BIRKIRKARA-1, HIBERNIANS-0
Birkirkara kept their title hopes alive after beating Hibs 1-0 in a top-of-the-table clash this afternoon.
Having fallen four points off the top following their 1-0 upset to Sliema Wanderers, Birkirkara had to win to stay in the hunt and they achieved that thanks to Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza's goal three minutes from half-time.
Hibs started the day level on points with Valletta at the top but they rarely looked capable of taking something from the match as their performance was generally poor.
The game took a while to take off with the result that scoring chances were few and far between for much of the opening half-hour.
Birkirkara had threatened first when Mifsud Triganza released Jhonnattann outside the box but the Brazilian blasted over.
At the other end, Hibs' Jean Paul Farrugia supplied a dangerous cross-shot with the ball dropping wide of the far post.
The Stripes created a good opening when Mifsud Triganza advanced on the left but his cross towards Jhonnattann was cleared by Adrian Pulis.
Late in the first half, Justin Haber, the Birkirkara goalkeeper, pushed away Jackson Lima's cross-shot from a free-kick. Birkirkara quickly broke forward on the counter with Jhonnattann setting up Paul Fenech whose drive was beaten away by Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper.
In their next attack, Birkirkara took the lead. Ryan Scicluna advanced on the right before setting up Mifsud Triganza who stabbed the ball past Muscat at the far post.
Eight minutes into the second half, Birkirkara threatened to double their lead, Nikola Vukanac heading wide from Jhonnattann's free-kick.
The Stripes were dangerous again when a long clearance from the back was missed Pulis who was beaten for speed by Jhonnattann but the Brazilian hammered wide.
On the hour, Dias supplied a teasing cross from the left but Cohen was anticipated by Alejandro Mendoza at the far post.
With Hibs now seeing more of the ball, Birkirkara were relying more on counter-attacks. Midway through the second half, another header by Vukanac was stopped by Muscat.
With 16 minutes remaining, Herrera jinked his way into the box only to shoot over. Birkirkara came close again when substitute Joselito's pass was deflected into the path of Scicluna whose shot was repelled by the on-rushing Muscat.
Three minutes from time, Hibs were unlucky not to draw level when Andrew Cohen's free-kick came off the base of the post.
Birkirkara also threatened to put the game beyond Hibs when Herrera again sprinted forward on the right before serving Ryan Camenzuli who blasted over.
In stoppage time, Hibs should have levelled when Lima's cross was only half cleared buy Birkirkara but Farrugia volleyed wide.
Birkirkara's Herrera was named BOV player of the match.