Hibernians 1
Edison 45;
Floriana 1
Grabowski 90;
Andre Grabowski caused a mini-upset yesterday as his last-gasp strike handed Floriana a point against Hibernians. This encounter represented a glorious opportunity for Mark Miller’s Paolites to reclaim top spot from Valletta but such expectations failed to materialise.
Hibs would have gone a point clear at the top had they beaten Floriana but they never really found their form and created few chances.
Luck was not on Mark Miller’s side as well. They struck the woodwork twice and missed a penalty while Floriana staged an incredible smash-and-grab point at the death.
But in truth this was a poor game and an especially disappointing performance from Hibernians given the opportunity that was before them.
Defender Diego Balbinot was declared fit to start to provide the one change to Hibernians’ initial line-up.
Miller’s decision to replace Triston Caruana with Balbinot necessitated some positional switches with the Brazilian dropping back to his usual defensive role and Rodolfo Soares pushing into midfield.
Floriana coach Michael Woods called on his young third-choice goalkeeper Jurgen Borg to fill in the void of Manuel Bartolo, serving a one-match suspension, as Ghanaian goalkeeper William Amamoo is still out of favour with the club’s hierarchy.
Despite the Greens’ game plan appeared to focus on being tight in defence and worrying about attack secondarily, they started well.
Lined out in a 4-1-4-1 formation, Thomas Paris was detailed to protect the back four, with Grabowksi and Lucas Pessanha on the flanks and Ivan Woods a lone furrow up front.
Floriana almost profited from some slack defending inside the first three minutes, as Grabowski robbed Ryan Camilleri of possession on the edge of the Hibernians area but his attempted chip over Mario Muscat finished wide.
The Paolites were second-best in the opening exchanges as Ivan Woods then created confusion with a whipped cross that fell invitingly into Pessanha’s path but he was thwarted by Muscat’s block after 16 minutes.
But Miller’s men soon started showing their true mettle as Clayton Failla hit the woodwork with Borg beaten after 21 minutes.
On 32 minutes, Luis Edison turned Duncan Pisani on the edge of the area and dinked a superb lob over Borg, who turned to watch it bounce off the inside of his post and roll over the line as Floriana survived by the skin of their teeth.
Nine minutes later, Edison should have opened the score when Pablo Doffo hauled the striker down in the box, but his penalty was stopped by Borg.
The Brazilian, however, redeemed himself four minutes later. Floriana were found wanting at the back as Ryan Camilleri’s long pass from the middle of the pitch soared into the box where Edison flicked the ball past the on-rushing Borg.
That prompted Floriana coach Woods to make a substitution at half-time with John Mintoff replacing Christian Cassar as he switched to a 4-1-3-2 formation.
Grabowski hurt Hibernians time and time again but for all the Greens’ enjoyment, Floriana lacked a cutting edge in attack and, although under pressure, Hibernians weathered a lengthy second-half storm.
On the hour mark, Andrew Cohen’s inviting ball sparked a mix-up before Doffo cleared for a corner.
Woods then made another change as Hibernians moved within sight of victory, sending on Ryan Darmanin for Paris in the hope that the striker’s goal-poaching instincts could be the catalyst for a comeback.
He was almost rewarded after just two minutes when Darmanin exchanged the ball with Clyde Borg but shot high and wide.
Edison should have put the game beyond doubt six minutes from time. Cohen’s run went unchecked by the Floriana defenders as he surged into the box before squaring to the unmarked Edison who fired wide.
With one goal to the good as the match drifted towards its closing stages, Hibernians were happy about their chances of returning back to the top and one point clear of Valletta at the Premier League summit.
However, there was a sting in the tail when the Greens punted a free-kick downfield in stoppage time as Darmanin arrived with perfect timing to head the ball into the box.
Grabowski was the only Floriana player anywhere near the ball and he evaded Camilleri’s weak tackle, sprinted clear to round Muscat and slotted home the equaliser with virtually the last kick of the match.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-5, R. Camilleri-4.5, A. Xuereb-5, E. Herrera-5 (64 Anizoba Chizoba-5), R. Soares-6, D. Balbinot-6.5, M. Dias-6, A. Cohen-7 (90 S. Pisani), C. Failla-6, B. Kristensen-5 (62 T. Caruana-5), L. Edison-7.
Floriana
J. Borg-7, O. Bugeja-6, T. Paris-5 (69 R. Darmanin-5), P. Doffo-6.5, M. Micallef-6.5, I. Woods- (24 J. Borg-6), D. Pisani-6, C. Cassar-6 (46 J. Mintoff-5), C. Borg-6, A. Grabowski-7, L. Pessanha-6.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Yellow cards: Dias, Pisani, Pessanha, Bugeja, Edison, Grabowski, Borg, Caruana.
Missed penalty: Edison (H) 41.
BOV player of the match: Luis Edison dos Santos (Hibernians).