Mifsud Triganza's late strike sinks Hibs

Hibernians 0
Sliema Wanderes 1
Mifsud Triganza 90

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was the toast of Sliema Wanderers yesterday after scoring a last-gasp goal to give the Blues a 1-0 win over Hibs.

It was an exciting ending to an absorbing second half. Sliema looked slightly the better team after the restart but it was Hibs who had created the better chances with Etienne Barbara having an effort cleared off the line and Andrew Cohen being denied by the woodwork.

But, in football, it's the goals that count and it was Mifsud Triganza who provided the all-important intervention deep into stoppage time to hand Sliema their first win in three matches.

The opening exchanges produced few scoring chances as both teams looked somewhat jittery. The first attempt at goal came on 18 minutes when Daniel Balzan, yesterday deputising for the suspended Mario Muscat in the Hibs goal, blocked Clayton Failla's long-range drive.

Three minutes later, Josef Mifsud made contact with Mifsud Triganza's cross but his header bounced wide.

Failla threatened again from a free-kick on 25 minutes but his fierce drive just missed the target. Three minutes later, Failla turned provider as he broke free on the left before curling a dangerous ball in the area where John Mintoff headed over with only Balzan to beat.

Hibs had to wait until seven minutes before the break to create their first notable opportunity. Cohen's swerving cross found Adrian Pulis but the defender's header flashed wide.

At half-time, Edmond Lufi, who again led Hibs from the touchline in the absence of Mark Miller who yesterday completed his four-match ban, withdrew Ryan Camilleri and roped in Triston Caruana as he looked to add more steel to his team's engine room.

Thirteen minutes into the second half, Mifsud Triganza had a glorious chance to put Sliema ahead but he blasted wide with only Balzan to beat.

Sliema remained the more enterprising side and on the hour, a good interchange between Failla and Ivan Woods saw the latter unleash a powerful low drive but Balzan was alert.

Six minutes later, Hibs came agonisingly close to an opener when Barbara pounced on a long clearance and forced his way past goalkeeper Simon Agius but his stinging drive was cleared off the line by Ian Azzopardi.

At the other end, Failla again tried his luck from the distance but his piledriver went wide.

Winger Matthew Bartolo, who had just come on for Mintoff, almost made an instant impact as he surged into the area only to be dispossessed by Jonathan Caruana as he was about to shoot.

Bartolo's participation came to an end 10 minutes from the end when he suffered a foot injury. He was replaced by Ian Ciantar.

Seven minutes from time, the woodwork denied the Paolites as Cohen's curling shot from just outside the area came off the upright with Agius beaten.

When everything pointed to a draw, Sliema struck the killer blow in stoppage time. Midfielder Ryan Fenech nodded the ball into the path of Mifsud Triganza who rifled past Balzan, much to the delight of the Wanderers players and fans.

Hibernians
D. Balzan-6.5, J. Caruana-7, A. Pulis-6, J. Pearson-6, E. Herrera-6, R. Camilleri-5.5 ('46 T. Caruana-5.5), R. Galabov-6.5, C. Callejas-6, E. Barbara-7, A. Cohen-6, O. Malasenoks-6.5 ('82 B. Camilleri).

Sliema Wanderers
S. Agius-5, A. Muscat-6, I. Azzopardi-7.5, J. Mifsud-6, R. Fenech-5.5, M. Scerri-5.5, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-8, I. Woods-5 ('88 N. Turner), L. Dronca-6, J. Mintoff-5.5 ('70 M. Bartolo ('80 I. Ciantar), C. Failla-7.

Referee Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards Malasenoks; Scerri; Azzopardi; Pulis; Mifsud Triganza.

BOV player of the match Ian Azzopardi (Sliema).