HIBERNIANS 2
Jorginho 32, Lima 45
NAXXAR LIONS 2
Jorge 22, Toure 90

Naxxar Lions rescued a point at the death against leader Hibernians thanks to Demba Toure’s well-placed shot.

Demba Toure picked up the ball from Pablo Doffo before slicing open the defence with a slick ball to send Jorge through, who sidestepped his marker and dispatched a low shot into the far corner of the net

After that early shock lead, Hibernians toiled to make headway in attack. They did try to stage a reaction but their persistence in attacking through the middle often meant they ran into a wall of red shirts. Past the half hour mark, Clayton Failla turned well on the edge of the box before hitting a low shot which Julian Azzopardi saved into a corner.

From the ensuing corner, Jackson Lima’s cross was not cleared by the ball drifted towards the near post where Jorginho, his back to goal, managed to apply a faint touch to head the ball home.

Bouyed by their equaliser Niservic’s troops roared forward in search of a second goal. Their pressure pinned Naxxar in their own half but Zerafa’s men refused to lie down. But on the stroke of half-time, Lima rose unimpeded in the Naxxar box to head Failla’s free-kick into the net.

With Bjorn Kristensen pulling the strings in midfield and Farrugia as a makeshift right-back opting for substance over style, Hibs were now pushing forward with more intent. Past the hour mark, Andrew Cohen was inches wide after receiving from Failla.

A fast move by Hibernians after 76 minutes had Failla crossing towards Cohen at the far post but his first-timer was kept out by Azzopardi.

Failla’s inswinging corner ten minutes from time caused havoc in the Naxxar defence but Azzopardi punched the ball away. Two minutes later, Rajic’s perfectly-weighted cross soared over substitute Ryan Cassar and into the path of Jorginho whose low strike was parried by Azzopardi.

Hibernians suffered a scare when substitute Jurgen Debono went down under the challenge of Lima but referee Alan Mario Sant waved play on despite Naxxar players’ shout for penalty.

Just when it looked as though Nisevic’s men had done enough to hold on to their lead, Naxxar levelled deep into stoppage time. Mattia del Negro floated a teasing ball into the Hibernians penalty area and Toure stole in from behind the defenders to slot the ball home.