Hibernians score late equalizer

by Matthaeus Grasso - 19th January 2010

In an action-packed match, Birkirkara were unable to hold on for just two more minutes, and conceded a late equalizer against mid-table placed Hibernians.

Our opponents started the match on a fine note, and had a couple of good goal scoring opportunities, before a tremendous shot by Birkirkara's Nikola Vukanac took a deflection and rattled the post. Moments later, a low Alan Tabone shot ended just wide.

On the 2oth minute mark, a corner by Alan Tabone was met by the head of towering defender Branko Nisevic, who managed to open the score for Birkirkara and send our supporters in delirium.

A good Ben Camilleri effort, could have made things level for Hibs, but Jorge Mora had other thoughts as he managed to put in another tremendous save.

On forty-two minutes, one of the assistant referees noted a hands ball by Shaun Bajada in the box, and as a result, the referee awarded the Paolites a penalty. Up stepped Chris Camilleri, whose shot was saved by Jorge Mora for yet another explosive celebration in the Birkirkara end of the encloseur.

The referee's half-time whistle found the Birkirkara supporters applauding their players for the positive performance, especially that by the Spanish goalkeeper.

After sixty minutes of play, Adrian Pulis clearly controlled the ball with his hand, before shooting past Jorge Mora, however much to the surprise of the crowd present at the Ta'Qali National Stadium, neither the referee nor any of his assistants noted this incident, and the goal stood.

With the Birkirkara players angry about this decision, and determined to pay back their opponents, Karl Pulo received a good pass from the left before running past a couple of defenders and goalkeeper Mario Muscat, and with goal at his mercy, Pulo slammed the ball home to put Birkirkara back in the lead, just a minute after conceding.

In the space of ten minutes, Michael Galea showed the sort of skills that has made him Birkirkara's best ever scorer, as first he drove a shot which was splendidly saved by Muscat, and then he performed a spectacular flying header, which was again was saved in style by the Hibernians goalkeeper.

With Birkirkara lowering the tempo, our opponents profited from this situation to score the equalizer in the 88th minute, as Andrew Cohen served Pulis, who headed the ball bravely into the net.

With this result, Birkirkara are now top, level on points with eternal rivals Valletta

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