Qormi 1
Sidibe 72;
Hibernians 2
Cohen 37; Agius 90;
Andrei Agius came to Hibs’ rescue with a dramatic stoppage-time winner to hand the champions a hard-fought victory over troubled Qormi.
The Paolites will be relieved to have left the stadium with the three points as they looked on their way to another disappointing result following an opaque display.
Despite taking a first-half lead through Andrew Cohen, Hibs still looked short of spark and their inability to kill off their opponents almost came back to haunt them when Qormi grabbed an equaliser with only 18 minutes left to play.
Denni was back in the Hibs line-up in one of three changes from the 4-1 defeat to Mosta. Jurgen Borg started in goal while Agius earned a recall and started ahead of Jonathan Pearson.
Qormi interim coach Johann Scicluna, in his first match in charge since the departure of Jesmond Zerafa, kept faith with the same players that featured in the team’s 1-0 defeat to Balzan before the international break.
Hibs made all the early running and threatened first when Cohen’s throughball put Jorge through but the Brazilian’s lob finished wide.
Nisevic was forced to make his first change when defender Rodolfo Soares pulled out injured. The Poalites continued to struggle but their cause was aided eight minutes from the break.
The Qormi defence failed to deal with Failla’s cross and in came Cohen who slid his effort past keeper Andreas Vella.
Hibs celebrated the goal by running towards Branko Nisevic in a clear statement of support for their coach who on Friday denied allegations he was on his way out.
Jorge should have made it 2-0 but flicked the ball wide in front of a gaping goal and Qormi were unlucky not to pull level on the stroke of half-time when Alex Nilsson turned past his marker but his shot came off the upright.
Qormi brought on Terence Vella as they sensed they could inflict some damage on their opponents.
Hibs struggled to score a second goal and they were made to pay on 72 minutes when from a free-kick, Pearson’s clearance hit Sidibe and the ball ended inside the net.
Qormi held tight but lost goalkeeper Vella through injury late on. He was replaced by his brother Jean-Mathias and the latter soon distinguished himself with a fine save to keep out a header from substitute Jurgen Degabriele.
However from the ensuing corner, Agius was first to Dias’s cross to head home for a dramatic and hard-earned Hibs victory.
Qormi
A. Vella-6 (85 J.M. Vella), A. Cassar-6, O. Sidibe-6, N. Ojuola-6.5, B. Bernstsson-7.5, S. Agius-6, C. Gauci-6.5, K. Magro-5 (71 E. Vella), C. Monti-6.5, R. Micallef-5 (46 T. Vella-6.5), A. Nilsson-6.
Hibernians
J. Borg-6, R. Da Gracia Gomes-5, J. Lima-5, R. Soares (27 J. Pearson-6), M. Dias-5.5, A. Cohen-6.5, B. Kristensen-5 (82 J. Degabriele), C. Failla-5, Denni-5.5 (73 Gilmar), A. Agius-6.5, Jorge-5.
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Yellow cards: T. Vella, Da Gracia Gomes, S. Agius, E. Vella, A. Agius.
BOV player of the match: Billy Berntsson (Qormi).