QORMI 1; HIBERNIANS 2

A last-minute goal sealed victory for the champions against a troubled Qormi side.

Hibs made all the early running and on 24 minutes Andrew Cohen’s throughball put Jorge through but the Brazilian’s lob finished just wide. The Paolites finally found a breakthrough eight minutes from the break.

The Qormi defence failed to deal with Clayton Failla’s cross and in came Cohen who slid the ball past the onrushing Andreas Vella.

A minute later Jorge should have made it 2-0 but flicked the ball wide in front of a gaping goal following a Denni cross.

Qormi were unlucky not to pull level on the stroke of half-time when Carlo Conti played in Alex Nilsson who turned past his marker but his low drive came off the upright.

On 57 minutes Jorge beat the Qormi offside trap but was denied by the onrushing Vella. Hibs seemed to struggle to close out the match and they were made to pay on 73 minutes when from a free-kick action, Monti’s delivery was met by Pearson whose headed clearance hit Sidibe with the ball rolling into the net.

Qormi lost goalkeeper Andreas Vella through injury late on and was replaced by his brother Jean-Mathias Vella. The new entrant immediately distinguished himself when in stoppage time he showed great reflexes to keep out a close-range header from substitute Jurgen Degabriele.

But from the ensuing corner kick, Andrei Agius was first to Dias’s cross to head the ball into the net to seal a dramatic victory. Qormi defender Billy Berntsson was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.