Hibernians-Birkirkara 1-4
Hibernians: D. Balzan, T. Tabone Desira, I. Radusinovic, J. Pearson, J. Lima, C. Failla, Z. Levnaic, B. Kristensen (A. Cohen), O. Obiefule, L. Edison, J.P. Farrugia (J. Bezzina)
Birkirkara: J. Haber, Z. Muscat (F. Temile), N. Vukanac, M. Bissi, J. Zerafa, E. Herrera (R. Camenzuli), R. Muscat, P. Fenech (G. Sciberras) , S. Shodiya, R. Scicluna, Jhonnattan
Referee: M Apap
Asst.refs: L. Portelli, S. Attard
4th official: P. Caruana
Scorers: Jhonnattan 27, 82, Z. Muscat 61, E. Herrera 74, J. Lima 87
Yellow cards: N. Vukanac, L. Edison
Red card: O. Obiefule
Player of the match: E. Herrera (Birkirkara)
TMI top 3: 1. E. Herrera 2. M. Bissi 3. Jhonnattan
Attendance: 2,272
Defensive frailties were Hibernians’ undoing yesterday against a potent Birkirkara side which looks well geared for a title showdown with nearest challengers Valletta next week, should the Citizens overcome Balzan tomorrow.
This was supposed to be a tricky encounter for the leaders, especially after Hibernians’ promising start. But the first goal, which was a horror story,midway through the half, gave Birkirkara a foothold on the match. And as they dominated the second half completely, they scored three more goals, with the Paolites down to ten men for the last 17 minutes, following Obiefule’s sending off.
Both teams did not offer surprises in their starting line-up, only for Birkirkara’s omission of Gareth Sciberras, named among the substitutes. With Zach Muscat, Vukanac, Bissi and Zerafa at the back, Edward Herrera played in a more advanced role, wide on the right flank, with Rowen Muscat, Paul Fenech and Ryan Scicluna crowding the Stripes’ midfield.
Hibernians had Zoran Levnaic and Bjorn Kristensen providing cover to their back four with Luis Edison and Jackson Lima supporting the forwards Obinne Obiefuel and Jean Paul Farrugia. They were bright in the early running.
Nisevic’s well organised game plan seemed to hold good for the first part of the first half as the champions only looked menacing with a Bissi free kick that went narrowly wide past the quarter hour. The Paolites threatened after 20 minutes with a Lima long range shot going over.
But Hibernians were let down by two glaring goalkeeping blunders that enabled Birkirkara to gain a foothold on the match. Hibernians somehow got away with the first lapse after 23 minutes, courtesy of Shodiya’s profligacy, failing to put his shot on target after keeper Balzan missed completely the flight of the ball on Herrera’s cross from the right.
But there was no denying Birkirkara four minutes later. This time keeper Balzan could only palm out another Herrera cross towards the feet of Jhonnattan who knocked the ball over the line to open the scoring and send Birkirkara in the lead at halftime.
The opening minutes of the second half provided two glaring misses at each end.
On 54 minutes Jhonnattan was put clear by a long Bissi pass. The flag stayed down but the Brazilian hesitated too long and Failla could recover to clear the danger.
Four minutes later, Hibernians also spurned their chance to draw level. Obiefule headed a high ball towards the unmarked Edison who hit wide with keeper Haber completely beaten.
The Paolites paid the price for that miss. Past the hour, on Jhonnattan’s free kick from the edge of the area on the right, defender Zach Muscat reached before Kristensen to head past keeper Balzan and double their lead.
Despite making a double substitution, putting in Andrew Cohen and Johan Bezzina for the last 20 minutes, Hibernians could not match their superior opponents at that stage and suffered further setbacks when first, Obiefule was dismissed for an off-the-ball incident, reported by the referee’s assistant Portelli, on 73 minutes.
It took the champions less than a minute to exploit their numerical superiority. Edward Herrera advanced unhindered down the right flank and beat keeper Balzan with a stunning strike, the ball hitting the underside of the bar.
Hibernians’ misery was complete eight minutes from time. Their defence was again caught on the hop as Scicluna won possession in midfield, set Jhonnattan going past Perason and the onrushing keeper to score a personal brace.
Hibernians hit a late consolation goal on 87 minutes, as Jackson Lima ran from the blind side of teh Birkirkara defence to hit past keeper Haber. But that failed to dampen the high spirits of the Birkirkara colourful and noisy fans at the end.