Naxxar l.-Hibernians 0-3
Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, R. Bakare, J. Debono, A. Buhagiar, R. Cassar (D. Bonnici), D. Falzon, T. Lopes De Souza, D. Reano, A. Rocha Da Silva (M. Vignjevic), T. Scerri, F. Stojanovic
Hibernians: J. Borg, I. Radusinovic, J. Pearson, S. Chircop, T.Tabone Desira, J. Bezzina, B. Kristensen, M. Bartolo (A. Cohen), L. Edison (Z. Scerri), O. Obiefule, J. Degabriele
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, T. Debono
4th official: P. Apap
Scorers: O. Obiefule 79, 90, J. Degabriele 90+
Yellow cards: R. Bakare, I. Radusinovic, T. Lopes, J. Bezzina, D. Bonnici
Red card: J. Bezzina
Player of the match: O. Obiefule (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. O. Obiefule 2. J. Degabriele 3. R. Bakare
This fifth league defeat on the trot condemned Naxxar Lions to the Relegation Pool as they missed out on sixth place, when this looked quite attainable until a few weeks before. Their 7-1 defeat by Birkirkara in mid-January proved Naxxar’s downfall as they lost the subsequent four matches, conceding nine goals without scoring any.
Trailing Balzan b y one point in seventh place,yesterday the Lions needed to win against Hibernians and hope Balzan do not win theirs against Valletta.
In the process, Naxxar’s plans failed miserably as they again looked lightweight up front and fragile in defence, showing lack of enough committment to overcome opponents facing problems of their own.
For all their supremacy, Hibernians left it late to consolidate a win they richly deserved. Their goals were scored in the final ten minutes, with their third in added time. It was no polished performance, as they fluffed several chances and were frustrated time and again by a superlative Julian Azzopardi in the Naxxar goal.
Despite their embarassing defeat against Mosta the previous week, Naxxar coach still kept faith in most of his players and made only three forced substitutions in the starting line-up. Andrew Decesare and Gilmar Ribeiro were suspended. Victor Bellia injured himself during warm-up and therefore Daren Falzon, Filip Stojanovic and John Debono were given starts instead.
Hibernians also had three notable absentees with the suspended Zoran Levnaic and the injured Jackson Lima and Ryan Camilleri but welcomed back Bjorn Kristensen from suspension. Clayton Failla was still serving his last banned match as Andrew Cohen made only a substitute appearance for the last 12 minutes of the game. Jurgen Borg replaced Daniel Balzan in goal. They also gave a debut to new centre back from Montenegro, Igor Radusinovic.
Hibernians, with a host of youngsters, like Johann Bezzina, Jurgen Degabriele, Scott Chircop and Timothy Tabone Desira, were the first out of the blocks. Hardly 25 second on the clock, and Obiefule came face to face with the Naxxar keeper Azzopardi who pluckily footed out his effort. After five minutes, Luis Edison headed Bezzina’s cross from the right just over the bar after anticipating the goalkeeper’s sortie. Towards the quarter hour, Chircop put Degabriele clear inside the Naxxar area but the onrushing Azzopardi managed to block him. Cassar gave away possession as he tried to clear away the loose ball but Degabriele shot over.
When the Hibernians’ early fury abated, Naxxar tried to settle more into the game but their difficulty was always to provide Daren Falzon and Terence Scerri with good service. Rocha Da Silva, Stojanovic and Debono lacked the inventive though. Bakare’s first shot on target after 37 minutes gave keeper Borg no problems.
The Lions’ best chance came on the stroke of halftime. Rocha Da Silva played a through ball to Scerri, who advanced on the left but his shot was well saved by the Hibernians custodian.
Still goalless at halftime, Naxxar tried to up the tempo after the interval but were often stifled by Hibernians’ initiative as the Paolites enjoyed more possession. Towards the hour, Degabriele set Edison down the left. He went past Lopez but shot straight in keeper’s safe hands.
Shortly after, Kristensen played a long pass to Bartolo whos chested the ball but failed to put his effort on target.
On 63 minutes Obiefule ran inside the Naxxar area but keeper Azzopardi turned his shot into a corner.
Naxxar introduced Milan Vignjevic for Rocha Da Silva for the last quarter hour but Hibernians always looked the more likely to score.
They finally made the breakthrough on 79 minutes. Substitute Cohen provided the cross from the right for Obinne Obiefule to beat keeper Azzopardi with a free header.
Naxxar might have harboured faint hopes when Hibernians’ Johann Bezzina was sent off for a second booking with four minutes remaining.
Two minutes from the end, Obiefule again went close for Hibernians as he picked Cohen’s free kick, turned around the keeper but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Reano.
But there was no denying Obiefule on the stroke of full time as he chased Tabone Desira’s long ball, grounded the keeper and steered the ball in to make the points safe.
There was still time for Hibernians to put some excessive gloss on their win as Jurgen Degabriele latched Cohen’s pass, rounded the helpless keeper and crowned an encouraging performance with a deserved goal.