Justin Grioli launches a Balzan attack yesterday. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Balzan 0
Hibernians 2
Edison 52; Obiefule 55;

Two defeats against the other title contenders in the past weeks have punctured Hibs’ invincible aura. But this success against Balzan may well have demonstrated that they have the ability to force their way back into the reckoning in the championship race after a clinical display.

Their victory yesterday resulted from better ammunition in the firing line.

The Paolities were full worth their success as they not only displayed superior front power but also a distinctly stronger rearguard with a solid Rodolfo Soares towering above friend and foe.

Hibernians’s display was also inspired by an excellent Bjorn Kristensen in midfield, Marcelo Dias’s prodigious work on the wings and the sublime finishing of Luis Edison and Obinna Obiefule.

Accounting for the poverty of attacking football coming the other way, Hibs’ attacking play was sharp and their finishing ruthless.

Jesmond Zerafa’s troops yesterday featured three new recruits who provided a reminder of Balzan’s resolve to clinch a Championship Pool berth this season.

However, their strategy remain unchanged as the Balzan mentor kept faith with his 4-1-4-1 formation. José Luis Armario Negrin was stationed in front of the attacking midfield quartet of Lydon Micallef, midfielder Edison Bilboa Zarate, Kurt Magro and Dylan Grima. Italian midfielder Fabio Vignaroli provided extra cover to the defence which featured the former Vittoriosa defender Ramon who formed a central partnership with Andrew Scicluna.

On the other side, Matthew Bartolo and Zoran Levnaic paid the price of last month’s lame showing against Birkirkara as they were replaced by Jonathan Pearson and Dias. Hibs’ tactical module was the standard 3-3-1-3 designed to apply constant pressure.

However, it was Balzan who enjoyed an excellent 25-minute spell in the opening period during which they battled hard and, inspired by the hard-working Zarate and winger Justin Grioli, they surged forward at will in search of an opener.

Their first chance came on 19 minutes when Vignaroli produced a floating pass to release Zarate who ran behind the Paolites rearguard only to see goalkeeper Mario Muscat pulling off a smart save to turn away his effort.

In the first half, the Paolites looked out of sorts with even Andrew Cohen uncharacteristically playing out of position, dropping deep to provide an extra layer of cover for his collegues in defence.

But relying on their swift counter-attack, Hibs mustered a typical breakaway after 23 minutes that had Balzan on the backfoot.

They would have taken the lead but for the woodwork as Kristensen’s thunderbolt came off the crossbar after the midfielder had received from Jackson Lima.

Out of nothing, just before half-time, Zarate mustered a chance as he stole possession to serve Dylan Grima who cut inside before finding Micallef on the left flank, but the winger’s shot was blocked by Muscat.

Branko Nisevic’s men forced the tempo after the change of ends.

In the 48th minute, a typically-taken free-kick by Failla near the half-way line found the useful Rodolfo Soares striding down from the middle but his header was stopped by Balzan goalkeeper Guilherme.

Dias was as usual a constant menace on the flank, tormenting Steve Bezzina with his typical lung-busting runs.

One such surge down the right, took him to the bye-line where he shrugged off a challenge by his marker and crossed. The ball finished into Luis Edison’s path who scored with his first touch, sending the ball beyond Brazilian goalkeeper Guilherme after 51 minutes.

A second goal soon followed. Failla swept a curling shot from just outside the penalty area after an exchange with Edison which was blocked by Bezzina, the loose ball broke to the unguarded Obinna Obiefule who stabbed the ball home.

The game was all but settled and Nisevic was able to give home-grown players Scott Chircop and Jurgen Degarbiele added experience in the Premier League.

Hiberians dominated for long stretches but rarely moved out of second gear.

Guilherme was only called into the action in the 65th minute to block Failla’s long-range shot.

Balzan
Guilherme-6, S. Bezzina-5.5, Ramon-5, J. Grioli-6, A. Scicluna-5.5, F. Vignaroli-6, K. Magro-6, D. Grima-5.5 (61 G. Calabretta-4), L. Micallef-5.5 (74 A. Agius), E. Bilboa Zarate-7 (70 R. Darmanin-4), J.L. Armario Negrin-4.5.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-6, R. Camilleri-5.5, J. Pearson-6, R. Soares-6.5, C. Failla-6.5, M. Dias-6.5 (82 S Chircop), B. Kristensen-7.5, A. Cohen-5, J. Lima-5, O. Obiefule-6.5 (87 J.P. Farrugia), L. Edison-6.5 (88 J. Degarbiele).

Referee: Mario Apap.

Yellow cards: Dias; Bezzina.

BOV Player of the match: Marcelo Dias (Hibernians).