Birkirkara keeps marching on
by Ayrton Galea - 24th March 2012
Birkirkara extended their positive run to five matches unbeaten. Thanks to a great performance, Birkirkara defeated Hibernians with a solitary goal, scored by the substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.
It was quite a boring match for long stretches as goal opportunities were lacking. Birkirkara's defence department was in a class of its on especially goalkeeper Reuben Gauci. In the second half, the match tempo increased a bit, and finally it was Birkirkara who converted a penalty ten minutes from the end, to break the deadlock.
This win puts Birkirkara back in the third position one point ahead of Floriana.
The First Half
In a boring first half, Hibernians had most of the possession but they failed to penetrate the Birkirkara solid defence. The Paolites' only option was to shoot from a long distance, however all attempts were neutralised by Reuben Gauci.
The first scoring opportunity of the match was for Birkirkara when on the 10th minute, a quick free-kick by Rodrigo Perreira found Ryan Scicluna who lobbed over Mario Muscat but the ball ended over by inches.
Shola Shodiya sent a fine through ball towards Ryan Scicluna on the 15th minute but it was intercepted by Mario Muscat.
A deflected cross by Shaun Bajada was saved by Mario Muscat on the 18th minute.
In the first scoring opportunity for Hibernians, on the 19th minute, Jackson Lima saw his long distance powerful shot ending wide.
Clayton Failla tested Reuben Gauci with another long distance powerful shot on the 32nd minute, but the goalkeeper blocked the shot in style.
Following a short clearance by a Hibernians defender on the 35th minute, Shaun Bajada failed to hit the ball properly from an ideal position and the attempt was easily saved by Muscat.
A Jason Vandelannoite direct freekick for Hibernians was saved by Reuben Gauci on the 38th minute.
In the last action for the first half, in the one minute of added time, a corner by Hibernians was saved by Gauci.
The Second Half
In the second half the match tempo increased as Hibernians were searching more for the opening goal, with Birkirkara operating from the counter attack. In fact, it was from a counter attack that Ryan Scicluna was fouled inside the box and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza scored from the penalty spot to give three precious points to Birkirkara.
In the first action of the second half on the 52nd minute, Hibernians had a shot ending wide.
A direct corner by Shaun Bajada was punched away by Mario Muscat on the 55th minute.
Hibernians' Head Coach Mark Miller utilised the first substitution as Peter Anizoba was replaced by Edward Herrera on the 57th minute.
On the hour mark, Paul Fenech had a weak long distance shot ending wide.
Injured Adrian Pulis had to be substituted on the 63rd minute by Jonathan Pearson.
A direct freekick by Rodrigo Pereira was deflected into corner on the 64th minute.
In the first substitution by Birkirkara on the 68th minute, Mr. Paul Zammit included Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza instead of Shaun Bajada.
Jackson Lima seemed to have put Hibernians ahead on the 72nd minute, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on a Birkirkara player. This decision caused severe protests by the Hibernians supporters.
Birkirkara were awarded a penalty on the 79th minute. Following a fine through-ball towards Ryan Scicluna, the same Scicluna anticipated Mario Muscat. Muscat dropped Ryan Scicluna inside the box. From the eleven metres, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza made no mistake to open the score.
In a very dangerous opportunity for Hibernians on the 81st minute, Edward Herrera's fine cross was saved by Gauci. From the rebound, Dias' effort was also saved by Gauci.
In the second substitution for Birkirkara, Rowen Muscat replaced Ryan Scicluna on the 82nd minute.
Hibernians Head Coach Mr. Mark Miller put everything forward on the 83rd minute, by including striker Steve Pisani instead of defender Aaron Xuereb.
In a golden chance for Hibernians on the 88th minute, Andrew Cohen beat the offside trap and all alone in front of Gauci he lobbed the ball over, to the disappointment of the Hibernians supporters.
Mr. Paul Zammit tried to defend this result by including Ryan Camenzuli instead of Shola Shodiya on the 89th minute.
In the four minutes of added time, which, for the Birkirkara clan seemed to never pass, the Birkirkara defenders stayed concentrated and solid, and the result stayed as a 1-0 win for ‘The Stripes'.
Hibernians' Jackson Lima was voted as the BoV man of the match.
BIRKIRKARA: Reuben Gauci, Ryan Scicluna (82' Rowen Muscat), Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Shaun Bajada (68' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech, Rodrigo Pereira, Angus Buhagiar, Shola Shodiya (89' Ryan Camenzuli), Jorge Santos Silva.
HIBERNIANS: Mario Muscat, Aaron Xuereb (83' Steve Pisani), Rodolfo Soares, Clayton Failla, Adrian Pulis (63' Jonathan Pearson), Bjorn Kristensen, Jackson Lima, Marcelo Dias, Jason Vandelonnoite, Andrew Cohen, Peter Anizoba Chizoba (57' Edward Herrera)
Scorers: Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza 79'
Yellow Cards: Marcelo Dias, Aaron Xuereb (Hibernians), Shola Shodiya (Birkirkara)
Man of the match: Jackson Lima (Hibernians)
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