Hibernians triumph in Meridianbet FA Trophy Final to win 11th title

MERIDIANBET FA TROPHY FINAL
18.05.2025
National Stadium, Ta’ Qali

BIRKIRKARA FC...1
HIBERNIANS FC...2
(HT 0-1)

15’ Apostolos Ilias Martinis (HIB), 72’ Maxuell Maia (BKR), 80’ Kurt Shaw (HIB)

Hibernians FC were crowned champions of the Meridianbet FA Trophy after a late goal from Kurt Shaw awarded them a 2-1 win over Birkirkara FC on Sunday 18th May 2025.

Birkirkara had the first attempt on goal in the seventh minute, after the ball fell to Luis Mario Cordova Mina following a corner-kick, who quickly turned and had a shot well saved by Hibernians goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez Nino.

After a tight opening few minutes, Birkirkara suffered a major setback, as Hibernians went forward, and Alessandro Coppola brought a Miullen Natha Felicio Carvalho down while running through on goal. The Birkirkara defender was shown a straight red card for denying the goalscoring opportunity.

Apostolos Ilias Martinis stepped up to take the resulting free-kick, and he curled the ball excellently past Giacomo Volpe, to give Hibernians the lead after just 15 minutes.

Birkirkara were pushing despite being a man down, and they tried their luck from range at the half-hour mark, yet the ball went narrowly wide of Sanchez’s goal.

In the 37th minute, Birkirkara came close again, this time with Nicholas Agius making an excellent run down the left-wing, skipping past a couple of Hibs’ defenders, before firing a shot that was saved by Sanchez. The Stripes continued to pile on the pressure, and right before half-time, Alexander Satariano hit a curling cross from the left, which was almost met by the outstretched Leandro Lautaro Lacunza.

Hibs had their own opportunities as well, and in first-half stoppage time, Khevin Rodrigo Fraga struck a shot from outside the penalty area, with his effort going narrowly wide of the goal.

The Paolites had the first shot on goal following the restart, after Lucas Villela Iapert turned quickly at the edge of the penalty, firing a shot that was palmed away by Volpe.

Birkirkara had a huge chance to equalise in the 58th minute, after Maxuell Maia found Pablo Leonel Gaitan who was face-to-face with Sanchez in the penalty area, yet his attempt was excellently saved by the Hibernians goalkeeper to keep the score 1-0.

Hibernians came close to doubling their lead in the 63rd minute, when a loose ball fell to Villela Iapert, who when faced with Volpe, could only guide the ball wide of the post.

The Stripes got back on level terms in the 72nd minute, after they were awarded a free-kick. Maia stepped up to take it, and he curled it excellently into the top corner, making it 1-1, the second free-kick scored in the game.

Hibernians reclaimed the lead in the 80th minute, as a corner was swung into the penalty area, before being brilliantly met by Kurt Shaw, who thumped a header into the back of the net to put the Paolites ahead again.

Birkirkara tried to bounce back, but they could not respond, and Hibernians held out for the 2-1 win, clinching the Meridianbet FA Trophy title.

Birkirkara FC
1 Giacomo Volpe (GK), 4 Luis Mario Cordova Mina, 6 Pablo Leonel Gaitan (93 Yikpe Gislain Gnamien, 80’), 13 Tomislav Papazov, 20 Alexander Satariano (C), 24 Leandro Lautaro Lacunza, 25 Neil Micallef, 27 Alessandro Coppola, 59 Donovan Stephane Makoma, 91 Maxuell (Samurai) Maia, 92 Nicholas Agius (9 Kemar Reid, 62’)
Coach: Stefano De Angelis

Hibernians FC
25 Pablo Sanchez Nino (GK), 3 Rui Bruno Fragoso Monteiro Ribeiro, 4 Alfred Hamanjoda Silas (14 Dexter Xuereb, 77’), 5 Kurt Shaw, 7 Lucas Villela Iapert (20 Federico Falcone, 90+4’), 8 Khevin Rodrigo Fraga, 9 Miullen Natha Felicio Carvalho (21 Alex Bruno De Souza Silva, 65’), 10 Jurgen Degabriele (23 Matthew Ellul, 65’), 11 Bjorn Kristensen (C), 22 Apostolos Illias Martinis, 31 Pedro Henrique Nunes Silva
Coach: Branko Nisevic

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: James Muscat and Duncan Spencer
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann

Red cards: Alessandro Coppola (BKR)
Yellow cards: Leandro Lautaro Lacunza (BKR), Pedro Henrique Nunes Silva (HIB), Alfred Hamanjoda Silas (HIB), Bjorn Kristensen (HIB), Khevin Rodrigo Fraga (HIB)

Meridianbet Player of the Match: Apostolos Ilias Martinis