The club exercised the option to retain the services of Ibrahim Koné for another year.

The club would like to announce that Mister Stefano Sanderra is confirmed for another 2 years.

The club exercised the option to retain the services of Ali Diakité for another year.

The club exercised the option to retain the services of Thaylor Aldama for another year.

Ferdinando Apap extends his contract with Hibernians FC by 3 years.

Hibernians F.C. can confirm that an agreement has been reached between the club and 26 year old Ghanaian forward, Gabriel Mensah.

 

Gabriel arrived in Malta to join Pietà Hotspurs F.C. and in the past three seasons, he played with BOV Premier League club Gudja United F.C. In the Premier League, Mensah played a total of 85 matches and scored 18 goals.

 

We would like to welcome Gabriel to the club and wish him the best of luck in black & white colours.

Despite playing for over an hour in ten men, Floriana defeated champions Hibernians 2-1 to secure a place in the final of the Izibet FA Trophy, setting up a clash with eternal rivals Valletta.

 

It was a deserved win for the Greens, who now hope to win the FA Trophy for the twenty-first time in the history of the club, to make up for the disappointment of missing out on the title.

 

The Greens were the better side throughout the 90 minutes and although they had a player sent off, they did not lose their composure and remained the better side.

 

On the other hand, more was expected from the Paolites who failed to take advantage of the dismissal of Kemar Reid that left them with more than an hour with a player more.

 

The Paolites had the first attempt at goal after minutes when Jurgen Degabriele rounded Christian Rutjens, testing goalkeeper Georgi Kitanov with a shot from the edge of the area but the Floriana custodian turned the ball into a corner.

 

The Greens replied a minute later with a rising shot by Reid who received a through pass and rounded a defender but his conclusion ended high.

 

On 16 minutes, a goal-bound shot by Ulises Arias was blocked into a corner by Ferdinando Apap.

 

Floriana managed to take the lead on 27 minutes.

 

Following a throw-in by Matias Garcia, Kemar Reid rounded Andrei Agius and entered the area from the right and with an angled shot he slotted the ball past Calleja Cremona.

 

However, the Jamaican forward, who had just been cautioned a few minutes earlier, received a second yellow card as he ran past the Hibs substitute bench making a gesture to silence the fans.

 

The Greens threatened once again with a Ulises Arias effort when served by Magri Overend, on 41 minutes and two minutes later, Brandon Paiber hit a rising shot that ended wide.

 

Three minutes into the added time, the Greens doubled the score.

 

Ryan Camenzuli served Jan Busuttil on the left and the latter rounded a defender before beating Calleja Cremona with a perfect lob from the edge of the area.

 

In the second half, Hibernians were expected to go all out in search of a goal that would have put pressure on the Greens but Gianluca Atzori’s boys remained comfortably in command.

 

In fact, on 74 minutes, Camenzuli pounced on a through ball on the left flank and after entering the area, his close-range effort was blocked by Calleja Cremona. Paiber took the rebound but concluded wide from outside the area.

 

Hibs replied with a powerful shot from outside the area by Jake Grech which was neutralised by Kitanov a minute later.

 

A well-taken freekick by substitute Alvaro Muniz Cegarra was parried by Kitanov on 82 minutes.

 

Three minutes from time, Hibernians pulled one back. Muniz delivered a fine cross from the right and another substitute, Wilfried Domoraud, headed home.

 

This goal filled the Paolites with courage and two minutes later, Degabriele went close with a shot ending just over the bar, off a cross by Izquier from the left.

 

However, in the remaining minutes of added time, the Greens held on to the narrow lead to secure a place in Sunday’s final.

 

Sportsdesk – Antoine Busuttil

 

Gzira United came from behind to beat Hibernians 2-1 to keep alive their European aspirations.

 

It looked as though Gzira were set for a difficult afternoon when they found themselves behind when Hugo Vieira converted an early penalty.

 

However, the Maroons kept their composure and managed to turn the tide in their favour with goals from Toni Kolega and Yuri Messias earning them three crucial points.

 

Gzira United have moved up to fourth in the standings on 43 points following Birkirkara’s loss to Hamrun Spartans.

 

Darren Abdilla’s side will now await the winner of the FA Trophy to determine whether they will be representing Malta in next season’s UEFA Europa Conference League.

 

Should Hibernians or Floriana win the domestic cup, Gzira will qualify via their fourth spot  in the championship whereas should the winner be someone between Valletta or Sta Lucia, they will be the ones playing European football.

 

An electric atmosphere welcomed the Hibernians players before the match, with the club paying tribute to the late president Tony Bezzina – a father figure at the Paola club – with an emotional choreography while presenting their new mascot as well.

 

Hibernians coach Stefano Sanderra handed a start to 2005-born Lucas Caruana who held his ground in his holding midfielder role.

 

Vieira was also given the nod but had to be replaced early in the game after picking up a knock.

 

Gzira, on their part, fielded their strongest formation including league’s top scorer Maxuell.

 

In the sixth minute, Gzira had the first chance of the game through Nevin Portelli whose long-range effort was blocked by Matthew Calleja Cremona.

 

Moments later, Hibernians were awarded a penalty when Vieira was floored by goalkeeper Darijan Zarkov. The winter signing took charge of the penalty and drilled the ball home to the delight of the Hibernians fans.

 

But Gzira fought back and levelled terms through Toni Kolega who made his way into the penalty box before firing a curling effort which stunned Calleja Cremona.

 

Hibernians tried to regain the lead when Erjon Beu let fly an overhead kick which sailed over the bar before meeting a corner-kick which he guided past Zarkov’s goal.

 

On the brink of half-time, Jefferson was denied by the woodwork when he tried a stunning bicycle kick from close-range before Beu saw his long-range shot going over the bar.

 

Jake Grech forced Zarkov to a brilliant save when the Hibernians attacking midfielder put down two opponents before firing a strike towards goal that was diverted into a corner.

 

After the interval, Maxuell tried his luck with a towering header but failed to hit the target before Gzira forged ahead through Messias.

 

The Brazilian forward pounced on a loose ball at the back before producing a neat strike past Calleja Cremona for his sixth goal of the season.

 

Hibernians missed a glorious opportunity to peg back Gzira when Jake Grech missed the target from inside the penalty area.

 

At the final whistle, Gzira United celebrated a key victory that kept them still in the hunt for a European berth.

 

On the other hand, the Hibernians were also in party mood as minutes later, captain Andrei Agius was presented with the league trophy by MFA president Bjorn Vasallo to kickstart their title party which lasted until late last night.

 

Sportsdesk – Gianluca Lia

 

Hibernians are the new Malta champions after their 3-1 victory over Birkirkara at the National Stadium.

 

The Paolites needed at least a point against Birkirkara to clinch their 13th domestic title.

 

Birkirkara stunned the Paolites when Federico Falcone put the Stripes ahead early in the first half. However, prolific forward Jurgen Degabriele restored parity soon after.

 

After the break, Birkirkara enjoyed more possession but it was Hibs who went on to clinch the points when Dunstan Vella completed the comeback before substitute Raphael wrapped up the points in stoppage time as the Paolites capped what has been a dominant campaign.

 

For coach Stefano Sanderra, this is his first piece of silverware at the helm of Hibernians.

 

Degabriele’s goal for Hibernians was his 14th of the season as he sits one goal behind league’s leading scorer Maxuell.

 

Birkirkara, on their part, remain in fourth on 41 points. However, their European hopes are far from over as they trail third-placed Ħamrun Spartans by just one point. Both teams will face each other next week, in the final game of the season.

 

Hibernians were looking to take control of the game from the start with Jurgen Degabriele letting fly a curling effort that glanced past Amara Sylla’s goal.

 

However, it was Birkirkara who opened the score against the run of play.

 

Ryan Scicluna darted towards the penalty box before the Hibernians backline tried to clear the danger.

 

Nonetheless, Birkirkara forward Federico Falcone pounced on a loose ball and from close-range beat Ibrahim Kone.

 

The Argentine striker could have even doubled the score immediately after but failed to capitalise from inside the penalty area.

 

Falcone’s goal came as a cold shower for the Paolites as it was Birkirkara who continued to create the chances.

 

Brazilian midfielder Diego Venancio hit a curling effort that was blocked by Kone before Claudio Bonnani saw his long-range drive blocked by the Guinean goalkeeper.

 

At the first time of asking, though, Hibernians did level matters.

 

Thaylor and Degabriele beat Birkirkara’s offside trap with Spaniard providing the assist to the Malta international who had the simplest of tasks of pushing the ball into an empty net.

 

Leandro Aguirre tried his luck from a free-kick but sent his effort wide as the first half ended with both teams on level terms.

 

Venancio had a shot on goal deflected into corner and Falcone could not hit the target from inside the penalty area as Birkirkara came out all guns blazing after the interval.

 

At the other end, Sylla came to Birkirkara’s rescue when he kept Degabriele at bay.

 

The Birkirkara goalkeeper had to block another Degabriele shot again as Hibernians started to pile up the pressure.

 

The Paolites completed the turnaround when Dunstan Vella met a Leandro Almeida’s looping header and guided it past Sylla to the delight of the Hibernians clan.

 

In the closing stages, Raphael Dos Anjos wrapped up Hibernians’ win with a well-engineered counterattack to capitalise into an empty net after goalkeeper Sylla had joined his team-mates in attack during a corner kick situation.

 

Seconds later referee Malcolm Spiteri blew the final whistle as the Paolites players, officials and fans kickstarted their celebration for what was a well deserved title.

 

Sportsdesk – Gianluca Lia