Hibernians 0
Birkirkara 0

There were no major changes at the top of the BOV Premier League standings yesterday after leaders Hibernians and third-placed Birkirkara cancelled each other in a goalless draw.

It was a fair outcome to a match that saw both sides giving their all in their effort to return home with three points.

With Valletta failing to beat Rabat Ajax on Friday, victory for Hibs yesterday would have given them a four-point lead over the Citizens but the draw nonetheless ensured that the Paolites ended the year on top, two points clear of the champions and Birkirkara, both on 30 points.

Tarxien will join Valletta and Birkirkara on the 30-point mark if they beat Floriana this afternoon.

It was Hibs who held the upperhand in the opening 45 minutes but despite creating some clear-cut chances, they lacked a cutting edge and were unable to beat Birkirkara goalkeeper Reuben Gauci.

The Stripes showed signs of improvement after the interval, especially after the Paolites had striker Marcelo Dias dismissed midway through the half for a second bookable offence. However, for all their possession Paul Zammit’s team looked short of ideas up front.

Instead it was Hibs who almost won it late on but were denied by a goal-line clearance from reliable defender Nikola Vukanac on a header by substitute Allan Kardeck.

Michael Woods, the Hibs coach, could not bank on his strongest formation yesterday as midfielder Bjorn Kristensen joined Udo Nwoko on the suspensions list. Jean Paul Farrugia was handed a start up front with Andrew Cohen deployed in a midfield position.

Defender Rodolfo Soares was out with hamstring trouble. He was replaced by Zoran Levnaic while Jonathan Pearson failed to recover from a knee complaint with Johann Bezzina given the nod to start in Hibs’ midfield.

Birkirkara were boosted by the return of goalkeeper Gauci and Ryan Camenzuli, who had to settle for a place on the bench.

Striking duo Shola Shodiya Haruna and Joselito were still sidelined with injury.

Brazilian defender Rodrigo Pereira was preferred to Spaniard Yosimar Hernandes who started among the substitutes.

Hibs took little time to show their intentions as inside the opening two minutes, Bezzina won possession just outside the Birkirkara box and unleashed a powerful volley that had the better of Gauci. However, the ball came off the bar before the Stripes cleared.

Birkirkara hit back soon after. Jhonnattann’s clever ball released Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who held off the challenge of Ryan Camilleri before letting loose a rasping grounder that was blocked in style by the diving Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper.

The woodwork again came to the Stripes’ rescue on 16 minutes. This time, from a Clayton Failla free-kick, Farrugia was first to the ball but his header was kept out by Gauci with the aid of the bar.

From the corner, Gauci misjudged Lima’s cross but Anderson Ribeiro incredibly headed wide in front of a gaping Birkirkara goal.

The tempo was high but some rash challenges from both sides inevitably interrupted the rhythm of the match.

Nine minutes from the break, Lima stole the ball in midfield and quickly served Ribeiro who surged forward.

However, instead of returning the ball to Lima, Ribeiro opted to shoot at goal but his attempt was deflected to a corner amid the protests of his team-mate.

The Paolites were again close on 44 minutes when Dias battled his way past Alejandro Mendoza before aiming a cross towards the sprinting Cohen but the latter’s diving header finished wide.

The match was balanced in the opening stages of the second half with the Paolites creating the first chance on 52 minutes. They were awarded a free-kick outside Birkirkara’s penalty area but Cohen’s inswinger flew over.

A similar opportunity came Birkirkara’s way at the other end two minutes later but this time Jhonnattann’s shot went off range.

Woods looked to step up his team’s attacking drive when he withdrew Ribeiro and roped in Kardeck almost on the hour mark.

Hibs’ hopes, however, were jolted soon after when they were reduced to ten men after Dias was dismissed for a second yellow card following a foul on Pereira.

One expected Birkirkara to take the initiative but for all their running, they were finding it difficult to breach Hibs’ defensive lines, well-marshalled by Levnaic.

The Stripes coach looked to boost his team’s attacking prowess as he hauled off Paul Fenech and Pereira with Camenzuli and Hernandes coming on instead.

That move almost reaped instant dividends as on 75 minutes Edward Herrera, formerly of Hibs, burst clear on the right before sending a low cross towards Jhonnattann who hit it first time with the ball skimming the upright.

Twelve minutes from time Joseph Zerafa pushed forward but his firm drive flew wide as the Stripes started to step up the pressure.

At the other end, Hibernians threatened with a Farrugia shot that never troubled the alert Gauci in goal.

The Paolites almost won it three minutes from time when Kardeck beat Gauci with the ball looking destined to hit the back of the net but, luckily for the Stripes, Vukanac recovered to clear the ball off the line.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-6, A. Pulis-6.5, R. Camilleri-6, M. Dias, A. Cohen-6, C. Failla-6.5, Z. Levnaic-7.5, A. Ribeiro-6 (58 A. Kardeck-6), J. Bezzina-6, J.P. Farrugia-6.5, J. Lima-6.

Birkirkara
R. Gauci-5.5, E. Herrera-6, N. Vukanac-7, R. Pereira-6 (73 Y. Hernandes), J. Zerafa-6.5, A. Mendoza-6, G. Sciberras-6.5, Jhonnattann-7, P. Fenech-6.5 (73 R. Camenzuli), R. Muscat-6, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Zerafa; Dias; Failla; Jhonnattann; Pereira; Herrera.

Red card: Dias (H) 64.

BOV player of the match: Jhonnattann (Birkirkara).

Attendance: 640.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Hibernians	16	10	2	4	33	18	32
Valletta	16	8	6	2	32	13	30
Birkirkara	16	8	6	2	30	16	30
Mosta	16	9	1	6	29	16	28
Sliema	16	8	3	5	27	16	27
Tarxien	15	8	3	4	30	23	27
Floriana	15	5	5	5	23	21	20
Balzan	16	5	4	7	24	28	19
Qormi	15	5	2	8	20	27	17
Ħamrun	15	3	4	8	20	35	13
Melita	16	2	4	10	15	44	10
Rabat Ajax	16	0	6	10	10	36	6