Early goal sinks Stripes
by Ayrton Galea - 26th October 2014
Birkirkara FC suffered the third defeat in nine matches, when a goal by Edison Luis Dos Santos after nine minutes enabled Hibernians FC to open a seven-point lead on top of the BOV Premier League.
It was yet another bold statement by Hibernians of their real strength, that puts them among the main contenders of this year's Premier League. However, despite ending on the losing side, Birkirkara gave another satisfactory performance and once again showed their team's quality, which is now settling down.
It was a match that produced an early goal which was to be a decisive one, with Hibernians opting to play a containing game, threatening thanks to counter attack mainly based on the speed of their fast Tarabai and Jorginho.
In fact, although Birkirkara dominated possession, they struggled to threaten Henry Bonello, bar isolated scoring opportunities, as Hibernians held strong to register their eighth win in nine matches.
Birkirkara Coach, Mr. Paul Zammit fielded the same first-eleven selection as in the previous match. Matheus Bissi was once again deployed in front of the defence, while the Brazilian duo of Morais and Ledesma composed the attacking department in a 3-5-2 formation.
Gareth Sciberras was still side-lined with injury, while foreign duo forward of Eliandro Gonzaga and Vyacheslav Shevchenko were omitted from the eighteen-man squad.
The First Half
There was an early scare for the Stripes after just three minutes. Clayton Failla surged down the left flank before his cross-shot, aided with the wind, hit the crossbar, with the Birkirkara goalkeeper Justin Haber surprised and beaten.
Birkirkara replied on the eighth minute when they were awarded a free-kick and Matheus Bissi stepped up to hit a brilliant drive from distance, which scratched past the far post with the Hibernians goalkeeper Henry Bonello left stunned.
However, Hibernians broke the deadlock just a minute later. Jorge Pereira disposed of a back header by Bissi, with the Brazilian forward quickly feeding his attacking partner Edison Luis Dos Santos behind the Birkirkara defence, who in turn had the routine task of slotting home in front of Haber.
The Stripes were stunned and surprised. However, they showed character to step-up their match and improved their football. On the sixteenth minute, they went close on equalising with a well-built scoring opportunity. Zach Muscat's low cross was desperately deflected by the Hibernians' rear-guard with the ball falling in the path of Ryan Scicluna who fired over from an ideal position.
Birkirkara threatened again on the twenty-second minute. The danger for Hibernians once again came from their left side, when Edward Herrera went past Clayton Failla before his cross found Ledesma, only to be intercepted by Andrei Agius who cleared into safety.
The Stripes received an unexpected setback mid-way the first half. Matheus Bissi suffered an ankle injury and was unable to continue playing. This forced Mr. Paul Zammit to make his first change, with Shola Shodiya replacing Bissi on the half-hour mark.
The inclusion of Shodiya lead to some tactical changes as the Nigerian forward gave more support to strikers Ledesma and Morais, with Paul Fenech deployed as the defensive shield in front of the Birkirkara's rear-guard.
Hibernians had a penalty-shout turned down five minutes from half-time, when Tarabai surged on the right side but lost his balance in a duel with Nikola Vukanac inside the box but the referee waved play on.
Birkirkara tried to make a reaction as they continued to search for the equalising goal but they struggled to test Henry Bonello. The Stripes headed to their dressing rooms chasing Hibernians who were enjoying a lead of 1-0.
The Second Half
The Stripes looked to be raising their game, as eighth minutes into the second half, they tested goalkeeper Henry Bonello. Substitute Shola Shodiya made one of his typical moves, by dribbling past a player and cutting to the middle, before his strike was parried by the Hibernians goalkeeper.
Three minutes later, Jackson Lima of Hibernians had a long-distance strike ending wide and over. Moments later, Tarabai had a spectacular over-head kick ending wide off a corner from the right.
Have enjoyed possession for long stretches but failing to unzip the solid Hibernians defence, Mr. Paul Zammit affected his second substitution twenty minutes from time when he included the Edmond Agius off Ryan Camenzuli, to have a fresh pair of legs in the midfield.
Time was running out for the Stripes, who had been pushing forward, and ten minutes from time, Morais almost drew level with a desperate powerful strike which scratched past the top right far post.
With most of the Birkirkara players upfront, this left gaps in the defence, and Hibernians came close to doubling their lead. Six minutes from time Jorginho did well to control the ball inside the area before hitting a shot that drew a fine save from Justin Haber.
In Birkirkara's last substitution, five minutes from time, Leighton Grech replaced Ryan Scicluna as the Birkirkara Coach played his last card, however nothing really could break the Hibernians defence, as they held strong for a narrow but important victory.
The referee's full time whistle found Hibernians registering their eight win in nine matches to open a seven-point lead on top of the BOV Premier League table and condemn the Stripes to their third league defeat in nine matches.
Hibernians' striker Edison Luis Dos Santos was named the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Edward Herrera, Alejandro Mendoza, Matheus Bissi (30' Shola Shodiya), Nikola Vukanac, Ryan Camenzuli (70' Edmond Agius), Zach Muscat, Ryan Scicluna (86' Leighton Grech), Paul Fenech, Rafael Ledesma, Ellinton Morais.
HIBERNIANS: Henry Bonello, Timothy Tabone, Rui Gomes, Jackson Lima, Rodolfo Soares, Andrew Cohen (90' Jurgen Degabriele), Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Andrei Agius, Edison Luis Dos Santos, Jorge Pereira.
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Roberto Vella.
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow Cards: 57' Zach Muscat (Birkirkara), 51' Clayton Failla (Hibernians).
Scorers: 9' Edison Luis Dos Santos (Hibernians).
BOV Player of the Match: Edison Luis Dos Santos (Hibernians).
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