Hibernians 1
Edison 65;
Birkirkara 2
Herrera 51; Jhonnattann 59;

“We are the team to beat,” trumpeted Edward Herrera ahead of Birkirkara’s top-of-the-table showdown with Hibernians.

The Malta wing-back played a big role in ensuring that the champions retained their ‘team-to-beat’ tag as his thunderous volley early in the second half swayed a balanced game in his team’s favour.

There had been little between these two heavyweights in a close but low-key first half but Herrera’s superb strike lit the touchpaper and sprung the game into life.

Another emphatic finish from Brazilian Jhonnattann only eight minutes after Herrera’s opener cemented Birkirkara’s grip on the game and top spot in the table as the Stripes prevailed largely thanks to their tactical organisation and ability to surge forward with speed on the counter.

Their second goal came after a typical fast breakaway with their two front men, Shola Shodiya Haruna and Jhonnattann combining well to punish a sloppy Hibs defence that was handicapped by the injury to Rodolfo Soares in-curred in the first half.

Hibs needed a win to reel in Birkirkara at the top. As it turned out, they have now fallen six points behind the champions after another up-and-down performance against a title rival.

Although Hibs’ key players, the likes of Andrew Cohen and Clayton Failla, failed to shine yesterday, the Paolites were left to curse their ill-luck as Birkirkara’s opener came just after Jackson Lima hit a post and the killer second followed another missed chance, this time by the tenacious Zoran Levnaic.

Marcelo Dias’s introduction rejuvenated Hibs as the Brazilian made an instant impact by setting up Edison’s goal but their ensuing efforts fell short as Birkirkara closed ranks at the back to make amends for their first-round defeat to the Paolites and open up a four-point gap on Valletta.

Gareth Sciberras was back in Birkirkara’s initial formation after the Malta midfielder completed his recovery from a shoulder injury.

His inclusion was not the only change from the 2-1 defeat of Mosta as Zach Muscat and Ryan Camenzuli were also assigned a starting role.

Left-back Joseph Zerafa was ruled out with suspension, striker Terence Vella was only deemed fit to start on the bench owing to an ankle problem while midfielder Daniel Zerafa was missing from the 18-man squad.

The return of Levnaic and Dias, both suspended for the victory over Rabat, provided a welcome boost for Branko Nisevic.

Levnaic’s industry and combative qualities in midfield prompted the Hibs coach to draft the Serbian back into the team but Dias had to make do with a place on the bench as Nisevic kept faith with Nigerian striker Obinna Obiefule on the back of his lively display against Rabat.

Apart from its status as a clash between two title candidates, this match shaped up as a tactical battle between two coaches who favour a three-man defence.

Hibs had Obiefule and Luis Edison leading from the front with Cohen handed roaming duties.

Frank Temile’s bright cameo in the Mosta win was not enough to earn him a berth in the starting line-up as Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit stuck with Jhonnattann and Haruna as his two main strikers.

It was in midfield where Zammit offered a mini-surprise yesterday as he initially deployed Sciberras in an advanced position with Rowen Muscat sitting in front of defence.

There was an early scare for Birkirkara as Jackson Lima’s humdinger from the distance soared menacingly towards goal but the ball cannoned off the woodwork.

The proceedings livened up as Birkirkara began to ask more questions of the Hibs defence.

When Jhonnattann slumped to the ground after being challenged by Ryan Camilleri, Birkirkara expected referee Alan Mario Sant to whistle a penalty but their optimism gave way to indignation when he cautioned the Brazilian forward for simulation.

At the other end, Haber effected a routine save from Bjorn Kristensen’s drive.

Danger again beckoned for Birkirkara when Matthew Bartolo, manning the right flank, cushioned Failla’s cross into the path of Luis Edison but the latter’s effort was too weak to trouble the Bir-kirkara goalkeeper.

Midway into the first half, Camenzuli’s dipping cross from the left landed at the feet of Jhonnattann in the six-yard box but he lost his footing as he was about to conclude.

Birkirkara established a toehold in the game as first half gathered momentum. Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper, stopped Camenzuli’s grounder and Zach Muscat headed over from Jhonnattan’s corner.

On the half-hour, Haber fisted away Failla’s free-kick as Hibs began to stroke the ball around with precision. Obiefule’s movement and effective shielding of the ball made him an awkward client for the Birkirkara defence.

Eight minutes from half-time, Lima was wide with a diagonal shot but, by and large, the game remained bereft of excitement.

A whiff of anticipation coursed through the Hibs fans when, four minutes into the second half, Bartolo made ground on the right before crossing for Obiefule. The Nigerian’s header was deflected into the path of Edison whose effort from point-blank range was kept out by Haber.

Surely, Lima could not miss from the rebound but his shot rattled the crossbar.

Hibs paid dearly for this miss as, in their next foray, Birkirkara scored. It was a beauty as Rowen Muscat’s raking cross from the left arced towards Herrera who dragged his right foot before unleashing an unstoppable volley that ripped past the keeper.

The Paolites were unlucky not to grab an instant equaliser. From Failla’s free-kick, Cohen laid the ball back for Levnaic whose first-time strike grazed the far post.

Once again, Hibs would come to rue this missed chance as, from their next attack, Birkirkara doubled their advantage.

The Paolites were found wanting at the back as Haruna had time and space to guide a pass to Jhonnattann who rifled past Muscat.

Chants of ‘campioni, campioni’ boomed around the National Stadium as the Birkirkara faithful raised the noise levels but Hibs hauled themselves back into contention.

Dias, having just come on for Rodolfo Soares, who injured his shoulder in the opening half, picked out Edison who drilled his shot past Haber.

This goal inevitably lifted Hibs’ spirits. Energised by Dias’s running, the Paolites swarmed forward with greater urgency while Birkirkara were relying on counter-attacks.

A cross from Cohen was pawed away by Haber before Dias blasted wide after cutting in from the left.

Ten minutes from time, Bir-kirkara almost added a third goal. Muscat partially cleared a cross from Paul Fenech but the goalkeeper made up for his mistake as he repelled Haruna’s follow-on shot.

As the game trickled into stoppage time, Hibs hurled caution to the wind with Muscat also sprinting upfield when his team were awarded a free-kick but Failla’s cross was booted upfield by the Stripes’ defenders.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-5.5, R. Camilleri-5.5, R. Soares-6 (64 M. Dias-6.5), J. Lima-5.5, A. Cohen-5 (84 J.P. Farrugia), B. Kristensen-7, C. Failla-5.5, Z. Levnaic-7.5, M. Bartolo-5.5, L. Edison-6, O. Obiefule-6.

Birkirkara
J. Haber-6.5, Z. Muscat-7, A. Mendoza-6.5, N. Vukanac-6.5, R. Camenzuli-6.5, G. Sciberras-6 (72 R. Scicluna-6), Jhonnattann-6.5 (75 D. Toure), R. Muscat-6.5, S.S. Haruna-6.5 (83 F. Temile), P. Fenech-7, E. Herrera-7.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Jhonnattann; Kristensen; Scicluna; Haruna; Failla; Edison; Z. Muscat.

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

Attendance: 1,416.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Birkirkara	16	13	2	1	30	13	41
Valletta	16	12	1	3	37	11	37
Hibernians	16	11	2	3	40	18	35
Sliema	16	8	5	3	31	19	29
Mosta	16	7	1	8	31	30	22
Floriana (-6)	16	8	3	5	26	20	21
Naxxar Lions	16	6	3	7	22	24	21
Balzan	16	4	4	8	17	25	16
Qormi	16	4	2	10	20	31	14
Tarxien	16	3	4	9	17	32	13
Vittoriosa	16	3	3	10	18	36	12
Rabat Ajax	16	1	2	13	13	43	5