ĦAMRUN SPARTANS-1, HIBERNIANS-1
Ħamrun Spartans stopped Hibs' seven-match winning run this evening after they held the Premier League leaders to a one-all draw at the Tedesco Stadium.
After Valletta's 1-1 draw with Sliema Wanderers on Friday, Hibs had the chance to move three points clear at the top had they beaten the Spartans but the latter turned in a plucky performance to gain a much-needed point.
Four minutes into the game, Nikica Gacesa sent a long pass into the path of Anderson Ribeiro but the Spartans striker hit wide from just inside the area.
At the other end, Clayton Failla threatened to score from a long-range free-kick but his ferocious drive was tipped over the bar by Andrea Cassar, the Ħamrun goalkeeper.
On another occasion, Hibs' forward Luis Edison fired high and wide after capitalising on a short clearance by the Spartans' defence.
The two teams struggled to create scoring chances for much of the first half but the Spartans went ahead six minutes from half-time. Their goal had an element of good fortune about it as Massimo Grima's cross-shot from the left wing rolled through a crowd of players and past a startled Mario Muscat in the Hibs goal.
Early in the second half, Luis Edison had a shot deflected away for a corner. The Spartans almost doubled their lead as Grima's lofted pass reached Kevin Sammut who cut in from the left but his low drive ended inches wide of the far post.
Ten minutes into the second half, Hibs levelled. Andrew Cohen's corner was partially cleared by the Spartans as the ball sailed towards Tristan Caruana whose perfectly-hit thunderbolt gave Cassar no chance.
Hibs threatened to go ahead when Brazilian forward Marcelo Dias powered his way past three players on the left but his angled effort was pushed away by Cassar.
Muscat did well to tip Luis Silva's long-range shot over the bar. The Hibs goalkeeper was prominent again with a reflex save after Rodolfo Soares looked to have diverted David Camilleri's dangerous free-kick towards his own goal.
As the second half moved on, the two teams began to create more opportunities. Soares headed over from Cohen's free-kick and, at the other end, Toneto Porcari also headed just high after connecting with Grima's cross.
Three minutes from time, Hibs midfielder Bjorn Kristensen's header came off the crossbar from Aaron Xuereb's cross.
Grima was voted BOV player of the match.