Naxxar Lions extended their positive run to four matches after holding Hibernians in a goalless draw at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.

 

A draw – the third in four matches – which leaves the Lions just one point behind the Paolites and Birkirkara, although the Stripes have a game in hand. Hibs brought their winless streak to an end but a draw from this game was still far from what they were hoping to obtain.

 

Attempts by Giannis Bastianos and Alex Bruno de Souza for Hibernians, Pablo Augusto and Darren Falzon for Naxxar ended off target during the first half. On the restart, Rodney Antwi went close with a header for Hibernians and a Jurgen Degabriele effort was parried by Matthias Debono.

 

The Paolites ended in ten men after Zachary Grech received a second yellow card on the the 75th minute but in the remaining minutes, Naxxar failed to break the deadlock.

 

Antoine Busuttil – Maltafootball

 

An impressive shift by goalkeeper Danilo Golovic helped Balzan clinch three precious points over Hibernians in Sunday’s encounter.

 

The Serbian custodian produced a string of crucial saves to keep the Paolites at bay while Oliver Spiteri’s side snatched the win with two second-half goals.

 

The Reds are now one point away from fourth-placed Marsaxlokk, with nine points after five outings in this campaign.

 

On the other hand, Hibernians sunk to their third defeat in five league games as they remain on six points.

 

Inside the opening four minutes, Luiz Henrique squandered a glorious opportunity to put Hibernians ahead when he failed to find the back of the net from point-blank range.

 

The Paolites were dictating proceedings while Balzan looked to catch their opponents on the break with Oliver Spiteri’s side threatening through Leonardo De Souza just to see Ibrahim Kone denying him.

 

Balzan’s Danilo Golovic came to the rescue for his side when Giannis Bastianos let fly a brilliant freekick but the Serbian goalkeeper managed to keep the danger away.

 

Moments later, Jurgen Degabriele was at the end of a well-engineered move but his curling effort was not enough to beat Golovic.

 

Hibernians remained the most dangerous team on the field, this time with Rodney Antwi coming close to finding the net but once again Golovic proved tough to beat from close range.

 

Balzan thought they had drawn first blood against the run of play but their celebrations were cut short by Sciriha.

 

Ryohey Michibuchi’s effort was blocked by Kone with Ivan Bozovic pouncing on the rebound, finding De Souza on the penalty spot who fired past the Hibernians’ goalkeeper.

 

However, the match official had already halted the play, issuing a yellow card to Balzan’s Bozovic for allegedly simulating to win a penalty just before De Souza fired past Kone to the protests of the Balzan clan.

 

Hibernians’ Kurt Shaw failed to connect properly with the ball from a free-kick situation as the Paolites were looking to regain momentum in this match.

 

After the exchange of ends, Balzan came close to finding the net through Aleksa Andrejic but could not beat Kone with his effort from outside the penalty area.

 

Hibernians replied through Degabriele but once again the Paolites could not beat an inspired Golovic who kept Balzan in the game time and time again.

 

Their missed chances came back to haunt them as it was Balzan who broke the deadlock, with Japanese winger Michibuchi capitalising on Jake Grech’s cross from inside the small area.

 

Golovic denied Shaw with a double save from a corner-kick situation as Hibernians started to pile the pressure on Balzan.

 

Substitute Samuel Okoh fired a great volley from long-range just to see his effort glance past Golovic’s goal.

 

Nonetheless, it was Balzan who scored the game’s next goal to wrap up the win with substitute Dimeji Awosanya who made the most of a positive transition to beat Kone and slot into the empty net.

 

Sportsdesk – Gainluca Lia

 

Substitute Andrei Ciolacu came off the bench to hand Birkirkara a priceless victory over Hibernians at the National Stadium.

 

The Romanian striker had only been on the pitch for 10 minutes but still managed to leave a lasting impact when latching to Yannick Yankam’s pass and finishing expertly with a volley.

 

Ciolacu’s speed of thought and feet proved decisive again as Birkirkara returned to winning ways after a 2-0 defeat to Floriana and a 1-1 draw with Valletta.

 

Birkirkara were just about worth the win in an error-ridden match.

 

Bjorn Kristensen had Hibernians’ best chance in the first half as he threatened with a long-range shot.

 

Retrieving possession next to halfway line, the Malta midfielder produced an exquisite chip which the backtracking goalkeeper Marcel Zapytowaski fantastically tipped the ball over the bar.

 

But slowly and surely, Birkirkara upped the pace and put the Hibs defence under increasing pressure.

 

Paul Mbong was played through by Alexander Satariano as he ran in between Hibs’ centre-backs to shoot straight at Ibrahim Kone.

 

Birkirkara continued to peg their rivals back into their own half. Shy the half hour mark, Satariano fizzed an angled shot into the side-netting.

 

Kurt Zammit, then put in a crucial block to deny Jurgen Degabriele, when the nippy striker failed to connect to Rodney Antwi’s cross after the Birkirkara defender got a vital touch on the ball.

 

At the other end, Satariano looked out of sorts for Birkirkara as he wasted a string of chances to put the Stripes ahead.

 

The winger produced a rising shot that drifted high and wide, connecting with Yannick Yankam’s cross in front of goal.

 

The Paolites were also guilty of some glaring misses. After the break, Giannis Bastianos sent a volley well over the Birkirkara crossbar after Antwi’s square pass.

 

On the hour mark, the Stripes clearly felt referee Alex Johnson should have sent Ferdinando Apap off after he hauled down Satariano as he closed in on goal but the defender was only cautioned.

 

But it was Birkirkara who continued to look the more likely side to score and so it proved as Ciolacu clearly carried the ball around Kurt Shaw before turning his shot home.

 

Adailton outsprinted Robert Bairam on the left flank but when the Romanian midfielder attempted to repair the error, he could only find Ciolacu who turned the ball behind Kone.

 

Sportsdesk – Paul Cachia

 

Floriana FC continued to add fuel to their title ambitions as the Greens emerged victorious from their top-of-the-table clash against Hibernians at the National Stadium.

 

Kemar Reid turned out to be Floriana’s hero last night as the Jamaican forward scored two  spectacular goals that not only preserved the team’s 100 per cent record in the Premier League but also put them three points clear at the top of the standings, ahead of Ħamrun Spartans match against Gudja United today.

 

It was another impressive display from the Greens who right from the outset looked to be well deployed tactically by their coach Mauro Camoranesi as they held the edge over their opponents for much of the match.

 

In fact, Floriana had the better chances and could have scored a more pronounced victory had they taken the chances that came their way.

 

Yesterday’s win further underlines Floriana’s potential this season as the Greens have now registered their second success over one of the top sides in the division, following their 2-0 win over Birkirkara last weekend, and no doubt, based on these performances, they are set to be the leading candidates to challenge Ħamrun Spartans for the Premier League crown.

 

The match turned out into a hard-fought affair right from the outset with both sides pushing forward on every occasion they were in possession, giving an early indication of their intention to go out for the three points.

 

While Floriana enjoyed the bigger share of possession it was Hibernians who threatened first when on 18 minutes Ferdinando Apap connected to Jurgen Degabriele’s delivery from a free-kick bu this overhead short finished wide.

 

Floriana’s response arrived on 21 minutes but Dunstan Vella’s low shot offered little trouble for goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone.

 

There was little separating either side with both sets of defences showing great composure to keep out their opponents with scoring chances few and far between.

 

In fact, we had till the 38th minute for another opening when Armen Hovhannisyan showed great skill to turn past two defenders but his shot went wide.

 

The match finally came to life on 38 minutes when Floriana took the leading with a fine individual strike from Kemar Reid.

 

The Jamaican forward seized possession in midfield and despite being some 30 metres out he hit a rasping angled drive that gave no chance to goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone.

 

Hibernians looked rattled and on 41 minutes Matheus should have doubled Floriana’s lead.

 

Reid was again involved when he fed Valadzko who squared the ball into the path of the Brazilian forward who fired over with Kone only to beat.

 

The Greens almost were made to pay for this miss when Hibernians were denied by the woodwork from an equaliser.

 

From a corner action, Bastianos’s delivery reached the unmarked Ferdinando Apap who saw his downward header come off the upright.

 

After the break, one expected Hibs to step up their game in search of an equaliser with Nisevic roping in Alex Bruno for Samuel Okoh.

 

However, it was Floriana who came close on 58 minutes as the Paolites failed to clear a cross, with the ball falling to Max Valasko but his angled drive flashed wide.

 

Hibernians looked short of ideas when pushing forward as their forays were continuously being closed down by the solid Floriana defence.

 

Ten minutes from time, Dunstan Vella, facing his former team-mates for the first time, had the chance to put his name on the scoresheet when he stormed inside the area but was denied by Kone.

 

Floriana did manage to grab a second ‘killer goal’ three minutes from time when Reid profited from some lax defending from Hibernians to seize the ball just outside the area and hit a rasping low drive that gave no chance to Kone.

 

Sportsdesk – Valhmor Camilleri

 

Hibernians survived a second scare as they managed to overcome a resilient Santa Lucia side in a five-goal thriller at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

 

The Paolites had looked set for a comfortable evening as they dominated the early proceedings against their neighbouring rivals.

 

In fact, Hibernians took just five minutes to forge ahead when they Greek forward Giannis Bastianos put them ahead.

 

Sta Lucia look rattled and Hibernians struck again on 18 minutes with Bastianos again providing the killer touch to make it 2-0.

 

The Paolites could have all but wrapped up the points on 22 minutes when they were awarded a penalty but Dutch winger Rodney Antwi failed to beat Santa Lucia goalkeeper Francisco Silva Filho.

 

That miss proved costly as after the break Santa Lucia came out storming out of the blocks and Lucas Sena Silva pulled a goal back on 52 minutes before Adam Bradshaw levelled matters four minutes later.

 

Despite this double setback Hibernians kept their poise and they managed to regain their lead through their striking talisman Jurgen Degabriele who made it 3-2.

 

Sportsdesk – Valhmor Camilleri

 

In a devastating attacking display, Hibernians made a winning start after brushing aside Gżira United.

 

The Paolites, under the charge of Branko Nisevic, took control in the first half courtesy of goals from Giannis Bastianos and Ayrton Attard before Jurgen Degabriele sealed the points with a well taken brace after the break.

 

To their credit, Darren Abdilla’s Gżira had started brightly and showed an impressive workrate for much of the first half.

 

On 12 minutes, Wilkson saw his powerfully-struck free-kick saved by Ibrahim Kone.

 

The Gżira striker started to make his presence felt and three minutes later, he had another well-struck shot was turned away by the Hibs goalkeeper, and from the rebound the towering custodian denied Macula.

 

Till this point, Hibernians had rarely threatened but sprung out of defence brilliantly to break the deadlock on 24 minutes. Rodney Antwi’s cross from the right was met by Giannis Bastianos and the Greek striker thundered a finish past David Cassar.

 

Ayrton Attard doubled the Paolites’ lead in style. He pulled a pass out of the air, controlled the ball before dragging a brilliant finish into Cassar’s top corner.

 

The industrious Antwi outran Marcelo Dias on the left flank to hit a low drive against the foot of the post as the Paolites pressed to make the game safe in the first half.

 

A minute from half-time, referee Ishmael Barbara was forced to reach into his pocket when Zachary Scerri committed a cynical challenge on substitute Lucas Caruana. The Gżira captain was red-carded for his trouble and left the pitch in disgrace.

 

Hibs always looked the more dangerous side, with Antwi at the heart of most of their play. Two minutes after the break, he brilliantly turned Jurgen Degabriele in, with an inviting cross for the striker to pick his spot behind Cassar.

 

By the hour mark, Hibernians had coasted to 4-0, Caruana broke through the centre and laid it off on the left flank to Alex Bruno, who cut the ball across for Degabriele. The striker showed sublime control and skill in the box before beating Cassar for the second time.

 

Antwi, who was superb throughout, again pierced the Gżira’s defence and darted past his marker before shooting low but Cassar denied the Dutch winger from putting his name on the scoresheet.

 

Sportsdesk – Paul Cachia

 

Ready to go again. 

The 2023/24 BOV Premier League Fixture Draws have been made!

We will kick off our Premier League campaign against Gzira United Football Club.

 

 

Hibernians FC would like to announce that an amicable agreement has been reached with coach Silvio Vella for the termination of his contract with the club, by mutual consent.

 

Both parties have made the decision after careful consideration and came to this conclusion based on mutual respect.

 

The club wishes to thank Silvio for his loyalty and dedication shown towards the club, whilst wishing him the best of luck for the future.

_____________________________________________________________

Il-klabb flimkien mal-coach Silvio Vella jħabbru li waslu fi ftehim amikevoli biex jitterminaw il-kuntratt ta’ bejniethom. Għalkemm il-klabb għandu kull fiduċja f’Silvio Vella, minħabba r-rispett reċiproku u sens ta’ irġulija li dejjem kien hemm bejniethom il-partijiet waslu ghal din id-deċizjoni fl-aħjar interess taż-żewg naħat.

Il-klabb jixtieq pubblikament jirringrazzja lill-Silvio Vella tad-dedikazzjoni u lejalta’ li dejjem wera lejn il-klabb u jawgura lill Silvio kull suċċess għall-futur.

Balzan are back in European football after a four-year absence after they fended off the challenge of rivals Hibernians in a five-goal thriller at the National Stadium that proved to be a fitting finale to the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.

 

After Birkrikara’s triumph in Sunday’s FA Trophy final against Marsaxlokk, Balzan and Hibernians were forced to face off in this decider to decide which team will finish in fourth place and take the final spot in this summer’s UEFA Conference League qualifiers.

 

After a cagey start to the match, this clash turned out to be a real thriller with Matheus giving Balzan the lead at the break, but Hibs fought back and Dunstan Vella levelled matters midway through the second half.

 

Angel Torres then came to the fore for Balzan as his surging runs created all sorts of problems for Hibs and the Colombian seemed to have given them the win when scoring the second goal on 89 minutes.

 

But Hibs had other plans and Jurgen Degabriele forced extra-time with arguably the last kick of the match.

 

However, Balzan netted what proved to be the winner with the first kick of extra-time through substitute Bogdan Mladenovic and Hibs’ hopes were extinguished with the dismissal of Kurt Shaw as Balzan administered their lead.

 

For Balzan, this was a huge achievement, particularly when one considers that the club is coming from two seasons where they were fighting against relegation but next summer Oliver Spiteri will lead the team in the UEFA Conference qualifiers along with Birkirkara and Gżira United.

 

Prior to kick-off, the Hibernians clan presented a memento to team captain Andrei Agius who was making his final appearance with the Paolites before hanging up his boots at the end of the season.

 

Balzan enjoyed the better start of the match as the speed of their forwards Matheus, Alex Satariano and Angel Torres was keeping the Hibs defence continuously in apprehension.

 

On 11 minutes Alex Satariano pounced on a poor touch from Ali Diakhite and the Malta striker hit a rasping cross-shot across the face of goal but there were no takers to the relief of goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone.

 

Scoring chances remained few and far between with Balzan continuing to hold much of the initiative with Hibernians trying to hit their opponents with quick transitions.

 

In fact, we had to wait until the half hour for the next chance when Satariano picked up a short rebound but his volley flashed wide.

 

Balzan created the best chance so far nine minutes from the break with a slick move that started from just outside their area, with some quick passing seeing Paul Fenech releasing Torres clear on the right and the Colombian winger made space just outside the area but his curling drive finishing just wide.

 

The Reds efforts were finally rewarded in the first minute of stoppage time.

 

From an Aleksa Andreijic corner kick, Momcilo Raso headed the ball into the path of Matheus who had little difficulty in heading the ball past Kone.

 

Hibs needed a change of pace in their play and seven minutes into the second half coach Silvio Vella roped in Dunstan Vella and Thaylor in lieu of Gonzalo Llerena and Zachary Grech.

 

Instead, it was Balzan who almost made it 2-0 on 56 minutes when Ndinga played in Torres who turned past his marker and opted to shoot with his effort blocked by Kone.

 

The Reds continue to threaten and on 65 minutes, Satariano dashed inside the area but blasted the ball wide.

 

Balzan’s profligacy came back to haunt them a minute later as Hibs equalised.

 

The goal was manufactured by the two Hibs substitutes as Thaylor made space for himself on the right and his cross was turned home by Dunstan Vella.

 

The goal seemed to have galvanised Hibernians who started to be more of a threat.

 

However, 16 minutes from time, Balzan had another glorious chance to regain the lead. Kaljevic, who had just replaced Andreijic, was brought down inside the area from Kone with the referee pointing to the spot.

 

But from the spot, Kaljevic saw his shot saved by the Guinea goalkeeper.

 

Three minutes later, Balzan protested for another penalty when Torres dispossessed Agius and sped inside the area before going down following a challenge by the former Malta defender but the referee waved play on, even though TV replays suggested otherwise.

 

Torres continue to torment the Hibs defence as a minute later he moved past three opponents but was anticipated by the onrushing Kone.

 

Hibs had a great chance to win it three minutes from time when Joao Vitor sped inside the area and cut the ball back into the path of the unmarked Degabriele who, however, fired over.

 

This time, it was Hibs who were made to pay as Balzan scored soon after.

 

It was Torres who produced the winning run when he sped past two defenders and beat Kone with an angled drive.

 

But the drama was not finished yet as straight from kick-off, Jake Grech’s cross was nodded by Apap into the path of Degabriele who sent the ball past the onrushing Rudy Briffa to send the game into extra-time.

 

Goals kept flowing with Balzan going back in front in their first attack.

 

Substitute Bogdan Mladenovic made the most of being given space on the left to surge inside the area and hit a low drive that came off the upright before finishing beyond the goalline.

 

Hibs could have levelled matters again on 83 minutes when Thaylor found the unmarked Joao Vitor but the Paolites forward incredibly fired wide.

 

On 97 minutes, Hibs protested for a penalty when Degabriele’s pass looked to have hit the arm of Bozovic but the referee waved play on.

 

From the resultant corner, taken by Artiles, Briffa produced a fine one-handed save to keep out Apap’s downward header.

 

Things got worse for Hibs on 100 minutes when Kurt Shaw was shown a straight red card when he upended the goalbound Torres on the edge of the area to continue the match with ten men.

 

Mladenovic came close again on 106 minutes but this time his shot from the edge of the area finished just wide.

 

Sportsdesk – Gianluca Lia