Hibernians 2
Failla 13 pen, Dias 72;
Floriana 1
Villa 60 pen;
A controversial Marcelo Dias goal got Hibernians their first win as they beat Floriana 2-1 last night.
The Greens, already incensed by referee Clayton Pisani’s decision to award the Paolites a ‘soft’ first-half penalty, claimed Andrew Cohen was offside when he pushed the ball home 18 minutes from time but it seems that the referee had deemed Dias’s effort had already crossed the goal-line before the Hibs’ skipper rushed into the action.
Arguments over the referee’s two crucial decisions flowed back and forth but all that matters for Branko Nisevic were the three points.
The Greens thought they had taken the lead after just four minutes but Chiesa could not make a decent contact with the ball in front of gaping goal from a free-kick.
After 12 minutes, Jurgen Pisani caught out the Hibs defence with a surging run on the flank before playing the ball back to Conor Borg but he ran out of position.
Hibs had begun to stifle their opponents’ counter-attacks and the breakthrough arrived through Jorginho when the Brazilian fell under the challenge of keeper Matthew Calleja Cremona. From the spot-kick, Failla planted the penalty beyond the keeper’s reach.
Fontanella hit the Hibs post on 24 minutes with a powerful drive as the Italian striker was a constant test for the Paolites.
Sensing Hibs’ toils to get their usual passing game off the ground, Floriana increased their efforts in search of an equaliser.
On 55 minutes, substitute Andrea Scozzese unleashed a powerful drive from outside the box that finished off the post.
Hibs survived another scare when Chiesa beat keeper Jurgen Borg but the latter was offside.
The champions were on the ropes with Floriana swarming forward, an equaliser seemed inevitable.
And on 60 minutes they were awarded a penalty when Dias brought Monticelli down in the box. Mauricio Villa coolly sent the ball behind Borg from the spot.
However, the Greens suffered a setback two minutes later when defender Enrico Pepe was sent off for a second booking.
More woes hit Floriana when Dias’s shot hit the far post and Cohen made sure of the goal. The impression from the stands was that Cohen was offside but the ball had already crossed the line before his intervention.
The decision to award the goal irked Floriana president Ricardo Gaucci who protested vehemently and got sent off.
Numerical parity was restored five minutes from time when Lima was shown the red card.
Floriana were down but not out and Borg had to draw a fine save to deny Monticelli after being released by Chiesa.
Hibernians
J. Borg-6.5, R. Da Gracia Gomes-6, Jackson Lima, R. Soares-6.5, M. Dias-6.5, A. Cohen-6 (86 J. Pearson), B. Kristensen-6 (74 Gilmar), C. Failla-6, A. Agius-7, Jorge-5, Jorginho-5.
Floriana
M.C. Cremona-6, A. Monticelli-6.5, E. Pepe, Clyde Borg-5.5, M. Villa-6 (64 S. Pisani), Conor Borg-5 74 (M. Picciolo), J. Pisani-7, S. Bonnici-6 (52 A.Scozzese-5.5), E. Briffa-6.5, N. Chiesa-6.5, M. Fontanella-6.5.
Yellow cards: Calleja Cremona, Pepe, Dias, Briffa, Gilmar, Lima, Pisani.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Red cards: Pepe (F) 62, Lima (H) 85.
BOV player of the match: Marcelo Dias.