Goal-less draw in top of the table clash

by Ayrton Galea - 24th December 2012

In the much awaited top of the table clash Birkirkara and Hibernians cancelled each other out in a goal-less draw, a balanced encounter which didn't change much for the top of the BOV Premier League standings.

It was a fair result as both teams gave their maximum effort and in a match played on high tempo where both teams could score the opening goal, both defences stayed sharp and strong with Birkirkara registering their fourth consecutive draw.

With Hibernians' Marcelo Dias sent off twenty minutes in the second half, Birkirkara boosted their hopes and they showed signs of improvement but once again they looked short in ideas in the forward line. However, it was Vukanac's somehow clearance that savaged a point for Mr. Zammit's side as he cleared into safety a header by substitute Kardeck off the goal-line.

Both coaches could not fill up their best formation as for Mr. Paul Zammit had Joselito Dos Reis and Shola Shodiya missing while Mr. Michael Woods had Jonathan Pearson and Rodolfo Soares injured with Bjorn Kristensen and Udo Nwoko suspended.

Following this draw, Birkirkara ended 2012 in the second place joint with Valletta just two points under leaders Hibernians.

The First Half

Hibernians couldn't think off a better start and they took little time to show their intentions. Hardly a minute passed, Birkirkara's Youth Nursery product Johann Bezzina who was given a starting eleven role by Mr. Woods fired a brilliant volley which hit the crossbar and ended into a goal kick.

Birkirkara's reply was quick and it was their turn to come close to break the dead-lock at the early stages. On the sixth minute, Jhonnattan's clever back heel sent Mifsud Triganza through who rounded defender Camilleri but his effort was weak to beat Mario Muscat.

The opening stages seemed to be highlighted with scoring opportunities as the match hardly could open on a more offensive note from both sides. Just past the sixteen minute mark, Clayton Failla's freekick saw Jean Paul Farrugia's close range header blocked by Gauci, aid by the crossbar into a corner kick.

From the following corner kick by Jackson Lima, Reuben Gauci misjudged the ball with the Hibernians striker Anderson Ribeiro loosing a great opportunity by somehow heading wide in front of goal.

Following this scoring opportunity by Hibernians, the scoring chances became lacking in the match as most of the possession were in the middle of the field with both sides failing to threaten the opposition goalkeeper.

On the 36th minute, Jackson Lima stole a ball in Birkirkara's half pitch following a short pass by Mendoza in direction of Muscat, who served Ribeiro who advanced forward and opted to try his luck with his effort was deflected into a corner kick.

Hibernians had their last say of the first half when two minutes from time, Dias advanced well following some good movement before his cross on the first post saw Cohen's flying header scratching past the right post.

The Second Half

The second half was balanced in the opening stages with The Paolites creating the first chance on the 52th minute. Andrew Cohen's freekick from an ideal position ended over. Just two minutes later, Birkirkara replied with a Jhonnattann's freekick which ended over.

Michael Woods made Hibernians' first change near the hour mark when he introduced Allan Kerdeck off Anderson Ribeiro in a change in the forward line, a fresh player to give the needed push in the forward line.

However, Hibernians' hopes soon were dashed as they received a major drawback twenty minutes in the second half when Marcelo Dias' late tackle on Rodrigo Pereira saw him collecting his second yellow card and leave the Paolites with ten men.

One expected Birkirkara to make the best out of their numerical advantage and take control of the match but their reaction was quite weak with both teams continue exchanging possession as ‘The Stripes' found it difficult to penetrate.

Mr. Zammit soon took action to push the team forward and for the last fifteen minutes he included Ryan Camenzuli and Spaniard Yosimar Hernandez in a tactical change to a more offensive formation replacing Rodrigo Pereira and Paul Fenech.

This tactical change seemed to give the wished result as Birkirkara quickly created the best opportunity of the second half. Edward Herrera, a former Hibernians player, advanced well on the right before his low precise cross with Jhonnattann's first time effort ending past the upright.

Birkirkara seemed to be pilling up the pressure on the Hibernians' defence when on the 78 minute, Joseph Zerafa in one of his typical fast over-laps unleashed a fine shot which ending wide.

In a reply by Hibernians, Jean Paul Farrugia tried to surprise Reuben Gauci on the 82 mintue with a cute lob from outside the box but the shot never worried Gauci and ended over.

Hibernians seemed to done the unpredictable just three minutes from time when Kardeck anticipated Gauci with the ball heading for the back of the net but Nikola Vukanac rushed well to clear the ball into a safety and savage a point for ‘The Stripes' and deny Hibernians precious three points.

BIRKIRKARA: Reuben Gauci, Rodrigo Pereira (74' Yosimar Hernandez), Nikola Vukanac, Alejandro Mendoza, Joseph Zerafa, Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech (74' Ryan Camenzuli), Rowen Muscat, Edward Herrera, Jhonnattann Benites, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.

HIBERNIANS: Mario Muscat, Adrian Pulis, Ryan Camilleri, Zoran Levnajic, Clayton Failla, Johann Bezzina, Andrew Cohen, Jackson Lima, Marcelo Dias, Jean Paul Farrugia, Anderson Ribeiro (59' Alan Kardeck)

Yellow Cards: Rodrigo Pereira, Jhonnattann Benites, Joseph Zerafa, Edward Herrera (Birkirkara), Marcelo Dias, Clayton Failla (Hibernians)

Red Cards: Marcelo Dias (Hibernians)

Man of the match: Jhonnattann Benites (Birkirkara)

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