Sliema Wanderers 1
Xuereb 66;
Hibernians 2
Edison 12, 60;

A goal can change the dynamic of a game.

That much was true yesterday. Hibernians, the rampant leaders of the Premier League, looked home and dry on the hour after Luis Edison Tarabai’s second goal handed the Paolites a seemingly impregnable 2-0 lead but their momentum was jolted when Sliema Wanderers pulled one back barely six minutes later.

The Blues had initially been intent on limiting the damage as coach Stephen Azzopardi, keen to avert a third consecutive defeat in the space of a week, fielded five at the back.

The Wanderers ceded the initiative to Hibs who were in firm control for much of the opening 60 minutes but when Peter Xuereb, who had come on for the injured Michael Mifsud before half-time, narrowed the deficit, the match came to life.

Hibs suddenly looked vulnerable after conceding their first goal in six games while Sliema, bolstered by the introduction of Guy Kassa Gnabouyou, began to believe.

They had a great chance to equalise late in the game only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Henry Bonello who thus tormented the club he left last summer to join Hibs on loan.

The up-and-coming Joseph Mbong again deputised for the injured Marcelo Dias on the right flank as Hibs coach Branko Nisevic retained a 3-4-1-2 approach.

Captain Andrew Cohen occupied the traditional no.10 position behind the striking duo of Luis Edison and Jorginho.

Two of the three changes in Sliema’s starting XI from the FA Trophy defeat to Floriana had been enforced upon Azzopardi by John Mintoff’s suspension and injury to midfielder Mark Scerri.

Clive Psaila, 18, was handed his first start for Sliema, positioning himself alongside central defenders Stefano Bianciardi and Andrea Scozzese. Luca Martinelli retur-ned at left-back while Portuguese Bocar Djumo was preferred to Gnabouyou.

Hibs produced an instant reminder of their attacking prowess.

Only two minutes from the start of the game had elapsed when Edison sprinted towards goal to latch on to a long clearance from the back but out came Glenn Zammit to ward off the Brazilian’s effort.

The Sliema goalkeeper denied Hibs again, repelling Jorginho’s close-range shot after the Brazilian had been picked out by Cohen.

It was all Hibs in these opening stages. Their efforts produced an opener after 12 minutes.

Clayton Failla’s cross-shot from a free-kick was pushed out by Zammit but the ball squirmed into the path of Edison who blasted home from point blank.

With Mifsud cutting a lonely figure up front, Sliema failed to muster a notable scoring opportunity in the first 20 minutes.

Trevor Cilia, deployed as a makeshift midfielder with Italian Andrea Pisanu still sidelined from as knee problem, tried his luck with a long-range free-kick that was well off target.

Sliema did manifest signs of improvement as the first half moved past the halfway point but Hibs stayed in control.

The Paolites failed to maintain their early fluency but eight minutes from half-time they had a glorious opportunity to increase their lead.

Mbong did the spadework, making headway on the right before aiming a perfect cross towards Edison who headed wide.

The Blues’ strategy of seeking out Mifsud with long, vertical balls at least produced a free-kick and a yellow card for Andrei Agius after the latter was adjudged to have tripped the Malta captain. Mifsud had to be taken off on a stretcher after rolling his ankle in the same action. His place was taken by Xuereb.

Ten minutes into the second half, Azzopardi brought on Gnabouyou for Djumo. There was no change in the complexion of the game as Hibs dictated the tempo against the defence-minded Sliema.

On the hour, the Paolites moved 2-0 up.

Jorginho was hauled down by Bianciardi on the edge of the box and Edison curled his free-kick past the wall and into the far corner for his 16th goal of the season.

Everything seemed lost for Sliema but they gained a lifeline six minutes later. For once, the Hibs defence was caught off guard as Cilia’s through-ball reached the unmarked Xuereb whose effort hit goalkeeper Bonello before dropping into the net.

Enlivened by this goal, Sliema upped the ante. Fabio Mangiacasale did well to weave his way infield from the left before laying the ball to Gnabouyou whose swerving drive from the distance sailed over.

This was the cue for Azzopardi to jettison his cautious approach as Aidan Friggieri, a striker, came on for Martinelli.

With eight minutes remaining, Cohen dragged a dangerous cross into the six-yard box but Scozzese, who had a very good game, managed to intercept the ball.

Sliema spurned a brilliant chance to equalise two minutes from time.

Cilia, fastening on to Mangiacasale’s pass, dashed into the box but his effort was pushed away by the alert Bonello before Jonathan Pearson, who had just replaced Mbong, cleared for a corner.

Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-6.5, L. Martinelli-6 (77 A. Friggieri), A. Scozzese-7.5, M. Mifsud-6.5 (45 P. Xuereb-6.5), C. Psaila-6, M. Potezica-6.5, T. Cilia-6, F. Mangiacasale-5.5, B. Djumo-5.5 (55 G. Gnabouyou-7), B. Muscat-5.5, S. Bianciardi-6.5.

Hibernians
H. Bonello-6.5, R. De Gracia Gomes-6, R. Soares-6, A. Cohen-6.5, B. Kristensen-6.5 (64 J. Lima-6), C. Failla-6, J. Bezzina-6, A. Agius-6.5, L. Edison-7.5, J. Mbong-6.5 (84 J. Pearson), Jorginho-6.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Martinelli; Djumo; Cohen; Agius; Potezica; Mangiacasale.

BOV player of the match: Luis Edison (Hibs).