BOV Super Cup success for Hibernians

Champions Hibernians revenged their FA Trophy loss to Hibernians in the last game of season 2014/15 as they kicked-off the new season with a 2-1 win over Birkirkara to claim the BOV Super Cup. This was the third Super Cup for Hibernians after winning it in 1994 and 2007.

Ironically the Stripes took an early lead but the Paolites turned the score in their favour with two goals before the end of the first half.

Both coaches had practically the full squad at their disposal apart from Ryan Scicluna and Edward Herrera for Birkirkara and Jean Paul Farrugia for Hibernians. In fact, Fabrizio Miccoli and Rowen Muscat who were in doubt both recovered fully. New Birkirkara signings Cain Attard and Juan Quero Barasso started the game on the bench with the Spanish striker being included as a substitute.

The Stripes managed to take the lead on the 12th minute when goalkeeper Jurgen Borg failed to hold Fabrizio Miccoli’s corner from the left with the ball hitting the foot of the upright and go beyond the goal line despite Andrei Agius’ desperate attempt to clear the ball into safety.

Hibs replied with a Clayton Failla freekick which was tipped into a corner by Haber on the 17th.

The Paolites equalised on the 31st when off a Clayton Failla corner from the right, Zach Muscat anticipated the Hibes strikers, heading the ball past Haber for an own goal.

Hibernians forged ahead three minutes from the end of the first half when off a Clayton Failla freekick from the right, Lima, Jorginho, Vukanac and Mazzetti rose high for the ball which landed on the back of the Argentine defender and into the net.

Six minutes in the second half, Haber came to the rescue for Birkirkara performing a good save into a corner on Gilmar who had advanced into the area. Haber then tipped over the bar a fine shot by Kristensen from just outside the area on 61 minutes. From the resulting corner, Rodolfo Soares just failed to connect from close range.

In the dying minutes, Miccoli had a freekick for Birkirkara ending just over the bar and then in a counter attack for Hibernians, Jorginho and Kristensen had shots blocked by defenders on the goal line.

After the game, Charles Borg CEO at Bank of Valletta and Norman Darmanin Demajo, President of the Malta Football Association presented the cup to Hibs captain Andrew Cohen.

 

HIBS Jurgen Borg, Rui da Gracia Gomes, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Rodolfo Soares, Marcelo Dias (77′ Jorge Santos Silva), Andrew Cohen (78′ Johann Bezzina), Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Andrei Agius, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro (90′ Jonathan Pearson), Jorge da Silva Ribeiro.
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Jurgen Degabriele, Dunstan Vella, Joseph Mbong.
Coach: Branko Nisevic

B’KARA Justin Haber, Joseph Zerafa, Zach Muscat (90′ Terence Vella), Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Matias Latini Mazzetti, Paul Fenech, Rowen Muscat (76′ Juan Quero Barasso), Ryan Camenzuli (64′ Edin Murga), Marcelina Emerson, Fabrizio Miccoli, Vito Plut.
Subs not used: Ini Etim Akpan, Cain Attard, Edmond Agius, Gareth Sciberras.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco

Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Sammy Attard
Additional Assistant Referees: Alan Mario Sant, Trustin Farrugia Cann
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Yellow Cards: Failla, Mazzetti, Cohen, Gilmar, Vukanac
Scorers: 12′ Fabrizio Miccoli, 31′ own goal Zach Muscat, 41′ own goal Mauricio Mazzetti
Attendance: 4,038