{"id":59870,"date":"2026-09-13T11:31:27","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T10:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=59870"},"modified":"2026-09-13T16:41:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T15:41:29","slug":"new-dawn-at-hibs-feels-bit-flat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/13\/new-dawn-at-hibs-feels-bit-flat\/","title":{"rendered":"New dawn at Hibs feels bit flat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hibernians, new ownership, new investment, new coach and raft of new players and a season opening win against Sliema Wanderers, it all looked so promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since then a loss to Marsaxlokk, a point against Zabbar St Patrick, a loss to Valletta and now a draw against Birkirkara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Five points from their opening five games. Not what supporters were hoping for. But with new structures in place, new players and new coach, it was always going to take time for everything to fall into place. That process is ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did this 1-1 draw against Birkirkara instill confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hibs started brightly, Mbong firing an inviting cross into the box with Santos stretching but just unable to connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good to see Sobcyzk back for Hibs, after being taken off by ambulance last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">De Souze tried a long range shot when earned a corner but B&#8217;kara failed to capitilize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">15 minutes and Hibs forged ahead. Santos crossed from left and Sobcyzk flicked past Ondoa. Sobcyzk&#8217;s celebrations were cut short when he went off later with what looked like a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the water break it was B&#8217;kara on the front foot, asking questions of Hibs defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zach Muscat danced his way past Hibs back line with Shaw doing well to clear the danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the stroke of half time Cardinali kept Hibs lead intact with a fine save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HT. Birkirkara 0-1 Hibernians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Birkirkara kept up the pressure in the second half, Cardinali tipping over from Souze who had a busy afternoon for B&#8217;kara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Water break and disaster for Hibs. A slack back-pass from Mbong gave B&#8217;kara a sniff of a chance and Cardinali did well to block the threat with his body. But he took a heavy knock and had to be substituted. On came Sanchez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">77 mind, B&#8217;kara launched another attack and Sasere headed past Sanchez to level the score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal had been coming, fair reward for their possession and pressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hibs managed to regroup but could not find a winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1-1 it finished. A thrilling game for neutrals but nerve wrecking for supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The draw lifts Birkirkara up to fifth but sees Hibs drop down to ninth in VBet Malta Premier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div><p id=\"pvc_stats_59870\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"59870\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p><div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hibernians, new ownership, new investment, new coach and raft of new players and a season opening win against Sliema Wanderers, it all looked so promising. Since then a loss to Marsaxlokk, a point against Zabbar St Patrick, a loss to Valletta and now a draw against Birkirkara. Five points from their opening five games. Not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_59870\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"59870\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 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Since then a loss to Marsaxlokk, a point against Zabbar St Patrick, a loss to Valletta and now a draw against Birkirkara. Five points from their opening five games. 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