Controversial penalty denies Stripes

by Ayrton Galea - 31st October 2016

A very controversial penalty twelve minutes from time cancelled Birkirkara FC's efforts in the match of the week of the BOV Premier League as Hibernians emerged as winners with a narrow 1-0 score.

In a very tight contest, the Stripes and the Paolites played their hearts out in the match of the week and the match seemed to be heading towards a deserved goal-less draw but a very controversial penalty awarded maximum points to Hibernians.

Birkirkara, who now suffered their third defeat, fell to the third place one point behind Hibernians and four behind leaders Balzan as they were denied from profiting from the latter's draw against Tarxien Rainbows last Friday.

Coach Drazen Besek made one substitution from last week's victory against Gzira United as Rowen Muscat regained a place in the first-eleven after replacing Mislav Andelkovic. After missing the last two matches, Predrag Jovic was back in the eighteen-man squad.

The First Half

Birkirkara goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric was forced to rush out of his position after seven minutes when Juan Varea unzipped the defence with a perfect through-ball towards the on-running Jurgen Degabriele but Kopric did a well-timed tackle to block the ball off the Hibernians forward.

The Stripes replied a minute later when Vito Plut served Srdjan Dimitrov in an ideal position outside the box but the Birkirkara playmaker had his erratic shot ending over. Ten minutes later, Dimitrov had a much improved effort from a direct free-kick which was deflected by Hibernians defender into a corner.

Birkirkara produced a fine action on the twenty-second minute when following a good build-up, Joseph Zerafa dashed forward on the left before serving Dimitrov inside the box who had his diagonal effort turned into a corner by the Hibernians goalkeeper, Andrew Hogg.

The Stripes were unlucky not the surge ahead mid-way through the first-half when a cross by Dimitrov, Chritian Bubalovic's header was cleared off the goal-line and from the following action, Cain Attardt's effort was also cleared from the goal-line by Rodolfo Soares.

Hibernians also went close on the thirty-third minute when Juan Varea's second post cross from inside the box found Jorge Pereira that saw his header saved by the alert Kopric as the first-half ended goal-less.

The Second Half

The Second Half produced much less goal-mouth action as Birkirkara and Hibernians cancelled each other. In fact, it was only on the sixty-seventh minute when the Stripes threatened following a good combination by Temile and Plut, but the latter's through ball failed to find the Nigerian forward.

Hibernians went close twenty minutes from time when in their most dangerous attack, Bjorn Kristensen burst clear on the right side before he delivered an excellent ball towards Jorge Pereira but the latter failed to hit the target from an ideal position inside the box.

The Paolites surged ahead twelve minutes from time. Jorge Perreira went down to the soft challenge by Nikola Vukanac outside the box but for the surprise of many, the assistant referee pointed signaled for a penalty. Despite the deserved harsh protests of the Birkirkara clan, the decision wasn't overturned and Clayton Failla made no mistake from the spot.

The Stripes tried hard to at least save a point by putting everyone forward and included substitutes Predrag Jovic and James Brincat both in attack but Hibernians held strong for a narrow victory.

BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Christian Bubalovic , Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa (85' Predrag Jovic), Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Scicluna (70' Shaun Bajada), Rowen Muscat, Srdjan Dimitrov (79' James Brincat), Frank Temile, Vito Plut.

HIBERNIANS: Andrew Hogg, Marcelo Dias, Rodolfo Soares, Andrei Agius, Clayton Failla, Dunstan Vella, Jackson Lima, Bjorn Kristensen, Juan Varea (60' Andrew Cohen), Jurgen Degabriele (85' Renan Pimenta Telles), Jorge Da Silva Perreira (90+4' Timothy Desira).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, David Castillo
Fourth Official: Eman Galea.

Yellow Cards: 14' Christian Bubalovic, 67' Frank Temile, 79' Joseph Zerafa.

Scorers: 78' Clayton Failla (Hibernians).

BOV Player of the Match: Jorge Perreira (Hibernians)

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