Champions Valletta failed to end their two-match winless run on Friday as their first league meeting with rivals Birkirkara finished two-all. It was the Citizens' fourth draw in their opening five matches while the Stripes were figuring in their first stalemate of the season.
A balanced match unfolded into a tit-for-tat affair in the opening half as the four goals came in two frantic spells. Shaun Bajada put Birkirkara ahead after three minutes when his powerfully-struck free-kick stunned Andrew Hogg in the Valletta goal. The score became 1-1 barely two minutes later, Dyson Falzon tapping the ball home from close in after Doding Priso's piledriver cannoned off the underside of the crossbar.
Valletta took the lead for the first time on 28 minutes when Priso headed home from point blank but in no time, Birkirkara got back on level terms, Paul Fenech finding the net with a diving header after Hogg could not hold Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza's deflected shot.
Thanks to the point obtained, Birkirkara joined Hibs on top of the standings with 10 points. The Paolites failed to pull clear of the Stripes on Sunday after falling to their first defeat of the season at the hands of Sliema Wanderers.
Daniel Severino handed the Blues their first win in three matches with a last-gasp goal. Christian Callejas had fired Hibs ahead from a free-kick but Kosta Bjedov struck in the 27th and 70th minutes to turn the result in Sliema's favour. Jonathan Caruana restored equilibrium, albeit temporarily, with 19 minutes remaining.
In Sunday's opening match, Floriana made up for their 4-1 upset to Msida with a 3-1 victory over Marsaxlokk. Mark Barbara gave Marsaxlokk a headstart as he scored after 12 minutes but Marlon Briffa equalised for Floriana who went on to wrap up the three points thanks to a brace from Orosco Anonam.
On Saturday, the matches, Qormi-Msida St Joseph and Ħamrun Spartans-Tarxien Rainbows, finished 1-1.
Brazilian forward Pedro Calcado struck a brilliant goal to fire Msida ahead in their match against Qormi but the newcomers made it 1-1 on the stroke of half-time thanks to Nigerian Alfred Effiong.
The match between strugglers Tarxien and Ħamrun came to life in the final 20 minutes. After a goalless first half, Daniel Mariano Bueno was on hand to poke Warren Chircop's cross-shot into the net and give Tarxien a surprise 1-0 lead but Diego Cucciardi, a second-half substitute, spared the Spartans' blushes with an 82nd minute equaliser.
Statistics
Scorers, red cards
Birkirkara: Galea 2, Mallia 2; Tabone (pen), Mifsud Triganza, Bajada, Fenech.
Floriana: Anonam 2; M. Briffa, Madzar, Brincat (penalty). Red card - Bugeja (vs Ħamrun).
Ħamrun: Spiteri 2; Ortega (penalty), Cucciardi. Red card - Spiteri (vs Floriana).
Hibernians: Scerri 4; Galabov 2, Failla 2, J. Caruana 2; Grech, Farrugia, Callejas. Own goals - Micallef (vs Ħamrun); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun); Red card - Mbongo (vs Valletta).
Marsaxlokk: Alcorse, Licari (penalty), Said, Pereira, Mattocks, Barbara.
Msida: Calcado 5 (1 pen.); Aurellio 2.
Qormi: Effiong 3; Da Silva 2; Farrugia. Red card - Chetcuti (vs Hibernians).
Sliema: Bjedov 2, Woods 2 (1 pen.); Bajada, Severino. Red card - Bjedov (vs Ħamrun).
Tarxien: Bueno 3; Chircop. Red cards: Carapic, Decesare (vs Qormi).
Valletta: Priso 4 (2 pens.); Falzon 2; Tolomeotti, G. Agius.
Next fixtures (all National Stadium)
Friday: 7.30 p.m. Ħamrun vs Birkirkara.
Saturday: 4 p.m. Sliema vs Tarxien; 6 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Hibernians.
Sunday: 4 p.m. Qormi vs Floriana; 6 p.m. Valletta vs Msida St Joseph.