BALZAN 4 HIBERNIANS 4
Hibernians and Balzan fought out an extraordinary 4-4 draw.
The Paolites stunned Balzan when taking the lead inside the opening four minutes. Luis Edison was prominent as his looping header from Failla’s freekick released Pearson who rammed past Emanuel Bartolo, the Balzan goalkeeper.
Balzan’s reply was immediate and the score became even on 13 minutes. Pearson went from hero to zero when he turned Lydon Micallef’s cross into his own net.
Edison’s run troubled the Balzan defence to the point that Andrew Scicluna almost committed an own goal after 28 minutes in a bid to anticipate the Hibernians striker.
The excitement was kept up and on the other side, Edison Bilbao Zarate outpaced Camilleri on the right flank but Daniel Balzan, came to his side’s rescue when he rushed off his line to block the Chilean’s low shot.
Capitalising on some hesitant defending by Balzan after 36 minutes, Edison served John Paul Farrugia who pulled clear of the back-tracking Bilbao and Aboulezz before rifling past Bartolo.
Hibernians’ joy was short-lived as Balzan equalised three minutes later. José Armario Negrin cashed in on a defensive error by Radusinovic only to see his effort crashing against the bar. However, the ball fell kindly into the path of Micallef who had the easiest of tap-ins.
The tit-for-tat of the game persisted after the break. Obiefule made it 3-2 five minutes into the second half. The shaky Balzan defence was unlocked by a neat three-man move as Edison cut the ball back for Failla who set up the Nigerian striker to prod the ball home with a delicate lob over Bartolo.
An open game continued to produce scoring chances sporadically. Past the hour mark, Micallef burst past two defenders on the right flank but his attempt was deflected towards Aboulezz who squared for Negrin who poked home from few metres out.
The flurry of goals continued. Hibernians were awarded a free-kick after 64 minutes when Bezzina flattened Edison just outside the box and Failla bent his shot beyond the wall and away from Bartolo’s reach.
It looked like Hibs would hold on this time but Micallef had other ideas, when the Balzan striker powered his way into the box outmuscled Tabone Desira who came in for Camilleri after the break, before unleashing a swerving shot into the far corner.
Balzan’s equaliser knocked Hibernians out off their stride. Micallef missed an inviting chance to snatch the winner five minutes from time, hitting just wide in the box after ball had been diverted into his path.