Hibernians defeat Stripes in BOV Super Cup

by Ayrton Galea - 14th August 2015

Hibernians FC and Birkirkara FC made a brilliant advert for Maltese Football in the curtain raiser of the 2015-2016 season, but it was the Paolites who came from a goal behind, to win the BOV Super Cup with a 2-1 score.

Being denied from the double in the last day of last season, when they were overpowered by Birkirkara who lifted the FA Trophy with a a 2-0 win, on Wednesday evening the Paolites somehow made up for the disappointment by beating them in the Super Cup final.

The opening half-hour of the match saw the Stripes taking a one-goal lead, but two unfortunate own goals turned the score in favour of Hibernians, who went on to show the better football in the second half, to deservingly win the first honour of the season.

Coach Giovanni Tedesco made just one change from the historic victory against West Ham United, by replacing Ellinton Morais with Vito Plut, but his task was anything but plain-sailing as Fabrizio Miccoli, Mauricio Mazzetti, Paul Fenech and Rowen Muscat all made it on time with a last-minute fitness test.

Cain Attard and Juan Quero, two of the Club's latest signings began on the bench with the latter making his debut as he was introduced as a substitute late in the second half.

The First Half

The opening minutes saw a chance on each side. After seven minutes, alerted goalkeeper Justin Haber punched into safety a threatening cross by Andrew Cohen while four minutes, Fabrizio Miccoli saw his free-kick deflected into a corner kick by Jurgen Borg.

The resulting corner kick produced the opening goal of the match on the thirteenth minute. There are no doubts about the ability of Miccoli, and the Italian striker scored an emphatic goal from a direct corner thanks to his in-swinging effort to put the Stripes ahead.

Hibernians made an instant reaction just three minutes later, when Clayton Failla fired a fierce free-kick that seemed to be heading to the right top corner of the net only, to be denied by an excellent acrobatic save of Haber who turned the ball into a corner kick.

On the twenty-sixth minute, Plut drifted inside the box but Rodolfo Soares put the ball into safety, before it reached Paul Fenech just a few yards away from the goal-line, but to no avail.

Hibernians penetrated the Stripes defence for the first time, as the flowing movement of Ribeiro saw the playmaker zipping up the defence with an excellent through-ball to Jorginho who hit past Haber only to see his goal ruled-out for an offside position.

The Stripes' relief lasted just minutes as the Paolites, stepping up their performance, levelled matters past the half-hour mark. Clayton Failla's corner kick failed to be cleared and Zach Muscat deflected the ball into his own net after falling under pressure by Ribeiro.

Birkirkara had harsh protests for a double booking for Clayton Failla when the latter, who was already cautioned, pulled and floored Zach Muscat just outside the box, but referee Marco Borg kept the cards in his pocket. From the resulting free-kick taken by Miccoli, Plut headed over from an ideal position.

Hibernians put their noses in front four minutes before the half-time whistle. The danger came once again from the feet of Failla who had his free-kick creating havoc inside the box before Mazzetti's unfortunate header surprised Haber.

The Stripes tried to react but with few time left, Hibernians held for a narrow break till the half-time whistle.

The Second Half

Birkirkara came out aggressive in the opening minutes of the second half, as they piled-up the pressure on the Paolites. Miccoli and Plut interchanged possession well before defender Agius passed back to goalkeeper Borg, who hastily cleared the ball into a corner kick. Moments later, Miccoli had a direct free-kick saved by Borg.

Hibernians replied in fashion and they wasted a glorious chance on scoring the third goal. Kristensen zipped-up the defence by lobbing the ball over Riberio who all alone against Haber, the latter make himself big to deny the Brazilian playmaker.

With the Stripes' aggressive start fading away, Hibernians continued to be superior and it had to be Haber who once again denied them the third goal when just before the hour mark, Jorgingo played to Kristensen who had his first-time effort punched into a corner kick by Haber.

Coach Tedesco tried to freshen his attacking department as he introduced Edin Murga for Ryan Camenzuli on the sixty-fourth minute while twelve minutes later, Juan Quero made his debut by replacing a worn out Rowen Muscat.

The introduction of Barasso lifted the Stripes spirit as the agility of the Spanish technical player was effective immediately. Four minutes from time, it was Barreso who sprinted forward after dribbling past his marker, and set Miccoli inside the box but the latter's shot ended over.

In the last attempt by Tedesco to grabbing the leveller on the ninetieth minute, he included Terence Vella instead of Zach Muscat as the Stripes were now all out on the attack.

However, it was Hibernians who almost scored again, when with Haber out of position, Rui Gracia Gomes surged forward before serving the unmarked Bezzina who flicked towards Jorginho but his effort was blocked by Fenech. The danger was not over yet as the ball landed at the feet of Jorge but his strike was kept out by Vukanac.

The Stripes' last efforts were cut short by Marco Borg's full-time whistle that saw Hibernians clinching the first honour of the season.

BIRKIRKARA:Justin Haber, Joseph Zerafa, Zach Muscat (90' Terence Vella), Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti, Paul Fenech, Rowen Muscat (76' Juan Quero), Ryan Camenzuli (64' Edin Murga), Emerson Marcelina, Fabrizio Miccoli, Vito Plut.

HIBERNIANS: Jurgen Borg, Rui da Gracia Gomes, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Rodolfo Soares, Marcelo Dias (77' Jorge Santos Silva), Andrew Cohen (78' Johann Bezzina), Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Andrei Agius, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro (90' Jonathan Pearson), Jorge da Silva Ribeiro.

Referee: Marco Borg.
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Sammy Attard.
Additional Assistant Referees: Alan Mario Sant, Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit,

Yellow Cards: Mauricio Mazzetti, Nikola Vukanac (Birkirkara), Clayton Failla, Andrew Cohen, Gilmar Ribeiro (Hibernians).
Scorers: 13' Fabrizio Miccoli (Birkirkara), 31' Own goal - Zach Muscat, 41' own goal - Mauricio Mazzetti (Hibernians)

Attendance: 4,038.

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