Paola Hibs win tight game
Paola Hibs Kirkop 2 1
The Paolites were the better outfit as they created more actions than Kirkop who gave them a good run for their money.
They closed all possible gaps with the Paola forwards finding it difficult to penetrate the area.
After only five minutes Paola opened the score when Shaun Borg served Neil Buttigieg with a through ball on the right flank who, after entering the area, scored with a hard drive past Kirkop keeper Giancarlo Borg.
In the first action by Kirkop they won a corner kick on the left flank which was taken by Andre’ Sultana but Paola keeper Nathan Mangion saved a shot by Neil Farrugia.
In the 11th minute Kirkop restored parity when Quelin Micallef was fouled outside the area and Miguel Calleja scored direct from the free kick with a hard high drive. The Paolites regained the initiative and Zachary Chetcuti saw Borg save the hard low drive by the same player from a freekick. Later, Chetcuti released Buttigieg in the area but Borg saved his close-range shot.
Two actions were created by Kirkop soon after the restart. Micallef was fouled on the left edge of the area and Calleja drove slightly over the bar from the free kick. The same palyer then pounced on a faulty clearance and Paola keeper Nathan Mangion saved his shot in two attempts.
Paola then won a free kick on the right flank after Aidan Cutajar was fouled and Kirkop keeper Borg saved the shot by Ihuomah.
The winning goal by Paola was scored five minutes before the end of normal time as Luca Sapiano served Zachary Chetcuti with a through ball in the area and he scored with a lobbed ball.
Kirkop then created the last action before the final whistle as Calleja was fouled on the left flank and the same player missed the near post by inches from the free kick.
N.Mangion, S.Borg, N.Buttigieg, A.Camilleri, K.Caruana, D.Caruana, M.Cassar, Z.Chetcuti, B.Ihoumah, L.Kassab, L.Sapiano.
G.Borg, K.Camilleri, N.Farrugia, D.Farrugia, N.Busuttil, M.Calleja, A.Sultana, G.Cutajar, E.Farrugia, Q.Micallef, D.Callus.
Alhasan Asylla