Birkirkara 1
Mifsud Triganza 42;
Hibernians 0

Four points off the summit, Birkirkara were faced with a must-win scenario ahead of their clash with fellow title hopefuls Hibernians.

Although it’s still somewhat premature to talk of decisive title showdowns, given the proximity of the teams in the upper reaches of the table, Birkirkara had good cause to consider this match as make-or-break as another upset would have left them seven points behind their opponents.

The pressure on both teams to avoid defeat was palpable in a low-key affair that failed to live up to expectations of a thrilling contest.

It was bereft of creative football and scoring chances but throughout the 90 minutes, Birkirkara enjoyed a clear tactical edge, went about their task with more determination and were the brighter side in the attacking phase.

Their efforts reaped the desired reward as the Stripes ground out a deserved 1-0 victory which would have been more pronounced had they converted at least one of the string of chances that came their way in the second half when Hibs threw more men forward in a bid to score an equaliser.

The Paolites had come into this match in a positive frame of mind after their 3-0 win in the derby but they were far from their best yesterday.

Short of ideas and shorn of belief, Hibs hardly mustered a shot at goal in the first half as the likes of Andrew Cohen and Jackson Lima struggled to exert their usual influence in midfield while Birkirkara stifled the supply to lone striker Allan Kardeck.

Coach Michael Woods did try to inject some flair and power into his midfield and attack by changing tactics but Hibs remained too predictable. Their attempts were easily repelled by Birkirkara who were more dangerous on the counter, mainly courtesy of Edward Herrera whose marauding runs down the right wing caused endless problems to the Hibs defenders.

Justin Haber returned to guard Birkirkara’s goal after completing his one-match ban. The 1-0 upset to Sliema Wanderers impelled Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara coach, to refresh things as Rodrigo Pereira, Ryan Scicluna and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza were awarded a starting role.

Nigerian forward Shola Shodiya Haruna was ruled out with suspension while Zach Muscat and Ryan Camenzuli were demoted to the bench.

In attack, Mifsud Triganza was flanked by Jhonnattann with Herrera and Joseph Zerafa under instructions to put their speed and agility to good effect when their team broke forward. Their tactical approach was a fluid 3-4-3 which had captain Gareth Sciberras anchoring the midfield.

Brazilian Allan Kardeck replaced Jonathan Pearson in the only change in the Hibs team from the 3-0 victory over Tarxien as Nigerian Obinna Obiefule was among the substitutes.

Their strategy was unchanged as Woods kept faith with 4-1-4-1 with Kardeck stationed in front of the attacking midfield quartet of Jean Paul Farrugia, Cohen, Marcelo Dias and Lima.

The early exchanges were balanced but Birkirkara gradually began to impose themselves on the game.

Close to the 20th minute mark, Mifsud Triganza retrieved possession outside the penalty area and laid the ball to Jhonnattann who rifled over the bar.

A cross-shot by Farrugia flew across Birkirkara’s penalty area and landed beyond the far post but no Hibs player was on hand to continue the action.

Clearcut scoring chances were something of a rarity in the opening half-hour as the two sides lacked firepower in the final third.

A whiff of anticipation swept through the Birkirkara fans at the sight of Mifsud Triganza advancing unimpeded in the inside-left channel but his poor cross towards Jhonnattann was headed away by Adrian Pulis.

Hibs appealed for a penalty when Farrugia went down under the challenge of Pereira but referee Andre Arciola allowed play to continue.

Haber made his first noteworthy intervention of the afternoon when he fisted away Lima’s cross-shot from a left-wing free-kick. From the ensuing counter-attack, Paul Fenech exchanged passes with Jhonnattann but the midfielder’s drive was repelled by Mario Muscat.

Birkirkara drew first blood in their next foray. Their ability to get several players in attacking positions when surging forward unsettled Hibs as Scicluna slipped the ball to Herrera who burst clear before teeing up Mifsud Triganza who prodded home at the far post.

The Paolites’ troubles to pose a semblance of attacking threat can’t have escaped the attention of Woods as the teams headed for the dressing rooms. As was to be expected, Woods moved to address this flaw by moving Farrugia and Dias into attack before introducing Johann Bezzina for Bjorn Kristensen.

Eight minutes into the second half, Birkirkara threatened to increase their lead, Nikola Vukanac heading wide from Jhonnattann’s free-kick.

The Stripes were dangerous again when a long clearance from the back eluded Pulis who was beaten for speed by Jhonnattann but the Brazilian hammered wide.

Woods’s positional adjustments added some much-needed steel to Hibs’ attack. On the hour, the roaming Dias delivered a teasing cross from the left but Cohen was anticipated by Alejandro Mendoza at the far post.

With Hibs now enjoying more possession, Birkirkara were relying more on counter-attacks. Midway through the second half, another header by Vukanac was blocked by Muscat.

Another reminder of Birkirkara’s counter-attacking threat came on 74 minutes when Herrera embarked on a twisting run that took him into the box but the former Hibs winger scuffed his shot.

This was the cue for Woods to make another positional switch as Pearson, who had just replaced Kardeck, took up a defensive midfield role to enable Jackson Lima to move further upfield.

It was Birkirkara who came close to administering the killer touch when substitute Joselito’s pass was deflected into the path of Scicluna who was clean through but Muscat was quick off his line to ward off the Birkirkara midfielder’s effort.

Cohen had been a peripheral figure for much of the game but the Malta midfielder almost conjured up an equaliser for Hibs three minutes from time with a curling free-kick that hit the post.

As Hibs committed more men forward in search of an equaliser, Birkirkara were finding more space in their opponents’ half.

Their defensive vulnerability was there for all to see when Herrera, the best player yesterday, raced through on the right before squaring the ball to Camenzuli, who had just come on for Scicluna, but the Malta Under-21 winger mishit his shot.

In stoppage time, Hibs should have equalised when Lima’s cross was only partially cleared but Farrugia rifled wide.

Birkirkara
J. Haber-6.5, E. Herrera-7.5, N. Vukanac-6.5, A. Mendoza-6.5, R. Pereira-6.5, R. Scicluna-7 (85 R. Camenzuli), G. Sciberras-7, P. Fenech-7, Jhonnattann-6 (78 Joselito), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6.5 (76 R. Muscat), J. Zerafa-6.5.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-5.5, A. Pulis-5, R. Camilleri-6, R. Soares-5, M. Dias-5, A. Cohen-5, B. Kristensen-5 (52 J. Bezzina-5), J. Lima-5, C. Failla-5.5, J.P. Farrugia-5, Allan Kardeck-5 (74 J. Pearson).

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Yellow cards: Farrugia; Dias; Pereira; Camilleri; Kardeck; Zerafa; Fenech; Failla

BOV player of the match: Edward Herrera (Birkirkara).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Valletta	24	14	8	2	54	15	27
Hibernians	24	15	3	6	50	25	26
Birkirkara	24	13	7	4	48	20	25
Sliema	24	12	5	7	35	22	23
Tarxien	23	11	5	7	39	35	19
Mosta	23	11	1	11	39	38	17
Qormi	24	10	3	11	35	36	18
Balzan	23	8	6	9	37	37	17
Floriana	23	6	9	8	28	32	15
Ħamrun	24	5	4	15	27	62	11
Rabat	24	2	8	14	19	48	9
Melita	24	3	5	16	19	60	7