Barbara's double extends Stripes revival

Birkirkara 2
Hibernians 1

Birkirkara's renewed charge for a place in next season's UEFA Cup gained momentum yesterday when a quickfire double from prolific striker Etienne Barbara eased them to a comfortable victory over Hibernians.

It was another clinical performance from the Malta champions who were a cut above their depleted opponents. Once they took the lead, courtesy of a Barbara penalty, there was never any doubt as to who would leave Ta' Qali with the three points in the bag.

Barbara all but settled the issue with a second goal on the stroke of half-time with Hibs notching a late consolation through substitute Terence Farrugia.

Hibs, shorn of several first-team players, looked too weak to stop the Stripes from recording their third successive win under coach John Buttigieg. Thanks to their victory yesterday, Birkirkara strengthened third place in the standings and closed in on the runners-up spot. The Stripes are only two points behind second-placed Sliema who face leaders Marsaxlokk in this afternoon's top-of-the-table clash.

Hibs coach Robert Gatt was short of attacking options yesterday as strikers Ndubisi Chukunyere and Terence Scerri were out through suspension. In their absence, Thomas Caruana was given the onus of partnering Andrew Cohen.

Midfielders Edmund Agius and Andre Rocha Da Silva were also serving a one-match ban. Promising youngster Jonathan Xerri was handed a rare start on the left side of midfield while Julian Vella was switched to the centre. Defender Adrian Pulis returned for Hibs after missing the 2-1 defeat to Sliema Wanderers because of suspension.

Buttigieg was still without wing-back Lino Galea who is hampered by a hamstring injury. Clint Micallef replaced the former Sliema player. With midfielder George Mallia ruled out by a one-match ban, Dario Larrosa got a chance to push his claim for a regular place in the Stripes' first team. However, there was no place for Nigerian defender Precious Monye who started among the substitutes.

Hibs were the more enterprising team in the opening stages. In the third minute, Cohen tested Andrzej Bledzewski from a long range with the Polish goalkeeper tipping the ball over the bar.

Ten minutes later, Birkirkara had a genuine claim for a penalty when Adrian Ciantar appeared to have been upended by Pulis but the referee waved play on.

A minute later, it was the turn of William Camenzuli to try his luck from a distance but his effort was parried for a corner by Hibs goalkeeper Mario Muscat.

Birkirkara were dictating the game's tempo now as Hibs chose to operate on the counter but with little success.

On 22 minutes, Galea had an excellent chance to fire Birkirkara ahead after being put through by Ciantar's through ball but his shot was somehow kept out by Muscat.

Moments later, Barbara unsettled the Paolites defence by attacking the open space in the area before chipping the ball over the advancing Muscat. Luckily for Hibs, Aaron Xuereb was on hand to clear the danger.

Birkirkara's persistence was finally rewarded 10 minutes from half-time. Larrosa burst into the area but lost his balance when he was challenged by Pablo Doffo and Kenneth Spiteri with referee Alan Mario Sant immediately pointing to the penalty spot. Barbara stepped up for the kick and sent Muscat the wrong way.

Barbara was not finished yet and on the stroke of half-time, he struck again. The Malta striker was again well served by Ciantar as he raced into the area and placed the ball beyond Muscat's reach to put Birkirkara 2-0 up.

After the change of ends, Birkirkara continued where they had left off in the latter part of the first half.

On 48 minutes, Galea received the ball just outside the area but his curling shot flew just wide. Camenzuli threatened from a distance but his effort finished just wide.

Just shy of the hour, Buttigieg withdrew Larrosa in favour of Monye who played in front of his team's back four.

The woodwork denied Barbara a hat-trick on 62 minutes as the Birkirkara forward's fierce shot bounced off the upright. A minute later, Muscat did well to push away Ciantar's close-range shot

Bledzewski was finally called into action on 71 minutes when he palmed away Matthew Bartolo's angled shot.

The game lost much of its intensity in the final 15 minutes with Birkirkara easily preserving their two-goal lead.

In stoppage time, Hibs were unlucky not to pull a goal back when Caruana's header came off the bar before it was cleared for a corner. But, from the ensuing flag-kick, taken by Doffo, Bledzewski somehow kept out substitute Joseph Farrugia's close-range shot but from the rebound, Terence Farrugia, another substitute, did score a consolation goal for Hibs.

Birkirkara: A. Bledzewski-6, M.A. Bonnici-6, R. Sammut-6.5, W. Camenzuli-6.5, E. Barbara-7.5, M. Galea-7 ('88 J.P. Mifsud Triganza), R. Briffa-6 ('80 J. Holland), D. Larrosa-6.5 ('58 P. Monye-6), C. Micallef-6, K. Scicluna-6, A. Ciantar-7.

Hibs: M. Muscat-6.5, K. Spiteri-5, R. Briffa-5 ('75 T. Fleri Soler), A. Xuereb-5.5, A. Pulis-5.5, P. Doffo-6, M. Bartolo-6, J. Vella-5, T. Caruana-5, J. Xerri-5.5 ('61 J. Farrugia-5), A. Cohen-6.5 ('85 T. Farrugia).

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Scorers: Barbara 35 pen., 45; Farrugia 90.

Yellow Cards: Cohen; Camenzuli.

BoV Player of the Match: Etienne Barbara (Birkirkara).