Hibernians-Birkirkara 1-1

Silvio Vella

Leaders Hibernians were staring defeat in the face for the first time this season as they trailed Birkirkara to a Nikola Vukanac goal scored after 75 minutes.

But with practically the last action of this week’s top encounter, deep into three minutes of added time, their centre back Andrei Agius turned attacker to head in Cohen’s sailing free kick for a dramatic equaliser.

It was a fitting finale, with two central defenders being the protagonists and although this slow burner only came to life in the late stages, it was simply about hard work, good preparation and intelligent organisation from both sides.

Birkirkara, may feel aggrieved by the way they blew the chance to reduce the gap with the leaders. Tactically flawless for most of the game, they conceded the fatal free kick outside their area on the left in the match’s added time. Mendoza, who committed his second bookable offence, with a foul on Edison, was also sent off.

Hibernians, who played with more caution than normal, and had their menacing moments when Jorginho and Edison showed good combination in attack, thus remain 15 points above Birkirkara and 16 above third place Valletta who play today.

Heavyweights Birkirkara and Hibernians went into this match at full strength although the two coaches tweaked their line-ups for the occasion, and changed their tactics as the match unfolded.

Birkirkara had Nikola Vukanac back in their defence after suspension but coach Paul Zammit left Mattheus Bissi on the bench and retained Alejandro Mendoza to face thge league’s deadliest attack. Eliandro Gonzaga made way for Vukanac as Dutrch striker Nasser Maachi was omitted from the squad.

The Hibernians’ coach Branco Nisevic started with Joseph Mbong as Marcelo Dias was not included in the squad and Jackson Lima was named among the substitutes.

Much of the early running from both sides produced very few, if any, goalmouth action in the first half hour as both teams, unwilling to expose themselves, moved forward and defended as a unit and denied each other space so effectively.

Hibernians often had five men at the back, with Mbong and Failla dropping back down on the flanks, close to the central trio of Pearson, Agius and Soares.

Gareth Sciberras and Paul Fenech always remained in deep positions in front of  the Birkirkara four-man backline, providing an extra barrier in midfield.

Towards the quarter hour, there was a far shout for a penalty from Birkirkara, after Shodiya fell down inside the Hibernians area under Soares’ challenge, off Herrera’s cross, but the referee allowed play to flow.

The second half was surely more eventful and opened up with a Camenzuli central shot going over for Birkirkara.

With Hibernians showing better defensive transitions, Edison laid the ball to Jorginho but Vukanac thwarted him with a neat tackle.

The leaders gradually started to exhibit their attacking prowess. Towards the hour Mbong served Jorginho down the right. His low drive at the near post was turned into a corner by keeper Haber. Jorginho was then blocked on the edge of the area. The ball ran loose to Edison whos missed the target with his shot.

On 65 minutes Pearson’s shot from a distance, on a loose ball, went over.

Birkirkara settled again, taking possession for some time to create some  opportunities. On 68 minutes Shodiya made progression inside the Hibernians’ area, played the ball back to Camenzuli whose shot was blocked into a corner by Kristensen.

On 73 minutes, Hibernians were awarded a free kick from a promising position just outside the Birkirkara area. Failla, who had been poor on his delivery of set pieces yesterday, kicked the ball against the Birkirkara wall. The Stripes were quick to break out and Ledesma found space inside the Hibernians’ area, but Mbong cleared the ball into a corner.

Birkirkara put in Eliandro Gonzaga for Herrera before Ledesma kicked the corner, the ball fell inside the Paolites’ six-yard box and defender Nikola Vukanac was quick to shoot past helpless keeper Bonello.

The goal prompted an immediate reaction from Hibernians. Edison reached for a long high ball but headed feebly at keeper Haber.

The leaders effected a double substitution ten minutes from time as they put in Jackson lima and Jurgen Degabriele. Birkirkara’s counter move was the introduction of Edmond Agius for Shodiya and later Matteus Bissi replaced Ledesma as the Stripes looked intent top defend their slender lead.

But Hibernians were far from finished. Cohen had an inswinging corner from the left rebounding off the bar on 86 minutes, before they salvaged a point in added time, with their defender Andrei Agius becoming his side’s hero as he headed Cohen’s free past keeper Haber to the relief of the Paolite’s jubiliant fans, as Birkirkara were forced to endure the painful sight.

Floriana-Mosta 3-1

Silvio Vella

Floriana were back to winning ways after three consecutive defeats in all competitions with a well deserved victory over Mosta, the team on equal points with them at kick-off.

Three second half goals for Floriana, after showing some wastefulnes in the first 45 minutes, brought an end to Mosta’s three-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Floriana played an almost-perfect tactical game with wide back Gary Muir overlapping down the left and repeatedly whipping the ball inside the Mosta area.

To help speed up distribution, Emerson Marcelina often advanced through the middle to support Matteo Piciollo and Vito Plut, with Steve Pisani and Clyde Borg using the width of the pitch.

Floriana had only Manolito Micallef missing from the side that lost narrowly to Birkirkara the previous weekend and was replaced by Clyde Borg. Forward Amadou Samb was again unavailable for selection after being banned in his side’s elimination from the FA Trophy against Qormi, when Floriana dropped some regulars.

Mosta, on the other hand, were buoyed by their midweek win that saw them progress into the quarter finals of the FA Trophy and made one change, with Ryan Grech back in their starting line-up instead of James Brincat. That meant that Kyle Gerada retained his place in goal and the debut of their new Nigerian winger Haruna Babangida was delayed further.

But Peter Smith’s team lacked bite or purpose yesterday and handed the initiative to superior opponents for long stretches.

Although they hit the woodwork  in the first period through Mattheus Ribeiro, they were left shell-shocked as rampant Floriana put them to the sword just after the break. They could only thank their goalkeeper who avoided further derision and was unlucky when forced to leave the pitch with a shoulder injury in the dying minutes. Mosta were never in the match except for the last two minutes of normal time, when Ian Zammit reduced the deficit and a save by the Floriana keeper in added time, only to concede a third on Floriana’s counter.

Floriana settled quickly and had the better chances in the first half when they should have at least taken the lead. Within the first quarter hour Pisani sent a long ball inside the Mosta area, rebounding off the post. Muir’s effort from the loose ball was blocked by keeper Gerada.

Picciollo had a cross shot and a grounder held out by the Mosta keeper, before Plut advanced dangerously from the left, but when challenged by Ossok, the ball ended into a corner.

As the Greens started to mount some sustained pressure, Plut also clipped the bar with his effort on a Marcelina pass and another of his teasing crosses was cleared with some difficullty by the Mosta defence, which always struggled against the attacking threats of Piciollo and Plut.

Three minutes before the break, however, Mosta, who had produced no clear-cut chances, went close to taking the lead themselves when, following a Roberts corner, Ribeiro stooped low to head against the bar.

But Floriana managed to break the deadlock early after the restart. Within eight minutes, Plut’s rising shot from the edge of the area was tipped over the bar into a corner by keeper Gerada and from the ensuing corner, Vito Plut got some reward, beating the Mosta keeper with a firm header.

As Mosta’s reaction failed to come by, Floriana rightly pressed for a second goal . That came on 66 minutes as Matteo Piciollo chased a long ball by Muir and when faced by the onrushing Mosta keeper, he flicked it low at the far corner.

Mosta finally woke up from their slumber on 78 minutes with a Magro meaty free kick which was held put by Floriana keeper Gauci.

And when Picciollo failed to put his effort past keeper Gerada after robbing Ossok of possession, Mosta hit one back two minutes from normal time with a well placed Ian Zammit direct free kick.

Mosta almost spoiled Floriana’s mood in added time. With Omar Borhg replacing the injured Gerada and jopining his team in attack, he chested a high ball towards Tyrone Farrugia, whose goalbound effort was turned into a corner by keeper Gauci. From the resultant flag kick, Floriana broke away and defender Douglas Cobo could roll the ball from midfield into an unattended goal to complete the formalities.