Floriana make their point as Hibs’ winless streak continues

Hibernians 1
Pearson 26;
Floriana 1
Agius 16;

Floriana have clearly come a long way since kicking off their league campaign with a 3-1 reverse to Hibs back in September.

Their 1-1 draw in the second-round skirmish with the Paolites yesterday presented further evidence of the Greens’ improvement but it also confirmed Hibs’ on-going travails as Mark Miller’s team have now gone nine matches without a win.

Hibs’ barren spell has jolted their confidence as the ‘home’ team made a tentative start to yesterday’s game, going behind after only 16 minutes. Keen to extend their positive run to three matches, Floriana seemed intent on taking full advantage of Hibs’ early toils but Miller’s men improved after Jonathan Pearson put them back on level terms on 26 minutes.

Having traded early goals, the two sides worked hard to seize the upperhand in a combative encounter but their bold efforts failed to yield more goals.

With Andrew Cohen looking revitalised for much of the second half, Hibs turned up the heat on Floriana who, every now and then, offered a reminder of their attacking threat, but the draw was arguably a fair outcome, especially on the balance of the chances created by both teams.

The two goalkeepers contributed to the sharing of the spoils as both produced a string of fine saves throughout the game.

While Floriana kept their place in the upper reaches of the standings on 15 points, Hibs remained in troubled waters with just eight points from 10 games after yesterday’s stalemate.

Newly-signed Portuguese midfielder Paulo Sereno made his debut for Hibs. With forwards Paul McManus and Jean Paul Farrugia deemed unfit to play from the start, Miller deployed youngster Steve Pisani at the tip of his 4-1-4-1 formation while another up-and-coming player, Bjorn Kristensen, took up an advanced midfield position.

The towering Matt Clarke was restored to his usual station in the centre of defence alongside Pearson as Aaron Xuereb had to make do with a place on the subs’ bench.

The one-match ban imposed on Christian Caruana and Joseph Borg forced Floriana coach Todor Raykov into two changes from the Valletta stalemate. Luke Agius and Ryan Darmanin deputised for the suspended duo as the Bulgarian mentor opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Darmanin and Woods were given instructions to interchange in attack while Michael Mecerod and Agius operated on the flanks.

Floriana fashioned the first noteworthy opportunity after 14 minutes. Pouncing on a missed clearance by Pearson, Mecerod surged into the box but his grounder was blocked by Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper.

The expectant Hibs fans sighed with relief but their respite was temporary. Barely two minutes later, Mecerod burst through on the left before guiding a perfect pass to Agius who drilled a low shot past the diving Muscat. This came on 16 minutes.

Pablo Doffo threatened to add to his former team’s woes when he was first to react after Hibs had partially cleared a Christian Cassar corner but the Argentine midfielder’s first-time flick sailed wide of the near post.

This time, Hibs made the most of their reprieve as, on 26 minutes, they levelled matters. Cohen’s cross arced towards the six-yard box where Clarke used his giant frame to chest the ball back to Pearson who showed fine poise as he rammed the ball home. One-all.

Hibs would probably have gone ahead but for Mano Micallef’s excellent penalty-box tackle on Richie Hart after Pisani had dispossessed Brian Said. The Floriana left-back was prominent again when hooking the ball away from Andrew Cohen after Paulo Sereno had been given time and space to deliver a teasing cross from the left.

The game fluctuated as Floriana quickly switched from defence to attack with Micallef serving Mecerod whose run into the box was halted by Herrera. The loose ball rolled to Woods who sped into the penalty area but ended on the ground after colliding with Matthew Gauci. ‘Penalty’ screamed the Floriana supporters but their claims were waved away by referee Esther Azzopardi.

On the brink of half-time, Hibs had a golden chance to snatch the lead as Zoran Levnaic delivered an inch-perfect pass to Clarke who was unmarked in the area but the English defender volleyed wide of the far post.

Deep into first-half stoppage time, Muscat denied Floriana with a fine save to keep out Woods’s exquisite volley from outside the box.

Early in the second half, Cohen became the first player to go into the referee’s book after he was adjudged to have dived as he came into contact with Micallef.

The pocket-sized Hibs talisman was at the centre of attention moments later as he was seemingly impeded by Doffo when trying to head Hart’s cross but Azzopardi waved play on.

The lady in black faced more claims of a penalty when Levnaic made a robust challenge to rob the incoming Clyde Borg of the ball but Azzopardi rightly ruled that the Serbian’s intervention was regular.

Despite being overrun in midfield, the Greens remained dangerous on the counter as long balls from the ball often caught the Hibs’ defence unawares.

Muscat saved a tame header from Darmanin before Woods spurned a golden chance. The former Sliema striker’s strong run took him to the byline but he skied his shot from close in.

With 19 minutes remaining, Clarke headed over from Cohen’s corner. Having just replaced Sereno, McManus threatened to make an instant impact when Herrera’s cross reached him in the six-yard box but the Scottish striker’s flick sailed straight at Lofti Saidi.

The two teams persisted with their bold efforts to carve openings in a combative second half.

Muscat did well to save Mecerod’s diagonal effort but more eye-catching was the intervention of Saidi who leapt to his left to stop a dangerous shot from McManus.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-7.5, M. Gauci-5, E. Herrera-6.5, J. Pearson-6 (61 J.P. Farrugia-4), M. Clarke-5 (84 A. Xuereb), R. Hart-6, Z. Levnaic-7.5, A. Cohen-6.5, Paulo Sereno-5.5 (78 P. McManus), S. Pisani-5, B. Kristensen-4.

Floriana
L. Saidi-7.5, M. Micallef-7, D. Pisani-5, T. Farrugia-6.5, B. Said-6, C. Cassar-5 (56 C. Borg-5), P. Doffo-6, M. Mecerod-6.5, L. Agius-6 (59 M. Gauci-4), I. Woods-5.5, R. Darmanin-4.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Cohen; Hart; Micallef; Woods; Pisani.

BOV player of the match: Michael Mecerod (Floriana).