The Malta Independent on Sunday
Birkirkara eke out win to close the gap on leaders Valletta
A spectacular late goal by susbtitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza three minutes from full time, separated these two teams, tied in second place at kick off, at the end of an evenly balanced and lacklustre encounter.
Birkirkara needed to improve after their disappointing defeat against Hamrun Spartans the previous week, but facing a team in crisis like Hibernians, was always going to be a stiff test.
By virtue of this narrow win, Birkirkara have closed the gap to four points on leaders Valletta, after being held to a 1-1 draw by Rabat Ajax on Friday.
Despite all their present problems of form, Hibernians still looked capable of taking at least a draw yesterday, but were foiled by Mifsud Triganza’s late stunner to keep them winless in their last four outings. Hibernians have run out of ideas after their initial four consecutive wins.
With Mario Muscat sitting on the bench and Daniel Balzan starting in goal, Hibernians fielded a makeshift defence, already bereft of the suspended Adrian Pulis and Zoran Levnaic, the injured Jonathan Pearson and the departed Vandellanoite, whose contract expired and will not be renewed. Ryan Camilleri played in central defence alongside Soares, with Clayton Failla and Brandon Muscat the wide backs.
As for Birkirkara, suspension deprived them of the midfield dynamo Paul Fenech, replaced by Zach Muscat.
But the match failed to fulfill the expectations and the only highlights of a barren first 45 minutes were the duels between Shodiya, Birkirkara’s most lively player, and Bjorn Kristensen who shadowed him and tried to subdue him.
Still, to Jhonnattan fell the few chances of the first half, as the Hibernains’ rearguard struggled to keep its composure. The Birkirkara Brazilian shot his free kick narrowly off target midway through the half and then he shot on the side after connecting to Shodiya’s cross before arriving late on Sciberras’ testing cross shortly before the interval.
Jhonnattan’s free kick seven minutes after the restart caused havoc in the Hibernians area until keeper Balzan put a hand to the ball.
Birkirkara were forced to make two substitutions in the second half after Shodiya was stretchered off on 55 minutes and on 77 minutes keeper Gauci injured his arm in a collision with Dias and was substituted by Atkpan.
In between, Birkirkara had Mifsud Triganza’s grounder saved by Balzan and on the other end, Dias cross from the left was too long for Farrugia, only a peripheral figure in the Paolites’ attack yesterday.
Despite remaining a disjointed lot, Hibernians kept fighting gamely. On 80 minutes, Birkirkara’s short clearance on Failla’s free kick from the right fell to Cohen, who immediately tested Birkirkara’s reserve keeper with a powerful shot.
The match looked heading to a draw but with three minutes remaining, Birkirkara struck the fatal blow.
That came form their super substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who picked Zerafa’s square pass and unleashed an unstoppable shot to beat keeper Balzan at the top corner from the edge of the area.
It was a fitting execution for a scrappy Birkirkara win.