In the opening match of the day, Hibernians and Balzan took a point each following a disappointing goalless draw.

The stalemate did little to boost either side’s aspirations as Hibernians have moved level with fourth-placed Marsaxlokk on 26, albeit the latter face Valletta on Sunday.

On the other hand, Balzan move onto the 21-point mark, three clear of the relegation zone but with the majority of their rivals in action on Sunday, they may finish the weekend in a precarious position.

Hibernians enjoyed a slight edge throughout the match but for all their possession, they struggled to break down a resolute Balzan defence.

The Paolites’ best chance in the first half came on the stroke of half-time with Jurgen Degabriele’s shot finishing just wide.

Hibs had another good opportunity early in the second half with Gabriel Artiles looking odds on to score but he saw his shot blocked by the Balzan defence from routine distance.

Balzan threatened late on with Ibrahim Kone taking centre stage when he managed to keep out an Aleksandar Katanic shot.

Sportsdesk – Valhmor Camilleri

For the second week running, Birkirkara had to rely on a last-gasp goal to save the game and take a point following a 1-1 draw against Hibernians.

Contrary to what happened last week when Alessandro Coppola’s header gave the Stripes all points against Valletta, on Saturday, the Stripes were chasing the result against Hibernians when trailing to an Isaiah Chukunyere goal.

But in the second minute of stoppage time substitute Gianluca Zammit procured a penalty which he duly converted much to the relief of coach Josè Borg as he kept his side fifth in the standings alongside the Paolites.

It was in Birkirkara who enjoyed the better chances late in the first half when Paul Mbong was put through by Alexander Satariano, but saw his effort blocked by the onrushing Ibrahim Kone.

Josè Borg made two changes to his side following last week’s win against Valletta, leaving out Maxuell Maia, Andrea Zammit and Andrei Ciolacu who was again on the bench.

But the introduction of Maia and Zammit appeared to add some bite to the attack.

The Stripes were in the ascendancy when Maia, the Brazilian striker, intercepted a back pass by Claudio Bonanni, formerly of Birikirkara, only to hit his effort straight at Kone.

But it was Hibernians who took the lead through the unlikeliest of source. Eighteen-year-old Isaiah Chukunyere hit a rising shot behind Marcel Zapytowski with virtually his first touch of the ball.

More drama was to follow when five minutes into the injury time, Higor Fernandes floored Zammit inside the area and referee Ishmael Barbarara ordered a penalty. The onus of taking the spot-kick fell to Zammit who kept his cool to beat Kone.

Sportsdesk – Paul Cachia

Floriana kept up the pressure on leaders Hamrun Spartans as they scored a goal in each half to see off Hibernians at the National Stadium.

It was far from a straight-forward win for the Greens who looked second best for much of the first half, with Hibernians creating the better chances.

However, in football one has to convert his chances and the Paolites were made to pay for their profligacy as Floriana took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Kemar Reid and from then on they took control.

After the break, Floriana were in charge and sealed the points with a second goal scored by Matheus to move level on points with Hamrun Spartans who face Gudja United this afternoon.

Hibernians had a huge chance after 12 minutes when Jurgen Degabriele powered his way through but his shot was blocked by the excellent Maksim Valadsko.

Five minutes later, Ferdinando Apap picked up a short rebound but his volley flashed wide.

Floriana finally threatened on 24 minutes when Alexander Kouro picked up a short clearance and hit a thumping drive that was well blocked by the returning Hibs goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone.

Four minutes later Alex Bruno was lucky to stay on the pitch when he caught Carlo Zammit Lonardelli with his elbow, leaving the Floriana players with a cut on his face, but the officials opted not to sanction the Hibs defender.

The Paolites were forced to make their first change on the half-hour mark when Bjorn Kristensen limped out injured and was replaced by Lucas Caruana.

Eleven minutes on the break, Hibs had Floriana on the backfoot when Radchenko sped clear on the right and his cross was deflected into the path of Caruana whose effort was blocked, with the ball falling into the path of the unmarked Degabriele but he fluffed his effort much to his frustration.

Hibs were unlucky not to take the lead on 39 minutes when Giannis Bastianos’ stinging drive bounce off the upright.

Bu it was Floriana who took the lead against the run of play when substitute Willis Furtado sped inside the area and squared the ball for Kemar Reid who fired home.

On the restart, the Malta international striker had the chance to double his team’s lead when he controlled Kouro’s cross but was denied by the onrushing Kone.

Hibs’s response failed to arrive and it was Floriana who sealed the points when Furtado flicked the ball into the path of Matheus who lobbed the ball over the onrushing Kone and into the net.

The Paolites finally threatened on 71 minutes when Antwi’s shot was blocked by Valadsko and Degabriele fired over from a routine distance.

Furtado came close to put his name on the scoresheet with a thunderous drive that was blocked in two attempts by Kone.

Four minutes from time, it was Kitanov who pushed away Bastianos curling drive from a free-kick.

In stoppage time, Valadsko was unlucky not to add a third when his angled shot hit the upright with Reid denied by Shaw from the rebound.

Sportsdesk – Valhmor Camilleri

Please find MFA’s Decision in the link below.

MFA Decision

B’referenza għad-deċiżjoni motivata tal-Malta FA Protest Board tal-1 ta’ Frar 2024, jirrizulta li l-Klabb tagħna ippreżenta għadd ta’ dokumenti, u għamel referenza dettaljata għar-regolamenti tal-MFA, tal-FIFA, u d-deċiżjonijiet tal- Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Fil-mertu, il-Klabb tagħna ngħata r-raġun tant li l-Malta FA Protest Board irrikonoxxa illi l-plejer ma skontax is-sospensjoni kollha li huwa kellu jiskonta skont ir-regolamenti. B’hekk, inħoloq preċedent serju kontra l-integrità tal-logħba.

Huwa prinċipju sagrosant ta’ dritt sportiv li klabb huwa dejjem responsabbli għall-eġilibilità tal-player tiegħu, kif sostnut fir-regoli tal-MFA, tal-FIFA u f’numru kbir ta’ deċiżjonijiet tal-CAS. Dawn ġew ilkoll mgħoddija lill-Bord, li iżda iddeċieda mod ieħor.

Fid-deċiżjoni tal-Malta FA Protest Board, intqal bla ebda riservi li l-MFA ammettiet illi għamlet żball, minħabba li naqset milli tindika fis-sistema TMS li l-Plejer kellu sospensjoni x’jiskonta. Il-Klabb josserva illi din l-ammissjoni tal-MFA dwar in-nuqqasijiet gravi tagħha ma saritx fis-seduta quddiem l-MFA Protest Board, u allura, saret preżumibiliment fil-privat mingħajr mal-klabbs parteċipi fis-smigħ kellhom l-opportunità jikkonfrontaw din l-istqarrija waqt is-seduta tal-Board.

Bid-deċiżjoni tal-Board, l-iżball li ammettiet li għamlet l-MFA se jkun qiegħed ibatih il-Klabb tagħna.

Fid-dawl tal-fatt illi dan il-każ kollu twieled minn żball gravi tal-Assoċjazzjoni, il-Klabb qiegħed jistenna r-reazzjoni tal-istess MFA u d-deċiżjonijiet tagħha dwar dan, inkluż kif se jġorr ir-responsabbiltà is-Segretarju Generali.

Fl-ahharnet il-klabb taghna jirriserva d-dritt li jiehu dawk l-passi kollha necessarji li għandu jiehu biex jissalvagwardja l-interessi tieghu.

A costly mistake from Hibernians goalkeeper Hugo Sacco handed Gzira United a berth in the Quarter-Finals of the FA Trophy with a narrow win at the National Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Malta Under-21 goalkeeper spilled Zach Scerri’s strike early in the game and former Hibs winger Thaylor converted from short range.

Substitute Kyle Spence grazed the Hibs bar at the death. The Maroons improved as the match wore on and Hibs took on a ragged appearance as they searched for an equaliser.

On 21 minutes, the Paolites came within a whisker of scoring, when Sime Zuzul put Jurgen Degabriele through but with only the goalkeeper to beat, the nippy striker saw his shot saved by Darijan Zarkov.

High on confidence after three wins in four, including a 3-2 win over Gzira, Hibernians made a suicidal error on the half-hour mark.

Gzira United’s formation included four Hibernians old boys, including their coach Andrew Cohen and two of those combined to break the deadlock. Sacco’s mishit clearance of a back pass gave Jackson Mendoza a chance. The Colombian midfielder immediately squared the ball for Zach Scerri. But Sacco spilled Scerri’s strike and Thaylor converted from short range. The Brazilian did not celebrate his goal against his former club.

The pace of the match intensified after the break, with Hibs increasing possession in an effort to wrestle the initiative back from the Maroons. Still, it was Gzira who seemed more incisive but Sacco had to make a good block to thwart Thaylor this time.

Although Gzira found themselves penned in their own half, they held their shape for most of the game, trying to punish their opponents’ flat-out approach. On 65 minutes, a superb run from Gabriel Artiles, cutting in from the left and breezing past his marker, created an opportunity from which the Spaniard winger should have scored.

Substitute Kyle Spence could have made it worse for Hibernians but he drilled a shot against the crossbar close to full-time.

Sportsdesk – Paul Cachia

Hibernians scored twice in the first half to overcome Santa Lucia and stay close to the third place occupied by Sliema Wanderers with 30 points.

The Paolites, trailing the Blues by six in fifth, took the lead through a Jurgen Pisani own goal before Malta U-19’s Lucas Caruana doubled the lead for Hibernians.

Making his debut for Santa Lucia, who sit 12th with 12 points, was Basile Ogouvide who joined the club from Switzerland’s Young Boys.

Sportsdesk – Gianluca Lia

A last-gasp winner scored by Lucas Caruana kept Hibernians close to the European places at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

Gzira United, now under the guidance of coach Andrew Cohen, gave the Paolites a run for their money with Thiago Espindola putting the Maroons ahead.

Hibernians replied through Bjorn Kristensen but Brooklyn Borg had restored Gzira’s lead on the 37th minute.

Moments later, Jurgen Degabriele levelled terms for Hibernians before young player Caruana scored a late winner to the delight of the Paolites camp.

Branko Nisevic’s Hibs are now fifth on 21 points while Gzira are 10th on 14 points.

For this game, coach Nisevic handed a debut to Ukrainian winter signing Artem Radchenko who joined Hibernians in recent days.

Sportsdesk – Gianluca Lia

Hamrun Spartans moved three points clear at the top of the BOV Premier League standings as they scored a goal in each half to overcome Hibernians at the National Stadium.

It was a convincing performance for the Malta champions who held the edge for much of the encounter and deservedly took the lead through their inspirational captain Steve Borg.

Hibs did improve after the break  but the Spartans remained the more dangerous and went on to seal the points through Ryan Camenzuli.

The Paolites did pull a goal back at the death but that was a little too late to deny the Spartans from moving three points clear of rivals Floriana who face Gżira United on Sunday.

Hamrun Spartans enjoyed the upper hand during the first half with Hibernians happy to soak up the pressure and try and hit their opponents with quick transitions, but they struggled to be effective.

It was the Spartans who came close to take the lead on 13 minutes when they were awarded a central free-kick and Uros Duranovic’s curling drive hit the bar with the ball bouncing to safety with Hugo Sacco beaten.

Hamrun continued to boss proceedings and their efforts were rewarded on 21 minutes when they deservedly took the lead.

Roko Prsa’s delivery from a corner was deflected into the path of Steve Borg who showed great composure to turn past Bjorn Kristensen and Claudio Bonanni before firing a rasping drive into the roof of the net.

The Spartans almost doubled their lead on 35 minutes when from a Montebello corner kick the ball fell into the path of the unmarked Elionay who fired over.

Two minutes from the break, Jonny caught Sacco out of his goal and tried an audacious lob from mid-pitch but the ball finished just wide much to the relief of the Hibs goalkeeper.

On the restart, Hamrun lost Marcelina to injury and was replaced by Ognjen Bjelicic.

Hibs finally came close on 57 minutes when from a central free-kick Giannis Bastianos’s shot was turned over by Bonello.

At the other end, Jonny sped clear on the left and found Montebello who stabbed wide from close in.

Nine minutes from time Jonny picked Duranovic inside the area but the Montenegrin fired over.

Hamrun finally sealed the points six minutes from time when Christian Rutjens, who had come on for Montebello to make his debut, picked Jonny in the middle of the park and the Brazilian raced forward before finding the sprinting Camenzuli who blasted past Sacco.

Hibs did pull a goal back when Borg was harshly judged to have pulled down Suzul inside the area and from the spot, Degabriele made no mistake.

But that little mattered as Hamrun held on for the win.

Sportsdesk – Valhmor Camilleri