BOV Super Cup 2017/18Wednesday 13 December 2017HIBERNIANS 0FLORIANA 1(HT 0-1)Floriana are the winners of the BOV Super Cup 2017/18 after beating champions Hibernians with a solitary goal scored by their target man, Mario Fontanella. The tactical plan of new coach Nicolas Chiesa paid dividends. It was Hibernians who dictated play with the Greens relying on fast counter-attacks. It is the second Super Cup win for Floriana, the first one was won in their golden year 1993.
The first action of the match arrived in the ninth minute when a bad pass by Clyde Borg in the direction of goalkeeper Ini Etim Akpan nearly cost Floriana dearly but Johann Bezzina’s effort was cleared in time by Enzo Ruiz. In the 16th minute, a Clayton Failla free-kick, playing his sixth Super Cup final, just missed target. Two minutes later it was Hibernians’ turn to have a misunderstanding in defence when Marcelo Dias headed back the ball over Andrew Hogg who struggled to avoid an unfortunate own goal. Moments later, a good Floriana attack involving Mario Fontanella and Juninho Cabral was intercepted by the alert Hogg. In the 37th minute Floriana scored what proved to be the winner. Fontanella finished off a great run on the right by Juninho with the Italian's close-range header having the better of Hogg. A minute later, a Steve Pisani scorcher from 25 metres was tipped over the bar by Hogg. Fontanella should have done better in the box after receiving an inviting through-pass from Juninho but the striker opted to pass the ball back to Juninho with the Hibernians defence clearing in time.In the second half, Hibernians raised their game in search of an equaliser. In the 57th minute, Failla's free-kick was met by Andrei Agius but Akpan turned the effort away for a corner. Five minutes later the Malta champions wasted another opportunity via Jurgen Degabriele who could not round off a good attack by Hibernians with an overhead kick from inside the 5-meter box. Akpan saved a low shot by substitute Jackson Lima in the 66th minute.With 17 minutes left, a powerful 60-metre run and shot by Maurizio Vella just missed target. Immediately at the other side, Hibernians claimed a penalty after Marcelo Dias was brought down in the box but referee Fyodor Zammit waved play on. Jackson Lima just missed target on 77 minutes. At this time, it was only Hibernians pressing while Floriana relied on fast counter-attacks. With six minutes on the clock, Juninho wasted a great opportunity to put the result beyond doubt. In a swift counter-attack, the fast Brazilian received the ball from Vella but Hogg tipped the ball into a corner. In the attack immediately after, Hibernians wasted a golden opportunity to draw level with substitute Jorge Elias missing target from close angle. Degabriele missed another chance in the 90th minute as his shot from closeby just missed target. In added time, even Andrew Hogg went up front trying to force out a goal but not with the desired result.Hibernians: Andrew Hogg, Andrei Agius, Rui Fernando da Gracia, Martin Kreuzriegler, Dunstan Vella, Clayton Failla, (Jorge Elias 81), Marcelo Dias, Bjorn Kristensen, (Marco Sahanek 73), Johann Bezzina, (Jackson Lima 61), Joseph Mbong, Jurgen Degabriele Floriana: Ini Etim Akpan, Alex Cini, Enzo Ruiz, Enrico Pepe, Emerson Marcelina, Clyde Borg, (Arthur Oyama 66), Dylan Grima, Maurizio Vella, (Leighton Grech 86), Steve Pisani, Mario Fontanella, Juninho Cabral Referee: Fyodor Zammit Attendance: 1,241