Hibernians claim first three points

bov-premier-leagueHibernians registered their first win in the BOV Premier League as they defeated Sliema Wanderers 1-0 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Friday, courtesy of a Clayton Failla penalty.

For the Wanderers, this was the second consecutive defeat after losing to Valletta last week.

Hibs had two changes from the team which lost to Hamrun as Diosdado Mbele and Jurgen Degabiele replaced Timothy Tabone Desira and Joseph Mbong. Sliema, on the other hand, had Clive Psaila and Jean Paul Farrugia replacing Roger de Souza and the suspended Mark Scerri.

Hibernians managed to take the lead on the 35th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Sliema goalkeeper Giuseppe Sarao brought Renan Pimenta Telles fown inside the area and from the penalty spot, Clayton Failla converted.

In added time, Peter Xuereb missed a good opportunity to level matters after hitting wide from an ideal position inside the area.

Eight minutes in the second half, Andrew Hogg performed a good save on an Alex Muscat effort from outside the area and on the 64th minute, it was the turn of Sliema goalkeeper Sarao to neutralise a fine attempt by Kristensen.

SLIEMA Giuseppe Sarao, Alex Muscat, Gary Muir, Stefano Bianciardi, Clive Psaila, Peter Xuereb, Mathias Muchardi, John Mintoff (68′ Aidan Friggieri), Gabriel Aquilina (46′ Michel Wisdom Salomon Aka), Milos Galin, Jean Paul Farrugia.
Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, Kurt Shaw, Michele Sansone, Luca Martinelli, Beppe Muscat.
Coach: John Buttigieg

HIBS Andrew Hogg, Rodolfo Soares, Marcelo Dias, Jackson de Lima Siqueira (81′ Andrew Cohen), Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Renan Pimenta Telles, Johann Bezzina, Diosdado Mbele Mangue Mba (46′ Joseph Mbong), Jurgen Degabriele (88′ Juan Manuel Varea), Andrei Agius.
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Dunstan Vella, Zachary Scerri, Connor Zammit.
Coach: Mark Miller

Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: Muir, Mbele, Sarao, Failla, Bezzina, Xuereb
BOV Player of the Match: Johann Bezzina
Attendance at the Victor Tedesco Stadium: 572

Champions Valletta registered their second win as a penalty by Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao early in the second half gave them a narrow win over Mosta at the Hibernians Stadium.

Valletta had Jonathan Caruana and Romeu Romao back in the starting line-up with Ian Azzopardi and Llywelyn Cremona both starting on the bench. Manuel Bartolo, Njongo Priso and Benjamin Chinedu Oweregbulam making their debut as they replaced Yenz Cini, Kyle Frendo and Tristan Grant.

Mosta were reduced to ten men after just eleven minutes as Chinedu Benjamin Oweregbulam was sent off by referee Malcolm Spiteri following a rough tackle on Jhonnattann. Two minutes from the end of the first half, it was the turn of Valletta midfielder Claudio Pani to be given marching orders from the referee.

Following a goalless first half, Valletta finally managed to break the deadlock eleven minutes in the second half when Kurt Magro floored Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao inside the area and from the penalty spot, Jhonnattann converted.

MOSTA Manuel Bartolo, Adrian Caruana, Benjamin Chinedu Oweregbulam, Dany Djoufack, Chinatu Francis Onwudinjo, Kurt Magro (80′ Dexter Xuereb), Jaroslav Repa (89′ Emerson Vella), Martin Vlcek, Njongo Priso, Lucky Victor Oseghale, Zachary Brincat (68′ Kyle Frendo).
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Sheldon Vassallo, Neil Frendo, Jurgen Grech.
Coach: Edmond Lufi

VALLETTA Henry Bonello, Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg, Juan Cruz Gill, Santiago Malano (83′ Jean Borg), Michael Mifsud (80′ Uchenna Calistus Umeh), Roderick Briffa, Claudio Pani, Leandro Aguirre, Jhonnattan Benites da Conceicao, Romeu Pericles Romao (67′ Llywelyn Cremona).
Subs not used: Maverick Buhagiar, Ian Azzopardi, Ryan Camilleri, Jurgen Suda.
Coach: Paul Zammit

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Martin Borg
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna
Yellow Cards: Gill, Magro, Cremona, Borg
BOV Player of the Match: Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao
Attendance at the Hibernians Stadium: 1,046