Nadur Youngsters 1
Hibernians 3

Hibs reached the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy last night after sweating to stave off the bold challenge from Nadur Youngsters.

The Paolites were trailing by one goal and with a player less in the second half following Andrei Agius’s controversial sending off but the Maltese Premier League leaders showed great character to turn the tide in their favour.

Hibs found it difficult to conclude their attacks as Edison Dos Santos missed with a header and a free-kick by Andrew Cohen did not trouble the Nadur keeper.

Nadur, the current table-toppers in the Gozitan First Division, tried to hit back with a Ramon Dos Santos shot that was stopped by keeper Jurgen Borg. Dos Santos had another effort on goal saved by Mark Grima and the same Hibs striker then hit badly from a good position.

On resumption, Hibs were only dangerous with a shot by Clayton Failla as Nadur had a shot by Joseph Vella blocked. From the resultant corner, taken by Joseph Vella, Borg cleared badly and defender Agius was judged to have handled the ball on the Hibs goal-line.

The referee awarded a disputed penalty and Claudio Antunes scored from the spot to send the numerous Youngsters fans into raptures.

Less than a minute later Hibs protested for a penalty as Dos Santos was grounded inside the box but the referee waved play on. Then, a free-kick by Failla was stopped by the bar.

Hibernians maintained their attacking stance despite having a player less and 12 minutes from time Dos Santos scored the equaliser with a close range header from a free-kick.

The match seemed heading for extra-time but on 88 minutes Jackson Lima crossed from the left and the unmarked Bjorn Kristensen headed in to put Hibs in front.

The Paolites sealed victory with a third goal through substitute Johann Bezzina who pounced on a rebound after the Nadur keeper had partially stopped Dos Santos’s shot at goal.

Nadur: M. Grima, F. Camilleri, S. Attard, L.R. Dos Santos, J. Buttigieg, C. Mercieca, B. Meilak (M. Hyzler), M. Stoyanovic, C. Hili, J. Vella, C. Antunes.

Hibernians: J. Borg, T. Tabone Desira (J. Mbong), R. Soares, J. Lima, A. Cohen (J. Degabriele), B. Kristensen, C. Failla, A. Agius, E.L. Dos Santos, J. Da Silva Pereira (J. Bezzina), J. Pearson.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

The quarter-finalists
Balzan, Birkirkara, Hibernians, Mosta, Pieta Hotspurs, Qormi, Sirens, Valletta.