Vittoriosa 1 Hibernians 0
Vittoriosa’s record against Hibernians has been perversely positive this season. Despite a meagre season for the Stars, Winston Muscat’s side has beaten the Paolities three times.
Needing a win to hold off relegation, Vittoriosa appeared to thrive on their situation and were never afraid to go on the attack and collect the spoils
Some incisive play by the Paolities in the opening minutes repeatedly exposed Vittoriosa’s makeshift central defensive pairing of Jonathan Xerri and Carlos Compagnoli as Winston Muscat’s choices were limited in defence with Stephen Wellman and Jeffrey Chetcuti not available for this match.
In the fifth minute, Jonathan Pearson headed against the post from Brian Fairbairn’s cross. The midfielder’s runs on the right aided the Paolities’ attacking stance. Few moments later, the Scots wing-back swung in a cross-shot but Xerri repelled the danger.
The few Paolities fans were sensing that a goal was not far away. That proved to be the case but it was the Stars who found it against the run of play. Anthony Ewurum was detailed to plough a lone furrow at the top of the 4-1-4-1 formation. In the eighth minute, he duly floated a cross towards Jorge Santos Silva who headed into the net.
On the half hour stroke, Leighton Grech pounced on Pearson’s defensive mistake but Balzan kept his balance to repel the striker’s angled grounder.
Mark Miller’s thoughts on his side’s first-half performance were reflected in his decision to send on Andrew Cohen for Taki Abdellilah just before the hour stroke.
But it needed something special to penetrate the Vittoriosa rearguard and Patrick Osei obliged after 67 minutes when he stung Jean Vella’s hands with a rasping shot from distance.
The Paolities were driving forward with better purpose now but Fairbairn finished off wildly when in an ideal position inside the area 10 minutes from time.
The Stars were still in battling mood, however and Ewurum’s incisive running were still a source of discomfort for the Paolities. Four minutes from time, the dazzling Jorge danced his way into from the left before he arrowed an angled shot which Balzan parried away.
In the dying minutes, Paul McManus had a glorious chance to equalise when he missed a sitter in front of goal after receiving the ball from Cohen as Vittoriosa held their advantage till the end.