Birkirkara crowned Champions of Malta

by Ayrton Galea - 13th May 2013

Birkirkara finally did it! Birkirkara are the new BOV Premier League champions as the indomitable Stripes emerged as winners with a 3-1 score against Hibernians in the title-decider played on Saturday afternoon.

It was a hard journey for the Stripes as they had to overcome a number of obstacles in their challenge of the league title, but they remained strong in every challenge. Having repeated the same statement week after week, the Birkirkara's Head Coach, Mr. Paul Zammit was right about the strong character found in the collective squad of the Stripes.

Mr. Zammit was proven right once again. Having fallen one goal behind, when Clayton Failla converted a penalty just past the half-hour, the Stripes could have given up. However, the second half confirmed the potential found in the Birkirkara squad as the Stripes performed a great comeback to turn the result in their favour by hitting three to Hibernians in space of eighteen minutes to take a two-goal advantage to win the fourth championship in the Club's History.

Having suffered from Hibernians' supremacy in the first-half, one might had some doubts about the resilience of the Stripes. The Stripes could not seem to find their feet in the first half and the goal of Hibernians and the injury of Jhonnattann made the Stripes' match take another turn to the worse.

However, somehow, someway, these episodes worked in Birkirkara's favour. The Stripes settled down after going one goal down and made a quick reaction. The half-time speech and tactical adjustments fired up the Birkirkara players as they made a bold statement with a quick reaction by equalising and scoring another two goals to turn the match in their favour.

In the biggest match of the season, the highly anticipated decider-match, the match attracted the biggest attendance of the season as both sets of supporters made all the possible ways to colour their stands.

The Birkirkara filled up their enclosure stand and a big part of the North Stand turning them into a sea of yellow and red, Birkirkara's traditional and beautiful colours. The Birkirkara Ultras once again prepared a wonderful choreography involving yellow and reds cards, small and big flags besides the usual streamers. The North Stand, who was also coloured with streamers and flags, choreography of a big flag over the present supporters took place at the beginning of the match.

On the other hand, Hibernians also coloured their enclosure stand with their traditional white and black colours with their Ultras' group also making a fine choreography at the beginning of the match.

As several dignitaries, including Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Simon Busuttil, the newly-elected PN leader, took their seats in the VIP area, the supporters raised the volume before belting out a huge roar as the two teams emerged from the dressing rooms.

The formations of both teams contained some notable surprises.

A hamstring problem looked to have put paid to Marcelo Dias's hopes of starting the game but the Brazilian winger was duly named in Michael Woods's initial first-eleven selection.

Jackson Lima was also handed a starting role at the expense of Zoran Levnaic. The inclusion of Lima, a crafty midfielder, ahead of the more defensive-minded Levnaic was indicative of Woods's resolve to fully exploit the attacking resources at his disposal.

Deprived of Joseph Zerafa due to suspension, Paul Zammit had been expected to deploy Ryan Camenzuli on the left wing but the Birkirkara coach had a different option in mind.

The onus of replacing Zerafa fell on Zach Muscat while Jhonnattann, used mostly as an impact player in Birkirkara's last few games, was given the green light to spearhead the forward line alongside Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza. The Brazilian forward replaced Shola Shodiya, the decisive player in Birkirkara's last match.

There was no change in Birkirkara's tactical approach as they stuck with 3-5-2, Muscat manning the right wing as Edward Herrera switched to the left.

Herrera, yesterday gunning against the club he left last summer, had to contend with Dias, another fast player, as Clayton Failla stayed on the left in Hibs' 3-5-2 formation. In attack, Luis Edison ‘Tarabai' was flanked by Jean Paul Farrugia.

The First Half

Inside the opening five minutes, Lima produced a deft touch to make headway on the right before releasing Dias who passed to Farrugia but the latter skewed his shot high and wide. Lima's movement lit up the early stages of this encounter.

A long ball by Herrera disconcerted the Hibs defenders as Jhonnattann raced through but Ryan Camilleri cleared the danger.

Hibs would have taken the lead on 18 minutes but for a stunning save by Justin Haber who pawed away Andrew Cohen's close-range header from Failla's corner.

Spurred on by their bright start, the Paolites continued to show the better ideas with their hard-running players bossing midfield.

Most teams have struggled to cope with Herrera's overlaps this season but for much of the opening half-hour, it was the Birkirkara wing-back who had difficulty containing the powerful Dias.

Midway into the first half, Haber stopped a header by Rodolfo Soares from another Failla corner.
Just past the half-hour, the game produced its first defining moment as referee Alan Mario Sant awarded Hibs a penalty after Failla's diagonal drive came off Gareth Sciberras's outstretched arm.

Failla stroked his penalty past the diving Haber to send the Hibs fans into delirium.

Birkirkara only had 10 men on the pitch when Hibs had countered to win the penalty as Jhonnattann was carried off on a stretcher. Haruna came on for the Brazilian.

A goal down and second best for much of the preceding 34 minutes, the Stripes stirred. Alejandro Mendoza's header, from Paul Fenech's free-kick, was stopped by Mario Muscat before Jonathan Pearson hurled his body in the way of Haruna's effort.

Birkirkara then protested for a penalty when Haruna went down inside the box but their protests were ignored by the referee, to the dismay of the fans who have felt hard done by a series of decisions by the match officials this season.

Three minutes from half-time, the erstwhile quiet Mifsud Triganza headed just wide.

The first half of this highly-anticipated match ended with Hibernians deservingly leading the match as the Stripes failed to increase their rhythm.

The Second Half

When the game resumed after the half-time break, Birkirkara showed greater intent as they tore out of the blocks in search of an equaliser.

Subdued in the first half, Herrera reverted to his usual right-wing position with Pereira patrolling the left flank. The move paid spectacular dividends as, 11 minutes into the second half, the scores became level.

Mifsud Triganza strode forward on the left and, as the Hibs players appeared to stop after seeing that the ball had strayed past the byline, the Birkirkara forward centred for Herrera who rammed home.

Having earlier caught the attention after scuffles broke out in their section, the Birkirkara supporters were suddenly screaming with joy.

It was now Birkirkara's turn to apply the pressure. Haruna capitalised on a mistake by Camilleri to race into the box but his tame shot was easily dealt with by Muscat.

The force was with Birkirkara who seized the lead midway into the second half.

They were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Rowen Muscat and Pereira's set-piece cross was missed by the on-rushing Muscat who was outjumped by Nikola Vukanac. The Serbian's looping header soared above a host of players and dropped into the net.

Birkirkara's joy increased when, with 17 minutes remaining, they extended their lead.

From a corner, Haruna laid the ball to Rowen Muscat who dinked an inviting pass into the box with Zach Muscat applying the final touch.

This was the cue for Woods to retouch his approach as Adrian Pulis and Obinna Obiefule came on for Farrugia and Soares respectively.

But Hibs looked stunned.

They tried to summon a reaction, Lima blasting over from the distance after being teed up by Dias, but Birkirkara stayed in charge to secure their fourth Premiere League title.

As referee Alan Mario Sant signalled the end of the match, euphoria gripped the players who embraced each other amid indescribable scenes of joy. Scores of euphoric supporters ran onto the pitch to celebrate with the players, in the process delaying the presentation by several minutes.

There was mayhem on the pitch but once a semblance of calm had been restored, all eyes shifted to the stage in the middle of the field as the Birkirkara players received their championship medals before captain Gareth Sciberras held aloft the trophy to chants of “We are the champions”.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Rodrigo Pereira, Nikola Vukanac, Alejandro Mendoza, Zach Muscat, Paul Fenech, Gareth Sciberras, Rowen Muscat (84' Ryan Scicluna), Edward Herrera, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (78' Ryan Camenzuli), Jhonnattann Benites (34' Shola Shodiya).

HIBERNIANS: Mario Muscat, Ryan Camilleri, Jonathan Pearson, Rodolfo Soares (74' Obinna Obiefule), Marcelo Dias (85' Allan Dos Santos), Andrew Cohen, Bjorn Kristensen, Jackson Lima, Clayton Failla, Edison Luis Dos Santos, Jean Paul Farrugia (74' Adrian Pulis).

Scorers: 34' Clayton Failla (Hibernians), 56' Edward Herrera, 67' Nikola Vukanac, 74' Zach Muscat.

Yellow Cards: Justin Haber, Edward Herrera (Birkirkara), Edison Luis Dos Santos, Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians).

Man of the match: Rodrigo Pereira (Birkirkara).

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