HIBERNIANS 3 BALZAN 2
Andrew Cohen had a hand in all of his team’s three goals in a 3-2 victory over Balzan.
Hibernains have so far struggled to reproduce their enterprising football of last year and it looked even-more likely they would need a set-piece to break through against a high-flying Balzan. Cohen delivered the set-pieces that enabled Hibernians to propel to the top spot in the Premier League alongside Valletta.
While Cohen earned the plaudits for his deadball expertise, the tireless performance from Bjorn Kristensen, the author of two goals, Clayton Failla and Marcelo Dias in the middle swung the balance in the Paolites’ favour yesterday as they appeared to have learnt from the reverse fixture in which they led before drawing to a last-gasp goal by Aleksandar Vujacic. Yesterday, the Paolites did not lift their foot off the accelerator, hitting the crossbar twice before conceding a late goal by Balzan, which did not alert the result.
The opening exchanges were balanced, although Hibernians, with Failla and Cohen working hard to gain a foothold in midfield, were the more adventurous side. There was a thick maze in midfield, with players from either side engaged in setting up an opening. That came after 31 minutes from a set-piece. A well-floated free-kick by Cohen from the right, reached the unmarked Bjorn Kristensen whose well-placed header beat Senatore all the way.
That was short-lived as Balzan equalised immediately. Effiong’s dazzling skills were in abundant evidence as his polished footwork ran the Hibs ragged defence before beating the goalkeeper Jurgen Borg with a grounder.
Yet, the champions’ last ditch efforts to regain the lead before half-time were successful despite Balzan put more men behind the ball. The modus operandi was the same as Cohen’s set piece soared again towards the Balzan box and Kristensen scored with another glancing header.
Jackson Lima hit the bar from free-kick as Hibernains opened on the offensive. Despite their edge in possession, Hibernians could not find any fluent stride. So, set pieces were likely to do the trick. Cohen’s set-pieces were a source of discomfort for Oliver Spiteri, the Balzan coach. In the 49th minute, the Hibs skipper swung in a dangerous flag-kick with Pearson putting a headed touch to the ball to beat Senatore.
Effiong tried to carry the weight of Balzan’s attack on his own as he ran to a long-range ball from Zarate only to shot over the bar.
Ten minutes from time, Failla rattled the crossbar with a fine long-range effort in the 69th minute as the Paolites remained fully in control.
Hibernians paid for their profligacy as Balzan pulled a goal back five minutes from time. Substitute Godwin Mensha’s free-kick was touched by Vujacic on its way towards Valero Serrano who headed home. But that was a bit too little too late for Spiteri’s troops with Hibernians holding on to their three points.