Hibernians 0
Sliema Wanderers 1
Muscat 75

A superbly-taken goal from Alex Muscat gifted ten-man Sliema Wanderers their first domestic honour of the season yesterday as the Blues edged champions Hibernians 1-0 in the Super Cup final at the National Stadium.

Sliema wing-back Muscat struck the all-important goal with an extraordinary 40-metre lob to earn his team a merited win over a poor Hibs side who struggled to show the form that made them champions last season.

The Blues' success takes added significance when one considers that they played for more than 65 minutes with ten men following the first-half sending-off of Mark Scerri. However, despite the setback, the Wanderers showed great composure and managed to limit that handicap with a polished display that augurs well for their season.

Hibs looked short in ideas upfront. Surely, they have yet to find a suitable replacement for Terrence Scerri who left the champions to join Valletta last month. Coach Mark Miller will certainly look for a vast improvement from his players if they are to rank among the leading contenders for the league crown.

Miller handed a start to new signing Charles Obi Ikechukwu, a Nigerian forward who was registered in time as the club's third overseas player. Malta defender Aaron Xuereb and young wing-back Yan Cauchi were sidelined with injury.

Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi resisted the temptation of fielding new keeper Michael Gustavo Siscoutto Lima, of Brazil, in his starting formation as Simon Agius was preferred to guard the Wanderers' goal.

After a rather quiet start, Sliema burst into life when Clayton Failla's throughball on the left found Ivan Woods who dashed into the Hibs' box but his angled effort was excellently pushed away by Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper.

Four minutes later, Sliema threatened again when from a central free-kick, Ryan Fenech's firm drive flew just wide.

Hibs' response finally arrived on 21 minutes when Andrew Cohen showed deft footwork to create space for himself just outside the box but his shot just missed the target.

Sliema's hopes were jolted on 25 minutes when Scerri was cautioned by referee Alan Mario Sant for obstructing Hibs winger Ben Camilleri. The decision infuriated Malta U-21 international Scerri who continued to protest leaving the referee with no other option but to show him the red card.

Hibs, however, failed to profit from the situation with Azzopardi's men easily controlling the Paolites' forays.

In fact, it was the Blues who almost struck four minutes from half-time when from another free-kick, Failla's piledriver was brilliantly stopped by Muscat.

Miller effected his first change at the start of the second half when Jonathan Pearson was drafted in place of Triston Caruana.

Seven minutes from the restart, Ikechukwu finally threatened when he was at the end of Edward Herrera's cross but his header flew wide. At the other end, Ian Ciantar centred the ball towards Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza whose firm header was stopped by the alert Muscat.

On 62 minutes, the Blues were unlucky not to take the lead when Mifsud Triganza's drive was touched by Muscat with the ball hitting the upright before finishing out of play.

Hibernians shouted penalty on 67 minutes when Andrew Cohen went down in the Sliema box following an Ian Azzopardi tackle but the referee waved play on.

However, 15 minutes from time the Wanderers struck and what a goal it was.

Muscat did well to win possession on the half-way line and after sprinting forward a couple of metres he caught the Hibs no.1 out of position with an audacious effort that left the keeper helpless.

Hibs stormed forward in search of an equaliser but it was Sliema who almost made it 2-0 when Failla's fierce drive almost had the better of Muscat.

Seconds later, substitute Miguel Ciantar's grounder came off the Hibs' upright.

MFA vice-president Carmelo Bartolo presented the Super Cup trophy to Sliema captain Ivan Woods at the end of the match.

Hibernians
M. Muscat, J. Caruana, E. Herrera, A. Pulis, R. Camilleri, R. Galabov, C. Callejas, C. Ikechukwu, A. Cohen, B. Camilleri ('72 L. Grech), T. Caruana ('46 J. Pearson).

Sliema Wanderers
S. Agius, A. Muscat ('90 M. Ciantar), I. Azzopardi, J. Mifsud, R. Fenech ('90 C. Gatt Baldacchino), M. Scerri, J.P. Mifsud Triganza ('89 M. Bartolo), I. Woods, L. Dronca, I. Ciantar, C. Failla.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Scerri, Callejas, Herrera, J. Caruana, Ciantar.

Red card: Scerri (SW) 25.