Sliema 2, Hibs 2

Sliema Wanderers showed great resilience as they hit a last-minute goal to hold Hibs to a 2-2 draw despite finishing the game with nine men.

Ivan Woods produced a scorching shot in the dying moments to extend Sliema’s unbeaten run under coach Mark Marlow to four matches and give his team a boost before the start of the Championship Pool.

Hibs’ crisis continues as the champions have not won any of their last six league matches.

After a drab opening, Sliema Wanderers took the lead on 32 minutes. John Mintoff’s low free-kick caused havoc in the Hibs’ box as Josef Mifsud just managed to flick the ball sideways where Woods was on hand to tap home.

Sliema seized the initiative after going in front but Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper, denied them a second goal with a brilliant save from Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza’s point-blank effort.

Five minutes from the end of the first half, Sliema were hit by a double whammy as Ryan Fenech was dismissed for keeping out Adrian Pulis’s goalbound shot with his hands. Referee Paul Caruana awarded Hibs a penalty from which Andrew Cohen made it 1-1.

Hibs piled up the pressure on Sliema in the second half but Simon Agius, the Sliema goalkeeper, kept them at bay with saves from Pulis and Christian Callejas.

Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper, also did well to stop Clayton Failla’s fierce free-kick and a header by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.

Hibs thought they had won the match when, with 14 minutes left, Pulis served Etienne Barbara who cut in from the left before hitting low past Agius to give his side a 2-1 lead.

Sliema’s woes increased 10 minutes from the end when Alex Muscat was shown a straight red card for committing a last-man foul on Cohen.

Cohen hit the crossbar from the ensuing free-kick but on the stroke of time, the battling Sliema snatched an equaliser thanks to Woods’ screamer.

Hibs goalkeeper Muscat was voted BOV player of the match.

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