Hibernians 4
Lima 21; Failla 23 pen, 48; Farrugia 90;
Balzan 2
Borg 2 og; Spiteri 53;

Feeding on the attacking potency of strikers Obinna Obiefule and Luis Edison, Hibernians returned to winning ways after two consecutive defeats.

They secured their first points in the Championship Pool after fighting back from a goal down to beat Balzan 4-2.

A game marked by periods of shambolic defending from both sides, Hibernians recovered from a shaky start to punish their opponents who had begun brightly but faded out completely late in the second half.

Suspension deprived Balzan coach Jesmond Zerafa of midfielder Dylan Grima while Brazilians Ramon and Pedrinho were sidelined with injury.

Former Floriana winger Mark Spiteri stepped in for Grima in the only change in Balzan’s team from the 4-0 defeat by Sliema Wanderers.

Hibs’ initial formation featured two changes from the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Valletta. Luis Edison, back after serving a one-match ban, replaced Zoran Levnaic as Timothy Tabone Desira was preferred to Matthew Bartolo.

Defender Jonathan Pearson was only certified fit to start on the bench.

Balzan took the lead in bizarre circumstances after just 75 seconds.

Hibernians goalkeeper Juergen Borg lost his cool as he tried to deal with Andrew Scicluna’s routine header, from a corner by Spiteri, with the U-21 custodian punching the ball into his own net.

Balzan’s early goal suggested that they would up the pressure in search of a second with the ‘home side’ forced to reshuffle their pack and chase the game, but this was not forthcoming.

Midway into the first half, Hibernians were back on equal terms.

Lima twisted and turned in the box before scoring with another fluke goal as the ball deflected off Manuel Bartolo’s head after the Brazilian’s effort had crashed against the near post.

This goal sparked a spell of Hibernians pressure, Obiefule and Edison using their strength and pace to exploit the enormous gaps in Balzan’s half.

In the 23rd minute, the Nigerian striker capitalised on poor defending by Balzan to put Hibs’ noses in front.

Kurt Magro, who was again handed the onus of marshalling the defence in Ramon’s absence, was hustled out of possession by the rampaging Obiefule who was brought down in the box.

From the ensuing spotkick, Clayton Failla sent Bartolo the wrong way.

Little of note happened thereafter but in opening stages of the second half, it seemed as if the two sides had suddenly discovered a new route to goal.

Hibernians were first to find the target three minutes after the break, Failla striking a low shot through Balzan’s confused defence after Edison, with his back to goal, swept past Steve Bezzina before setting up the Malta winger.

The Paolites were attacking with breathtaking pace and Obiefule should have increased his team’s tally when he ran on to Andrew Cohen’s cross but his header hit the near post.

Balzan put their troubled start to the second half behind them as they trimmed the deficit on 53 minutes. A whipped free-kick by Fabio Vignaroli was met by Spiteri whose glancing header gave Borg no chance.

Sensing that another goal was not far away, Zerafa hauled off the ineffective Jose Luis Armario Negrin for Ryan Darmanin.

Nisevic responded by bringing on fresh legs as he sent on Jean Paul Farrugia for Obiefule.

Balzan could only create a chaotic reaction as the second half progressed with Hibernians coming close to putting the result beyond their opponents’ reach on two occasions.

With 13 minutes remaining, Farrugia’s shot was parried away by Bartolo. Six minutes from time, the Paolites were denied by a superb save from Barolo who leapt to his left to nudge Cohen’s free-kick around the post.

Hibernians persisted in causing panic in the Balzan defence.

Jurgen Degabriele, a late substitute for Scott Chircop, served Edison who produced a curling shot which Bartolo turned around.

From the ensuing corner, the ball landed at the feet of Farrugia who secured Hibernians’ win with a rising shot that stunned Bartolo.

Hibernians
J. Borg-5.5, R. Camilleri-6, I. Radusinovic-6, Jackson Lima-6.5, S. Chircop-6 (87 J. Degabriele), A. Cohen-6 (90 J. Bezzina), B. Kristensen-6, C. Failla-7, T. Tabone Desira-6, O. Obiefule-6.5 (69 J.P. Farrugia-6), Luis Edison-6.5.

Balzan
M. Bartolo-5.5, J. Grioli-6, S. Bezzina-5.5, A. Scicluna-5.5, K. Magro-5.5, F. Vignaroli-5.5, L. Micallef-5, M. Spiteri-6.5, E. Zarate Bilbao-6, L. Sciberras-5.5 (71 F. Aboulezz), J.L. Armario Negrin-5 (62 R. Darmanin-4).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Magro; Bartolo; Edison; Grioli; Camilleri.

BOV player of the match: Clayton Failla (Hibernians).

Attendance: 491.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Birkirkara	24	20	2	2	58	20	34
Valletta	24	18	3	3	56	16	31
Hibernians	25	16	2	7	63	34	27
Sliema	24	13	8	3	48	25	26
Mosta	24	13	2	9	46	40	22
Balzan	25	8	4	13	27	42	14
Floriana	24	10	4	10	36	39	17
Naxxar	24	8	4	12	29	42	15
Vittoriosa	25	6	4	15	29	53	13
Tarxien	24	5	5	14	30	48	12
Qormi	24	5	4	15	33	48	11
Rabat	25	1	4	20	19	68	4