Sixth win in a row enables Hibernians to join Gzira on top

Hibernians joined Gzira United on top the BOV Premier League as they defeated Birkirkara 2-1 at the National Stadium on Sunday.

This was the sixth win in a row for the Paolites and the fourth defeat in six matches for Birkirkara. The Stripes remain seventh on 15 points, nine behind the leaders.

Both sides had one change from their previous game as Arjan Mrsulja replaced he suspended Danilo Chapoval for Birkirkara and Timothy Tabone Desira was preferred to Connor Zammit for Hibernians.

The Paolites managed to take the lead on the 9th minute when off a Jurgen Degabriele corner from the left, Birkirkara striker Petar Orlandic obstructed fellow goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski who was about to grab the ball with the latter deflecting it into the net for an own goal.

Birkirkara equalised twelve minutes in the second half when off a Matthew Guillaumier cross from the right, Nemanja Radojevic headed the ball down in an attempt to clear into safety but the ball fell in the path of Jake Grech who hit low past Andrew Hogg from close range.

However Hibernians regained the lead on the 75th minute when off a throw-in from the left, Tiago Adan Fonseca exchanged the ball with Taylon Correa before hitting the ball in the bottom left corner behind Hogg.

HIBS Andrew Hogg, Dunstan Vella, Nemanja Radojevic, Joseph Mbong, Marcelo Dias, Jurgen Degabriele, Bjorn Kristensen, Taylon Correa Marcolino (90+2′ David Xuereb), Andrei Agius, Timothy Tabone Desira (90′ Connor Zammit), Tiago Adan Fonseca (82′ Guttiner Fernando Costa Tenorio).
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Isaac Toah Ntow, Johann Bezzina, Daneel Abela.
Coach: Stefano Sanderra
Asst Coach: Ryan Pulis

B’KARA Kristijan Naumovski, Arjan Mrsulja, Matthew Guillaumier, Petar Orlandic (72′ Carlos Alberto Chavarria), Jake Grech (83′ Myles Beerman), Kurt Zammit (90′ Gianluca Zammit), Eduardo Ferreira dos Santos, Michael Mifsud, Cain Attard, Marcelo Franca de Siqueira.
Subs not used: Amara Sylla, Edward Herrera, Paul Fenech, Terence Agius.
Coach: Paul Zammit
Asst. Coach: Mark Buttigieg

Referee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Mitchell Scerri
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Grech, Tabone Desira, Kristensen, Fonseca, Zammit
BOV Player of the Match: Jurgen Degabriele
Attendance: 874