Own goal lifts Marsaxlokk

Hibernians 0
Marsaxlokk 1

Marsaxlokk bolstered their credentials as genuine challengers for the Premier League crown after they beat southern rivals Hibernians in a hard-fought derby that only came to life in the second half.

The all-important goal that decided this clash arrived from somewhat fortunate circumstances. Five minutes from the end of normal time remained when Hibs defender Aaron Xuereb deviated into his own goal an Andrè Schembri header much to the delight of Marsaxlokk who gained three precious points that relaunched their assault for the league title.

The southerners are still in fourth place in the standings but have now bridged the gap on leaders Birkirkara to seven points. This means that Marsaxlokk will only be four points off the title pace at the start of the Championship Pool, paving the way for an exciting scenario of four teams battling it out for the crown.

Hibs will certainly feel hard-done by to have left Ta' Qali empty-handed on the back of their positive performance, especially in the opening 45 minutes when they outplayed their opponents. But in football, it's the goals that count and in the end they were left ruing their missed chances.

Both teams were forced to do without key players who were missing through injury. Hibs coach Robert Gatt was without Irish midfielder David Williamson and Ben Camilleri, both injured, but striker Terence Scerri recovered and was handed a place on the bench.

Marsaxlokk coach Ray Farrugia was still without influential midfielders Gareth Sciberras and Kevin Sammut and libero Cesar Paiber, all injured but Carlo Mamo proved his fitness and was included in the starting XI.

Hibs made all the early running and after only seven minutes, Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Reuben Gauci did well to tip over an insidious free-kick from David Camilleri.

Two minutes later, the Paolites were denied by the woodwork when from an Andrew Cohen corner, Haruna Doda was first on the ball but his shot was stopped by the upright with Gauci beaten.

After that early flurry, the game degenerated into a scrappy affair and we had to wait until the 23rd minute for another goalscoring opportunity, again from Hibs, when Julian Vella's shot was turned to a corner by Gauci.

Hibs suffered a blow just past the half hour when defender Adrian Pulis limped out injured and was replaced by Kenneth Spiteri.

Marsaxlokk were struggling to impose themselves on the match as poor distribution of the ball was clearly hampering their hopes of creating problems to the Hibs defence.

The southseasiders' first attempt at goal arrived five minutes from the break when Schembri's angled effort was blocked without difficulty by Muscat. Two minutes later the Hibs goalkeeper, buoyed by his recall to the national squad following a string of excellent performances, again did well to block for a corner Steve Wellman's curling free-kick.

At the start of the second half, Jamie Pace replaced Brazilian striker Wendell Gomes for Marsaxlokk.

Three minutes into the second half, Hibs should have broken the stalemate when Doda was put through by Camilleri but the Nigerian forward saw his shot stopped by the onrushing Gauci. From the rebound, Vella's effort was cleared by the Marsaxlokk defence.

Muscat was lucky to remain on the field on the hour when he rushed out of goal and barged into the steaming Schembri. The former Hibs' player had been sent clear by Cleaven Frendo but referee Marco Borg showed Muscat only a yellow card.

Fifteen minutes from time, it was Cohen who almost broke the stalemate when he created space for himself in the area but his rising shot breezed over the bar.

At the other end, Pace broke free on the right and sent a teasing ball towards Schembri who, however, failed to make good contact with the ball that ended wide.

Scerri, who had come on earlier for Vella, almost marked his return with a goal when in the 81st minute he connected with Cohen's free-kick but his dipping header skimmed the upright.

Marsaxlokk opened the scoring in somewhat lucky circumstances in the 85th minute. In a quick break, Malcolm Licari put in a teasing ball towards the far post where Schembri headed towards the centre of the area, the ball hitting the unlucky Aaron Xuereb before rolling into the net.

Shaun Bajada should have sealed Marsaxlokk's win in time added on. Running onto a pass from Schembri, the former Floriana midfielder's shot sailed past Muscat but Xuereb had recovered well to clear the ball off the line and, somewhat redeem himself for his earlier mishap.

Hibernians: M. Muscat-6, P. Pullicino-6, A. Pulis-6 ('33 K. Spiteri-6.5), A. Xuereb-5.5, E. Mbong-6, A. Cohen-7, C. Failla-6, J. Vella-6 ('75 T. Scerri), J. Pearson-6, D. Camilleri-6.5, H. Doda-6 ('80 R. Baldacchino).

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci-8, C. Magro-6, S. Wellman-6, N. Gomes-6, C. Mamo-5.5, M. Licari-6, T. Templeman-6, C. Frendo-6.5 ('72 S. Bajada), A. Schembri-7, C. Nwoko-6, W. Soares Gomes-5.5 ('46 J. Pace-6).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Scorer: Xuereb 85 og.

Yellow Cards: Spiteri, Muscat.

BoV Player of the Match: Reuben Gauci (Marsaxlokk).