Agius' late gem of a goal hands Birkirkara a dramatic win
by Ayrton Galea - 25th April 2016
Birkirkara FC continued to enjoy a brilliant week when with another determined and top-notch performance, the Stripes earned a dramatic 2-1 victory over Hibernians, and bring to an end all of the Paolites' title hopes.
The Stripes confirmed their good form by registering their sixth league win from the last seven matches. After holding Valletta in a goal-less draw, the Stripes assured themselves a final-four position in the FA Trophy and rounded their positive week with the first victory over Hibernians this season.
The Stripes surged ahead five minutes from half-time when the team's top scorer, Vito Plut, made the best out of a blunder by goalkeeper Justin Haber. Hibernians levelled matters just before the hour mark with a goal by Andrew Cohen. The match seemed to be heading to a draw, but Birkirkara and Edmond Agius left the best for last, as the energetic midfielder hit a wonderful curling strike to hand Birkirkara another important victory.
Although with this win, the title issue has been sealed, as Valletta are now four points clear with just one match to go, the Stripes opened wide the race for the second place as they are now two points under the same Hibernians, who face Valletta in the last fixture of the league, while the Stripes take on Balzan.
Birkirkara's coach Drazen Besek was forced to make two changes from last Wednesday's match against Floriana. Ryan Camenzuli and Ryan Scicluna were both ruled-out injured, while Joseph Zerafa and Agius regained a first-eleven place.
Besek fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation. Kopric defended the posts with Bubalovic and Mazzetti as central-backs. Attard and Zerafa started as side-backs. Sciberras and Andelkovic were the defensive shield in-front of the defence while Agius was given the nod to push forward. Mujanovic and Temile started at the either side of Plut.
The First Half
There was a balanced start to the match. Hibernians, all-out for the victory, made their offensive approach clear right from the start as they dictated matters but they failed to get past the solid defence led by Bubalovic and Mazzetti.
The Stripes threatened on the nineteenth minute when Goran Mujanovic's corner saw Mazzetti rising high, but his header was cleared off the goal-line. On the other side of the pitch, in a quick transition, Gilmar Ribeiro had a weak shot easily saved by Kopric.
Hibernians could have surged ahead on the twenty-seventh minute when Kopric mistimed his outing to leave Ribeiro in a one-versus-one situation with Mazzetti and an empty net, but the latter made a terrific tackle to deny the Brazilian midfielder.
The Stripes replied with a goal scoring opportunity on the half-hour mark. Goran Mujanovic made some fine footwork before serving Frank Temile, who showed great technical skills to get past his marker but his well-placed shot was saved by Haber.
Birkirkara surged ahead five minutes from half-time. It seemed easy for the Hibernians defence following a long-ball from the back, but Andrei Agius' erratic pass to Haber put him in difficulty and Vito Plut was quick to dribble him and put the ball in an empty net.
Hibernans' evening took another twist to the worse as in the first minute of stoppage time for the first-half, Jorge Santos Silva suffered an injury. After some time being medicated, he was substituted by Andrew Cohen.
The referee's half-time whistle found Plut's goal five minutes from half-time making all the difference at the break, as the Stripes headed to their dressing room enjoying a narrow advantage.
The Second Half
Birkirkara were also forced to make substitution just three minutes into the second half. Joseph Zerafa, who had been medicated a couple of times in the first-half, was unable to continue playing and he was replaced by Kurt Zammit. Zammit was included on the left-wing as Mujanovic was dropped to the left-back.
Birkirkara went close to double their lead five minutes into the second-half. Christian Bubalovic delivered a long ball to Plut on the left, who was quick to serve Agius but the latter's shot hit the side-netting from inside the box.
Gilmar Ribeiro had a weak free-kick from an ideal position easily saved by Kopric on the fifty-fourth minute, but they levelled the score in their next set-piece.
Hibernians heaved a huge sigh of relief when levelled the score from another free-kick from outside the box on the fifty-eighth minute. Andrew Cohen took responsibility of the set-piece and hit a wonderful free-kick at the top corner of Kopric's first-post.
The Stripes could have regained the lead on the seventy-sixth minute. It was a fast counter-attack when Sciberras sent Temile through on the right flank before the Nigerian forward served Plut inside the box but the latter's erratic finish ended wide.
Hibernians were unlucky not to surge ahead with another dangerous free-kick on the eighty-third minute but Gilmar Ribeiro's shot smashed against the crossbar. The loose ball fell to the same player but his shot went totally over.
However, when the match seemed to be heading to a draw, the Stripes scored a dramatic goal. A corner kick by Edmond Agius was met with a bicycle kick by Mazzetti, then Ryan Darmanin sent the ball back to Agius who hit a magnificent curling strike past Haber.
The goal stunned Hibernians who had little time to save anything from the match as the Stripes held on for another win.
Defender Mauricio Mazzetti was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA:Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Christian Bubalovic, Mauricio Mazzetti, Joseph Zerafa (49' Kurt Zammit) (83' Ryan Darmanin), Mislav Andelkovic, Gareth Sciberras, Edmond Agius (90+1' Matthew Guillaumier), Goran Mujanovic, Frank Temile, Vito Plut.
HIBERNIANS: Justin Haber, Jonathan Pearson (83' Diosdado Mbele), Jackson Lima, Rodolfo Soares, Marcelo Dias, Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla (90' Jurgen Degabriele), Andrei Agius, Jorge Santos Silva (45' Andrew Cohen), Gilmar Ribeiro, Jorge Pereira.
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Luke Portelli.
Additional Assistant Referees: Malcolm Spiteri, Matthew Degabriele.
Fourth Official: Martin Borg.
Yellow Cards: 22' Christian Bubalovic, 71' Frank Temile, 82' Mauricio Mazzetti (Birkirkara), Jonathan Pearson (Hibernians).
Scorers: 40' Vito Plut, 90' Edmond Agius (Birkirkara), 59' Andrew Cohen.
BOV Player of the Match: Mauricio Mazzetti (Birkirkara).
