Sport • 16 February 2003

Hibernians practically out of the Championship race

Birkirkara 1
Hibernians 0

Champions Hibernians practically waved their title aspirations goodbye after being defeated by Birkirkara by a solitary goal scored by defender William Camenzuli. This defeat means Hibernians are now 10 points adrift of leaders Sliema. Even their most ardent supporters will now throw in the towel.
Contrarily, thanks to this victory, Birkirkara remain only two points behind Sliema and are still within a good shout of winning the league title. It was a boring match at the Ta’Qali stadium, but one could also forgive both teams as they could not play their usual football on a pitch that was not only soaked but too bumpy especially since another game was played prior to this match.
Birkirkara dominated the first half as Hibernians rarely ventured forward. The first real threat came in the 16 minute when Michael Galea controlled well in the Hibs area, near the penalty spot, but Mario Muscat magnificently saved his shot.
Six minutes later defender Dronca, who was helping his colleagues upfront, tried his luck from the edge of the area but again Malta’s number one keeper saved well. The Romanian was returning to his side after serving a one-match suspension against Sliema Wanderers in the last game of the first phase.
In the 27 minute it was Birkirkara who ventured forward and Matthew Galea, again unmarked, brought the best out of Mario Muscat in the Hibs goal.
But Birkirkara’s pressure paid off in the 42 minute when William Camenzuli, as usual helping the Stripes attack with his overlapping, was in the right place and right position to shoot home from just inside the area. The ball hit Mario Muscat and the post before just sneaking in to send the Birkirkara faithful into raptures.
The second half was a more boring affair and although Hibernians tried to go forward to at last get on level terms they rarely bothered Justin Haber in the Stripes goal. Haber who played despite not being 100 per cent fit surely will not have an easier match in the coming games.
It was only late on that Hibs could perhaps have snatched an equaliser, mainly thanks to Chuckyunere Ndubisi, who had a chance in the 73 minute. Referee Lorry Sammut gave five minutes of extra time, but not even these were enough for Hibs to save the game.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, William Camenzuli, Matthew Calascione, Jaroslav Marx (Clint Micallef), Michael Galea, Chucks Nwoko, Rufin Oba (Roderick Briffa), Lucienne Dronca, Kenneth Scicluna, George Mallia, Luke Dimech.
HIBERNIANS: Mario Muscat, Kevin Cassar (Antoine Zahra), Branko Nisevic, Adrian Pulis, Aaron Xuereb, Cesar Paiber, Adrian Ciantar (Peter Pullicino), Essien Mbong, Adrian Mifsud Chuckyunere Ndubisi, Roderick Baldacchino (Terrence Scerri)
Referee: Lorry Sammut
Man of the Match: William Camenzuli (B’Kara)

Blues win with ease

Sliema W 3
Marsaxlokk 0

Marsaxlokk’s chances of pulling off a surprise result over league leaders Sliema did not materialise when an experienced Sliema outfit ran out easy winners without setting any houses on fire.
Marsaxlokk striker Johann Zammit recently said his side would not be playing in the Championship Pool just to make up the numbers. On yesterday’s showing Marsaxlokk could surprise a few people, but need to have more confidence in their abilities. They now have the consolation that they will not be meeting strong sides such as Sliema week in week out.
The southseasiders did their best to contain the Blues but the likes of Joe Brincat and Orosco Anonam and the composure of Noel Turner proved too much for the Premiership new boys.
Sliema practically killed off any hopes of being surprised when they forged ahead after only 90 seconds. The ever-present Orosco Anonam was quick when he controlled a ball from the edge of the area and with a fine low drive beat the Marsaxlokk keeper to score a good goal.
Marsaxlokk tried to react immediately, but the Sliema rearguard were in no mood to lie down and always had the better of M’Xlokk’s striking power. The Blues continued to dominate the proceedings and keeping possession of the ball, were rarely dangerous, even if Rueben Debono in the M’Xlokk goal had to be alert when Doncic looked certain to score.
The inevitable happened when Sliema doubled in the 40 minute when from a Carlo Mamo cross Noel Turner headed low past the Marsaxlokk custodian.
Sliema continued to dominate in the second half and went close on 65 minutes. Doncic hit a post following a blistering drive from the edge of the area. Five minutes later Sliema made it 3-0 when an Anonam drive rebounded off the goalkeeper and from the rebound Nenad Veselji slotted the ball home.
Danilo Doncic could have made it 4-0 but his hard drive was well saved by Debono. The same player was booked late in the match for trying to control the ball with his hand in the M’Xlokk area.
SLIEMA W: Murphy Akanji; Ian Ciantar, Kevin Mamo, Brian Said, Joe Brincat (David Camilleri), Noel Turner, Danilo Doncic (Kevin Sammut), Nenad Veselji, Jeffrey Chetucti, Orosco Anonam, Chris Laferla (Chris Okoh)
MARSAXLOKK: Reuben Debono, Justin Tellus, Kurt Farrugia, Benneth Njoku, Richard Buhagiar, Pierre Grima, Etienne Barbara, Alan Mifsud (Roderick Spiteri), Petr Bartes (Trevor Templeman, Shaun Sullivan), Johann Zammit, Carmel Formosa

Referee: J.R.Attard
Man of the Match: Noel Turner