failla himself tested the Balzan keeper on a Cohen pass.
Balzan deteriorated thereafter and did not manage a good chance throughout the remaining minutes.
Despite drafting in Gianluca Calbretta in a more advanced role, in lieu of Dylan Grima, past the hour, and also substituting Zarate with Ryan Darmanin for the final 20 minutes, there was never the briefest moment when Balzan looked capable of rescuing themselves.