Hibs in amazing comeback win

HIBERNIANS-4, QORMI-3

Hibs scored twice in stoppage time to pull off a dramatic 4-3 victory over Qormi in an exciting Relegation Pool match this evening.

The Paolites looked down and out when Michael Mifsud put Qormi 3-1 ahead with only seven minutes left but, after reducing the deficit from a dubious penalty, they stormed forward and snatched an unlikely win in a tense final.

Victory for Hibs virtually guarantees them another season in the top flight as they have now moved 11 points clear of Vittoriosa Stars.

Qormi created the better chances in the early stages. On 11 minutes, Joseph Chetcuti dragged the ball back for Michael Mifsud inside the box but the latter fired wide.

Hibs’ inability to cut out diagonal balls from the wings was punished by Qormi on 16 minutes. Cleaven Frendo’s excellent pass from the right set up Mifsud who surged clear before hitting past Mario Muscat to put Qormi 1-0 ahead.

Close to the half-hour mark, Mifsud caught the eye when trying to chip Muscat from a wide position close to the halfway line but the Hibs goalkeeper reacted in time to push the ball away for a corner.

Qormi remained on top. Chetcuti had a cross-shot deflected away for a corner by Jonathan Pearson but, at the other end, Hibs almost grabbed an equaliser from their first noteworthy attack.

Edward Herrera ran clear on the right and crossed for Paul McManus whose close-range flick was beaten away by Matthew Farrugia.

This move sprung Hibs into action. Eight minutes from half-time, Mark Miller’s men were unlikely not to level matters as Andrew Cohen’s floated pass from a free-kick released Abdellilah Taki in the box but the latter’s swerving shot came off the base of the far post.

In first-half stoppage time, Aaron Xuereb headed over from Cohen’s corner.

Hibs began the second half on the attack. Farrugia denied them an equaliser when tipping away McManus’s goalbound shot after a good move involving involving Richie Hart and Cohen.

Qormi needed to improve fast to hold off Hibs but they gained a boost when Cleaven Frendo put them 2-0 up as his grounder from a long-range free-kick sailed through Hibs’ human wall and past the diving Muscat.

This came on 55 minutes. Hibs should have narrowed the deficit when Herrera’s cross-shot was diverted towards the unmarked McManus at the far post but the latter hit wide.

HIbs were caught on the counter as Stefan Giglio slipped a through-ball to Mifsud who surged forward but his strike was saved by Muscat.

McManus’s poor finishing continued to hamper Hibs as the striker twice wasted inviting openings by hitting wide.

At the other end, Qormi should have put the result beyond Hibs when their three forwards broke free on the counter but Chetcuti mishit his effort.

Qormi were made to pay for this miss as Hibs got one back from a penalty after Christos Karamanolis handled the ball in the box 18 minutes from time. Taki sent his shot past Farrugia.

Barely two minutes passed and Qormi went close to re-establishing their two-goal lead but Jason Vandelannoite’s diving header from Frendo’s corner hit the post.

Qormi goalkeeper Farrugia did well to push Cohen’s chip over the bar. The ensuing corner, taken by Taki, was fumbled by Luke Sciberras cleared the danger.

Seven minutes from time, Qormi thought they had sealed their win when Mifsud sped into the box from the right before hammering the ball past Muscat. However, Hibs reduced the arrears when McManus converted a penalty, the second for the Paolites, after he had been brought down by Karamanolis.

In a dramatic finale, Richie Hart made it 3-3 for Hibs in the first minute of stoppage time and Cohen crowned their comeback when scoring the winning goal for the Paolites in the dying stages.