Hibs striker Jorginho is fouled by Balzan defender Clive Brincat. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Hibernians 1
Failla 83;
Balzan 3
Mifsud Triganza 19, Piccioni 74 pen, Sciberras 90;

The Premier League title had been won last week but this showdown between Hibernians and Balzan had the feel of a cup tie.

The game assumed an extra edge as the Paolites were gunning to establish a remarkable achievement of going through the entire league campaign without defeat but their bid ended in ignominy.

Balzan, on their part, were driven by determination to seal fourth spot in the Premier League standings and secure an historic qualification to the Europa League qualifiers next season.

Hibs found themselves with their backs to the wall when trailing by two goals.

Despite this double blow, the Paolites rolled up their sleeves to try and claw back the deficit and Clayton Failla had handed them a lifeline when pulling one back with seven minutes to go.

But despite their efforts Hibs could not find a second goal and instead it was the lively Luke Sciberras who applied the killer blow in stoppage time to hand Balzan a famous victory.

Hibs’ benefits of having an expansive squad came to the fore yesterday as coach Branko Nisevic was still able to send out a strong formation despite fielding a number of fringe players. Marcelo Dias and Jurgen Degabriele were back in the fray while skipper Andrew Cohen returned to the starting formation after serving a one-match ban.

Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri was without injured striker Bojan Kaljevic and handed his attacking roles to Gianmarco Piccioni and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza with Dylan Grima probing from behind.

After ten minutes, Grima drifted into the Hibernians box and unleashed an angled drive that Henry Bonello did well to parry away.

Two minutes later, Piccioni almost put Balzan ahead as he powered his way into the area but his rising shot finished just over.

Minutes later, Hibs protested for a penalty when Jorginho ended on the turf after a challenge from Elkin Serrano but the ref was unimpressed.

Balzan kept up the pressure and they took the lead on 19 minutes when Henry Bonello could not keep out Mifsud Triganza’s close-range effort with the ball bouncing over the goal-line.

Hibs tried to fight back but looked devoid of ideas.

Just before half-time, they came close when Cohen teed up Failla whose shot whistled over the bar.

The second half started on a promising note for Hibernians.

In fact, Failla’s cross from the left sailed towards the far post but Lima’s shot hit the side-netting.

Shy the hour mark, Lima swung in a dangerous cross but Christian Cassar, the Balzan goalkeeper, leapt out to punch the ball away from Hibernians striker Jorginho.

On 70 minutes, Failla’s cross from the left wreaked havoc in the Balzan defence who struggled to take the ball away from Cohen. Substitute Luis Andre de Milo picked up the rebound but hit just wide.

The ref had to deal with another contentious episode as Bonello hacked down the advancing Sciberras. He pointed to the spot and showed a second yellow card to Bonello who was dismissed.

Jurgen Borg replaced Jonathan Pearson but he could do nothing to stop Piccioni’s effort from the spot.

Undeterred, Hibs continued to push forward and Lima’s piledriver rattled the crossbar.

Another Hibs change followed, Marko Rajic coming on for Dias as Nisevic unleashed all his attacking elements. Three minutes later, Cohen fed Jorginho whose header came off the post, in came Failla to bury the ball behind Cassar.

As Balzan toiled to make their numerical advantage count, Spiteri introduced new fresh legs upfront in Oscar Guerrero for Piccioni.

The fourth official’s board signalled seven minutes of stoppage time as Hibs tried desperately to rescue a point.

But Balzan had other plans as in a swift raid, Sciberras punished Hibs’ flat-out approach with a devastating counter-attack to slid the ball past Borg.

Hibernians
H. Bonello-, R. Soares-5.5, J. Pearson-6 (74 J. Borg), A. Agius-6, A. Cohen-6.5, B. Kristensen-6, Jorginho-5, Jackson Lima-6.5, J. Degabriele-5 (66 L. de Melo Lima-5), M. Dias-5 (80 M. Rajic), C. Failla-6.5.

Balzan
C. Cassar-6.5, E. Bilbao Zarate-6, D. Grima-6 (77 J. Grioli), E. Serrano Valero-8, S. Arab-7, S. Bezzina-6.5, L. Sciberras-8.5, I. Guobadia-6, C. Brincat-6.5, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6 (68 L. Micallef-5), G. Piccioni-7 (86 O. Guerrero).

Referee: Evan Boyce (N. Ireland).

Yellow cards: Bonello, Guobadia, Kristensen, Agius, Sciberras.

Red card: Bonello (H) 73.

BOV player of the match: Gianmarco Piccioni (Balzan).

Standings