Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/451763
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 JANUARY 2015 33 Sport FOOTBALL SPORTTODAY Andrei Agius keeps Hibernians unbeaten run intact Birkirkara ................. 1 Hibernians ................ 1 VALLETTA scored a goal in each Birkirkara looked to be on their way to collect all three points against Hibernians, but a late goal by Andrei Agius denied them a victory and kept Hibernians' un- beaten run intact. Both teams started the first half playing a very defensive match. Birkirkara protested for a pen- alty when Shola Shodiya appeared to bring Rodolfo down inside the area, but the referee ordered play to continue. The first half continued to pro- duce very few chances for both sides and it remained 0-0. Edison Luis dos Santos went close to scoring for Hibernians when his shot from just outside the area scraped past the post 15 minutes into the second half. On the 69th minute, Haruna Shola Shodiya served Ryan Ca- menzuli who had his shot blocked. Moments later, a freekick by Clayton Failla bounced off the defensive wall and a header by Jorge Pereira da Silva was blocked by Birkirkara's goalkeeper Justin Haber. Birkirkara immediately went on the counter attack and Rafael Ledesma made it into the area, but Joseph Essien Mbong made sure the ball was cleared to safety on the 75th minute. From the resulting corner, Birkirkara managed to take the lead. Off a corner by Rafael Ledes- ma, Nikola Vukanac managed to slot the ball past goalkeeper Henry Bonello. Andrew Cohen went close to scoring the equaliser three min- utes from time when he hit the crossbar with a freekick. Birkirkara were reduced to 10 men three minutes into stoppage time when Alejandro Mendoza received his second yellow card for punching the ball away from Jorginho. As Andrew Cohen stepped up for the freekick, goalkeeper Henry Bonello made his way into the ar- ea. Off the freekick, Andrei Agius headed the ball past Justin Haber to make the score 1-1. This result extends Hibernians' unbeaten run to 22 matches. BIRKIRKARA Justin Haber, Ed- ward Herrera (74' Eliandro dos Santos Gonzaga), Nikola Vukanac, Haruna Shola Shodiya (80' Ed- mond Agius), Rafael Pompeo Rod- rigues Ledesma (83'Matheus Bissi da Silva), Gareth Sciberras, Zach Muscat, Paul Fenech, Ryan Ca- menzuli, Ryan Scicluna, Alejandro Mendoza Corujo. Subs not used: Ini Etim Akpan, Antoine Borg, Andrea Curmi, Kurt Zammit. Coach: Paul Zammit HIBERNIANS Henry Bonello, Jonathan Pearson, Rodolfo Soares, Andrew Cohen, Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Johann Bezzina (80' Jackson di Lima Siqueira), An- drei Agius, Edison Luis dos Santos, Joseph Essien Mbong (80' Jurgen Degabriele), Jorge da Silva Pereira. Subs not used: Jurgen Borg, Keith Tanti, Timothy Tabone Desira, Dunstan Vella, Kurt Cutajar. Coach: Branko Nisevic Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Sammy Attard Additional Assistant Referees: Alan Mario Sant, Adrian Azzopardi Fourth Official: Thomas Debono Yellow Cards: Shodiya, Mendoza, Failla, Fenech, Z. Muscat Red Cards: Alejandro Mendoza BOV Player of the Match: Nikola Vukanac PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD