Sturdy Hibs defy Floriana

'A great white wall of defiance'. That's how the Times of Malta described Hibs' performance in the league game against Floriana played on November 21, 1948.

This game can be defined as one of the classic encounters of the immediate post-war period. Nearly 60 years have passed since the referee blew the final whistle but you still find people in Paola who remember that match. They will tell you in no uncertain terms of Hibs' defiance of the great Floriana team of that era.

The Greens were at the time on the brink of a bright patch. The Ajax players were maturing into the greatest club combination in the history of our football and were already showing signs of things to come.

A game against Floriana in those days was no mean task and there was probably no team in the land which could stand up to them. They were, therefore, firm favourites to bag both points from their league game against Hibs. The Paolites had a good side but they seemed to lack the will and motivation needed to challenge for the honours.

Hibs kicked off but as expected Floriana quickly took control and enjoyed most of the early exchanges. But Hibs, having held firm, scored in their very first attack.

A quick throw-in from the right was sliced awkwardly by Leli Zammit into his own area. Cali quickly pounced on the ball and pushed it into the net under Portelli's falling body.

Floriana did not panic. They increased their efforts but Hibs, led by the great Censu Friggieri, Iz-Zibga, not only coped with the pressure but produced many dangerous counter-attacks.

Twenty minutes after their opener, Hibs should have gone further ahead when Friggieri dribbled his way to the goal-line before presenting Cali with a goal on a silver platter. The centre-forward's furious shot from point blank range was brilliantly saved by Portelli. The ball ran loose to Pirotta but with the goalkeeper still stretched out on the ground, Zammit came to the rescue and cleared the ball off the line.

A minute later, Floriana had a glorious chance to equalise.

Charlie Azzopardi beat Victor Formosa before passing to Pullu Demanuele. The latter, however, was a fraction too late to meet the ball which whizzed harmlessly past the upright.

In the second half, Hibs retreated back in defence. One Greens attack followed another but the Hibs' rearguard refused to yield. It was reminiscent of other great matches played by Hibs in those days in which the odd on favourites had all their wiles and hopes dashed by the great-hearted Paola defenders.

With nine and sometimes 10 men packing their area Hibs resisted every attack. The seconds kept ticking away until only two minutes were left on the clock.

The Floriana supporters had long surrendered hope on their team's chances to score an equaliser. Then, Demanuele tried to float the ball from the right over Formosa. The goalkeeper partially parried but the ball fell to Charlie Azzopardi, Il-Gross. He shot straight and true into goal but there was Friggieri on the goal-line to stop the ball with his hand in extremis.

It was a penalty all the way which nowadays would have earned Friggieri a red card. The rules, however, were different in those days. Everyone held his breath as Lolly Borg took the kick and placed it wide of goalkeeper Formosa.

There was hardly enough time to restart the game before the referee whistled the end of hostilities. Hibs were heartbroken. They naturally felt aggrieved to concede the equaliser under such circumstances.

Floriana thanked their lucky stars for such an unexpected opportunity to save a point.

This is the beauty of football however. It is an unpredictable game in which the gods sometimes indulge themselves and interfere in the proceedings.

For the record

League Championship
Nov. 21, 1948 - The Empire Stadium

Hibernians vs Floriana 1-1

Hibernians: J. Formosa, P. Deguara, D. Edwards, J. Cachia, V. Formosa, E. Schembri, J. Pirotta, F. Church, F. Cali, C. Friggieri, L. Seychell.

Floriana: Portelli, L. Debattista, L. Zammit, Zahra, Grech, T. Vella, Farrugia, B. Camilleri, C. Azzopardi, L. Borg, P. Demanuele.

Scorers: Cali (H); Borg (F) pen.

Referee: Mr Barbara.

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