Tarxien’s Wesley (centre) tries to move clear of Jorginho (left) and Rodolfo Soares. Photo: Alan CarvilleHibernians 1
Failla 35;
Tarxien Rainbows 1
Wesley 74;
Hibernians dropped their first points of the season as the league leaders could only manage to share the spoils with rivals Tarxien Rainbows in an eventful derby that also saw two players sent off.
It was a frustrating outcome for the Paolites who will surely rue their profligacy in front of goal and subsequent failure to maintain their perfect start to the championship after seven successive wins.
In fact, Hibernians were all over Tarxien for much of the match and created countless scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half. However, at the break, they only had a Clayton Failla goal to show.
Hibs’ plans were complicated after the break when Marcelo Dias was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
That handed Tarxien a lifeline as the Rainbows forced their way back into the match only for Wesley, who scored the equaliser, to incur a red card a minute later.
Both sides had to settle for a draw which leaves Hibs at the top, seven points clear of Birkirkara who play Valletta this afternoon.
Hibs coach Branko Nisevic kept faith with the same 11 players that started the 5-1 rout of Naxxar Lions in their last outing with defender Rodolfo Soares making his 100th appearance for the Paola club.
The Rainbows had two new faces in their starting formation with Sean Cini handed his place in goal at the expense of Jonathan Debono who is recovering from injury. Winger Jorge came in for Firas Aboulezz who started on the bench.
Carlos Hevia is still out, suspended.
Hibs made a fast start. After two minutes Luis Edison saw his effort pushed away by Cini. From the rebound Jorginho fired over.
The Paolites threatened again when Dias delivered a cross towards Jorginho whose headed attempt finished just over.
On 22 minutes Luis Edison released Bjorn Kristensen but his grounder rolled just wide of the far post.
Hibernians were then awarded a free-kick on the right. Failla’s cross-shot was not held by Cini but luckily for the keeper, his opponents failed to react quickly enough and another chance was lost.
The Paolites continued to make all the running and on 32 minutes Andrew Cohen stepped up to take a central free-kick but his effort finished over.
Three minutes later, however, Hibs struck thanks to Failla who curled home from a free-kick, his shot drifting past the Tarxien wall and into the net via the upright.
On 38 minutes, Hibs should have doubled their lead when Failla’s pass freed Dias who held off his marker before setting up Edison. The latter fired over from routine distance.
Just before half-time, Tarxien launched a quick break. Wesley played in Alvaro who hit a tame shot that just missed the upright.
Hibs stayed in control after the interval. A Kristensen shot from the distance was stopped in two attempts by Cini.
Three minutes later the Tarxien keeper again distinguished himself with a flying save from Failla’s piledriver.
Alvaro led a rare foray into the Hibs half that saw him move past two defenders before hitting hard but his shot lacked precision to trouble Henry Bonello, the Hibs goalkeeper.
Then, on 64 minutes, Hibs were reduced to ten men when Dias committed a second bookable offence after a foul on fellow Brazilian Cleber.
With a man down Nisevic looked to bolster his midfield as he withdrew defender Rui Gomes and introduced Jackson Lima with Jonathan Pearson moving back to a central defensive role.
Tarxien came close to an equaliser when Cleber sped clear on the left before dashing into the box but his drive took a deflection and flew past the upright.
However, from the corner, taken by Alvaro, Alessandro Lopes Pereira nodded the ball towards Wesley who stabbed home from close in.
The Tarxien striker marred his performance when he appeared to make a gesture towards the Hibernians fans and referee Marco Borg promptly showed him a second yellow card, much to the chagrin of the Rainbows clan.
With numerical parity restored Hibs tried to force a winner but Tarxien held on for a hard-fought point.
Hibernians
H. Bonello-6, R. Gomes-6 (67 J. Lima-5.5), R. Soares-6.5, M. Dias, A. Cohen-6 (88 J. Degabriele), B. Kristensen-6, J. Bezzina-6 (55 J. Pearson-6), C. Failla-6.5, A. Agius-6.5, L. Edison-5.5, Jorginho-5.5.
Tarxien Rainbows
S. Cini-6.5, O. Bugeja-6.5, Alvaro-7 (90 M. Caruana), Cleber-6.5 (90 K. Farrugia), T. Caruana-6, Wesley, R. Sammut-5.5, A. Cini-6, M. Tabone-6, A. Lopes Pereira-6.5, Jorge-6.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Tabone; Dias; Jorge; Bugeja; Caruana; Wesley; Jorginho.
Red cards: Dias (H) 64; Wesley (T) 75.
BOV player of the match: Alvaro (Tar-xien Rainbows).
Attendance: 1,474.