Hibernians 3
Kristensen 68; Failla 72 pen; Cohen 90;
Sliema Wanderers 2
Scozzese 8; Mifsud 60;
Hibernians, down to 10 men from the 18th minute, showed that they have all the makings of champions-elect as they fought back from two goals down to overcome a resolute Sliema Wanderers side in a thrilling encounter yesterday.
Things looked grim for the Premier League leaders. After Rui De Gracia Gomes was shown a straight red card inside the opening 20 minutes, Hibs had a mountain to climb as they fell two goals behind with only 30 minutes left to play.
But the Paolites refused to throw in the towel and, showing great perseverance and determination, they managed to level matters with two quick goals in four minutes.
The drama was not over yet as deep into stoppage time, Andrew Cohen pounced on some hesitant defending by the Wanderers to bundle home the winner that keeps his team on course to finish the season unbeaten as Hibs moved nine points clear of nearest rivals Valletta with four matches left.
Branko Nisevic, the Hibs coach, kept faith with the same players that thumped Mosta 5-0 last week.
Sliema had been forced to make a last-minute change before kick-off as Andrea Pisanu suffered a back injury during the warm-up. He was replaced by Djumo Bocar.
Midfield duo Pedrinho and Mark Scerri were back in the fray after missing the goalless draw against Qormi with John Mintoff and Trevor Cilia demoted to the substitutes’ bench.
Marko Potezica missed out with a one-match ban.
Hibs threatened as early as the sixth minute when Jean Paul Farrugia burst into the area but his low shot was blocked by Glen Zammit, the Sliema goalkeeper.
It was Sliema who struck two minutes later. From a free-kick action, the Hibs defence failed to deal with Pedrinho’s delivery with Alex Muscat lobbing the ball into the path of Andrea Scozzese who evaded goalkeeper Henry Bonello and stabbed the ball home from close in.
That was Muscat’s last contribution as, on 14 minutes, he limped out injured and was replaced by Cilia.
More woes hit Hibs on 18 minutes as defender De Gracia Gomes was sent off by referee Esther Azzopardi for headbutting Sliema striker Mateus.
Sliema almost doubled their lead in spectacular fashion when Michael Mifsud saw goalkeeper Bonello out of his goal and attempted an audacious lob from half-pitch with the ball flashing just wide.
Hibs suddenly clicked into gear and on 27 minutes, Jorginho was denied by a fine one-handed save from Zammit.
Five minutes later, the woodwork saved the Wanderers when Cohen’s curling drive from a free-kick smacked against the bar.
The last chance of the half fell to Sliema but Pedrinho’s firm drive was blocked by Bonello.
On the restart, Nisevic brought on Marcelo Dias for the quiet Luis Andre De Melo Lima as he looked to add more punch on the flanks.
The Paolites saw more of the ball but the Wanderers remained dangerous on the break and on 58 minutes, they made it 2-0.
Aidan Friggieri’s excellent through-ball put Mifsud clear and the Malta striker showed how clinical he can be as he produced an angled drive that gave Bonello no chance.
Hibs came close to pulling a goal back on 66 minutes. Cohen got on the end of Clayton Failla’s free-kick but his firm volley was palmed away by Zammit.
But Zammit could do nothing two minutes later as Bjorn Kristensen’s fierce grounder rolled into the bottom corner.
Despite their numerical handicap, Hibs were a rejuvenated lot.
With 18 minutes left, the scores became level when Cohen was brought down in the area by Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and Failla drilled the ball home from the spot.
The Paolites were not finished yet. In time added-on, Sliema failed to deal with Lima’s cross and in came Cohen who scrambled the ball into the net to cap an extraordinary comeback for the leaders and send the Hibs fans in delirium.
Hibernians
H. Bonello-5.5, R. De Gracia Gomes, J. Lima-6, R. Soares-5.5, A. Cohen-7, B. Kristensen-6.5, C. Failla-6.5, L. De Melo Lima-5 (46 M. Dias-6), A. Agius-6, Jorginho-6, J.P. Farrugia-6.
Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-6.5, A. Muscat (14 T. Cilia-5), A. Scozzese-6, M. Scerri-6.5, M. Mifsud-6.5, D. Bocar-4 (79 J. Mintoff), C. Gatt Baldacchino-5, Mateus-5, A. Friggieri-6, Pedrinho-6 (90 B. Muscat), S. Bianciardi-6.
Referee: Esther Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Scerri; Jorginho; Mifsud; Scozzese; D.M. Lima; Failla; Bocar; Farrugia; Cohen; Kristensen; Mateus; Pedrinho.
Red card: De Gracia Gomes (H) 18.
BOV player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians).
Attendance: 2,309.