Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/516462
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 MAY 2015 53 Sport FOOTBALL SPORTTODAY Birkirkara defeat Hibernians to win the FA Trophy Hibernians ................ 0 Birkirkara ................. 2 BIRKIRKARA defeated BOV Premier League champions Hi- bernians 2-0 to win their fifth FA Trophy in the history of the club. Hibernians were hoping to con- tinue their success this season by winning the double, but it was not to be as Birkirkara were the better side. Birkirkara finished the BOV Premier League campaign in third place, but winning the BOV Super Cup earlier this sea- son and now the FA Trophy was a great way to end the season. For Hibernians, after such a great season, it was disappoint- ing that they failed to win the double. The last time Hiber- nians won the double was in the 1981/82 season. Birkirkara were the dominant side right from the start. They went ahead on the 29th minute. Off a Rafael Ledesma freekick, the ball made its way into the area to have Mauricio Matias Latini Mazzetti slot the ball in goal past goalkeeper Hen- ry Bonello. Birkirkara continued to put pressure on Hibernians until the end of the first half and made sure they kept their one goal lead. In the second half, Birkirkara continued where they had left off and managed to double their lead on the 69th minute. Off a cross by Joseph Zerafa, Hibernians failed to clear the ball and they were made to suffer when Rafael Ledesma beat Bonello with his shot to make the score 2-0. Hibernians tried desperately to get back into the match, but Birkirkara were the better team on the day. As referee Andre Arciola sounded the whistle, hundreds of Birkirkara fans stormed on- to the pitch to celebrate. Some Birkirkara supporters ran across the pitch to taunt the Hibs fans with some jumping over the fence to confront them. The police were outnumbered, but the players and team dele- gates calmed the situation down. HIBERNIANS: Henry Bonello, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Rui da Gracia Gomes (73' Marko Rajic), Rodolfo Soares, Marcelo Dias (83' Joseph Mbong ), Andrew Co- hen, Bjorn Kristensen, Johann Bezzina, Andrei Agius, Clayton Failla, Jorge da Silva Pereira. Subs not used: Jurgen Borg , Keith Tanti, Dunstan Vella, Jurgen Degabriele, Timothy Tabone De- sira. Coach: Branko Nisevic BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Matias Latini Mazzet- ti, Joseph Zerafa, Paul Fenech, Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledes- ma (90' Gareth Sciberras), Ed- ward Herrera, Rowen Muscat, Ryan Camenzuli (64' Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais), Ryan Scicluna (73' Matheus Bissi da Silva). Subs not used: Ini Etim Akpan, Edmond Agius, Kurt Zammit, Nassir Maachi. Coach: Paul Zammit Referee: Andre Arciola Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Paul Apap Additional Assistant Referees: Marco Borg , Mario Apap Fourth Of ficial: Philip Farrugia Yellow Cards: Vukanac, Failla, Cohen, Mazzetti, R. Muscat Scorers: 29' Mauricio Mazzetti, 69' Rafael Ledesma PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Continues on pages 54-55