Birkirkara defeat Hibernians to win FA Trophy

Hibernians were hoping to continue 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 season and now the FA Trophy was a great way to end the season.

For Hibernians, after such a great season, it was disappointing that they failed to win the double. The last time Hibernians 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 Henry 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 onto 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 delegates 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 Cohen, 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 Desira.

Coach: Branko Nisevic

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Matias Latini Mazzetti, Joseph Zerafa, Paul Fenech, Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledesma (90′ Gareth Sciberras), Edward 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 Official: Philip Farrugia

Yellow Cards: Vukanac, Failla, Cohen, Mazzetti, R. Muscat

Scorers: 29′ Mauricio Mazzetti, 69′ Rafael Ledesma