Birkirkara beat Hibernains and move four points clear
by Ayrton Galea - 24th December 2013
Edward Herrera's sensational volley on Sunday afternoon paved the way for Birkirkara to open a four point lead at the top of the BOV Premier League, and the Maltese Champions claimed a precious 2-1 victory over Hibernians in the match of the week.
Pre-match predictions were expecting a balanced encounter between two of the powerhouses in Maltese football. A tremendous volley, five minutes in the second half, by former Hibernians player Edward Herrera, sparked the match into life, and swung a balanced match into Birkirkara's favour.
With Valletta surprisingly slipping up a day earlier, the match between the Maltese Champions and the U*BET FA Trophy winners, took on added importance. Birkirkara have now opened a four-point lead over Valletta, and six over Hibernians.
Birkirkara did enough to find themselves on the winning side and their tactical organization and ability to surge forward with fast counter-attacks was the key. On the other hand, Hibernians might blame their luck to leave the National Stadium empty-handed despite their efforts, as they were twice denied by the crossbar.
The match turned out to be a tactical tug-of-war between two of the top coaches in Maltese football, who both favoured a three-man defence. Both teams were aware of their opponents' strengths, and they cancelled their opponents' effort for most of the first half.
Following a low-key encounter in the first half, two goals in space of nine minutes early in the second half, gave Birkirkara a two-goal lead. Edison Luis Dos Santos narrowed the gap for Hibernians but Birkirkara held strong to pick up a precious victory.
Mr. Paul Zammit, Birkirkara's Head Coach, opted for the 3-5-2 formation for this match. Gareth Sciberras was drafted inside the first eleven. Sciberras' inclusion wasn't the only change by Mr. Zammit from the last outing. He included Ryan Camenzuli to replace the suspended Joseph Zerafa, while Zach Muscat also earned another first-eleven call and he replaced Terence Vella. The 3-5-2 formation featured Shola Shodiya and Jhonnattann Benites in the forward line.
Mr. Branko Nisevic, the Coach of Hibernians, had the services of foreign-duo Marcelo Dias and Zoran Levnaic back in his selection, both having served a one match ban. Levnaic earned a place back inside the first-eleven selection. Marcelo Dias was benched as Nisevic kept his trust in Obinna Obiefule in the forward line, along with Edison Luis Dos Santos in the 3-5-2 formation, opted for by Mr. Nisevic.
The First Half
Birkirkara had to survive an early scare as three minutes in the match, Hibernians were denied from an early goal, when Jackson Lima had one of his powerful long-distance drives smashing the crossbar with Justin Haber beaten.
The Stripes settle down quickly, following this aggressive start by Hibernians and it was their turn to threaten for the opening goal on the seventh minute. Paul Fenech had a surging run before drifting inside the centre of the field but his shot ended wide.
Birkirkara made harsh claims for a penalty on the twelfth minute when Jhonnattann Benites was floored by Ryan Camilleri inside the box. While the Birkirkara clan were expecting referee Alan Mario Sant to point to the spot, he had a different opinion, and he cautioned the Birkirkara player for simulating a foul.
The opening stages of the first half continued to be played on high tempo, from one scoring opportunity to another. On the other half of the pitch, on the eighteenth minute, Bjorn Kristensen had a powerful yet central drive saved by Justin Haber.
Birkirkara began to gain momentum. Ryan Camenzuli had a shot ending wide on the twenty-fifth minute. Moments later, the promising youngster sent an inviting cross in direction of Jhonnattann Benites who lost control when he was about to conclude.
Following a corner kick from the right, Zach Muscat rose high on the twenty-seventh minute but he saw his header sallying over Mario Muscat's crossbar.
Jhonnattann Benites was being a continuous threat for the Paolites' rearguard. Whenever he had possession, Hibernians were constrained to double marking to reduce the danger that a player with the skills like Benites could create.
On the other hand, the Stripes' rearguard also did not have an easy task. The presence of Obinna Obiefule in the heart of the Birkirkara's defence proved to be a difficult test to deal with, as the movement of the Nigerian player was repaying Nisevic's trust.
Eight minutes from half time, Shola Shodiya gave possession with an erratic pass inside Birkirkara's half, and from a fast break away, Jackson Lima had his shot ending wide off Haber's left post.
The end of the first half whistle signalled by referee Alan Mario Sant found nothing to separate both sides.
The Second Half
The start of the second half was a harsh déjà-vu for the Hibernians fans, who once again had the illusion of the opening goal dashed by the crossbar. Matthew Bartolo surged down the right wing before delivering a cross in direction of Obinna Obiefule, who flicked the ball in direction of Edison Luis Dos Santos, but Haber blocked his shot. From the rebound, Jackson Lima did the unthinkable, as his shot from few meters rattled the woodwork before Birkirkara cleared into safety.
Hibernians received the sourest price for not converting their scoring opportunities as they were thought a hard lesson by Birkirkara who broke the dead-lock in their next foray on the fiftieth minute. Rowen Muscat delivered an excellent cross in the path of Edward Herrera and as the ball was still to land on the ground, Herrera hit an incredible volley and his rocket-shot whizzed in the top corner of the net with Hibernians goalkeeper Mario Muscat completely beaten.
Hibernians were unlucky not to quickly restore equilibrium just five minutes later. From Clayton Failla's free-kick, Andrew Cohen sent the ball back in the direction of Zoran Levnaic, and his strike scratched past Haber's far post.
The Paolites were once again blaming themselves for not converting their scoring opportunities as the sharpness of the Birkirkara forwards punished Hibernians for the second time. On the fifty-ninth minute, Shodiya had space to easily serve Jhonnattann Benites, who kept calm, before hitting past goalkeeper Muscat.
Clayton Failla's free-kick on the sixty-fifth minute found substitute Marcelo Dias, who was included just moments earlier to replace an injured Rodolfo Soares. He served Edison Luis Dos Santos, who from close range beat Justin Haber.
The goal by ‘Tarabai' certainly increased Hibernians' spirits in the match and Mr. Paul Zammit was quick to make his first change with the aim to reduce the Paolites momentum. Gareth Sciberras was replaced by Ryan Scicluna on the seventieth minute as the Birkirkara's Head Coach opted for a fresh pair of legs in his midfield department.
Hibernians were now desperate for the equalizing goal and they pushing forward with all their resources but it was Birkirkara who almost sealed the issue with the third goal ten minutes from time.
Paul Fenech's cross from the right, was short-cleared by the Hibernians' goalkeeper Mario Muscat, but he made up for his mistake by performing a decisive save off a shot from inside the box, by Shola Shodiya.
Mr. Zammit introduced Demba Toure off Jhonnattann Benites fifteen minutes from the end. Seven minutes from time, he played his last card, by including Frank Temile to replace Shola Shodiya.
As the match headed to stoppage time, Hibernians put everything forward including goalkeeper Mario Muscat when they won a set-piece, but the Birkirkara defenders cleared into safety and they held on to another precious victory.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Alejandro Mendoza, Nikola Vukanac, Edward Herrera, Ryan Camenzuli, Gareth Sciberras (70' Ryan Scicluna), Paul Fenech, Rowen Muscat, Shola Shodiya (83' Frank Temile), Jhonnattann Benites (75' Demba Toure).
HIBERNIANS: Mario Muscat, Ryan Camilleri, Rodolfo Soares (63' Marcelo Dias), Jackson Lima, Andrew Cohen (84' Jean Paul Farrugia), Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Zoran Levnaic, Matthew Bartolo, Edison Luis Dos Santos, Obinna Obiefule.
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Luke Portelli.
Fourth Official: Glenn Tonna.
Yellow Cards: 13' Jhonnattann Benites, 75' Ryan Scicluna, 80' Shola Shodiya, 85' Zach Muscat (Birkirkara), 36' Bjorn Kristensen, 82' Clayton Failla, 84' Edison Luis Dos Santos (Hibernians).
Scorers: 50' Edward Herrera, 59' Jhonnattann Benites (Birkirkara), 65' Edison Luis Dos Santos (Hibernians).
BOV Man of the Match: Edward Herrera (Birkirkara).
comments powered by Disqus
