Hibernians 2
Callejas 15; J. Caruana 71
Sliema Wanderers 3
Bjedov 27, 70; Severino 90
A Daniel Severino screamer in stoppage time condemned Hibs to their first league defeat this season as Sliema Wanderers came from behind to win a thrilling match yesterday.
This clash between two traditional rivals looked destined to finish in a 2-2 draw after Jonathan Caruana had put the Paolites back on level terms soon after the Wanderers had completed an amazing turnaround with two well-taken goals from Croatian striker Kosta Bjedov.
However, the Wanderers' character came to the fore for the umpteenth time this season and their efforts were duly rewarded a minute into injury time with a fine winner from Severino. Victory lifted the Blues to second place in the standings on nine points, just one behind pacesetters Hibs and Birkirkara.
Both Hibs and Sliema were almost at full strength with Mark Miller, the Paolites coach, making two changes to the team that beat Ħamrun 4-1. Cameroon midfielder Tekumu Alexis Mbongo came on for Leighton Grech while Kurt Formosa replaced the injured Rumen Galabov.
Hibs made the early running and after only seven minutes, Sliema goalkeeper Henry Bonello was forced to make his first save of the match, turning Clayton Failla's dipping shot away for a corner.
On 15 minutes, Hibs were awarded a free-kick in a central position from just outside the area. Christian Callejas stepped up for the kick and the Uruguayan schemer curled the ball into the top corner of the net for his first goal in Maltese football.
Sliema struggled to force a reaction and on 23 minutes, Adrian Pulis embarked on a strong run on the left before sending a teasing cross towards Terrence Scerri who headed the ball just wide.
Hibs were in control but on 27 minutes, some poor defensive play gifted Sliema an equaliser.
Roderick Bajada's free-kick picked Ivan Woods whose acrobatic shot was spilled by goalkeeper Mario Muscat and in came Bjedov who had no problem firing the ball into the net.
Bjedov almost struck again four minutes later but his angled shot was somehow kept out by Muscat.
The match was now evenly-poised with both sides pushing men forward in search of a second goal.
In first-half stoppage time, Failla threatened again but his shot from a free-kick was pushed away by the diving Bonello.
Hibs came out strongly after the break and on 50 minutes, Failla exchanged the ball with Mbongo before sending a dangerous cross that was well met by Scerri whose header was tipped over by Bonello.
Sliema replied on the hour when Roderick Briffa's deflected shot just missed the upright.
An increasingly tight match needed a moment of individual skill if the stalemate was to be broken. That duly arrived on 70 minutes and it was Bjedov who provided it.
The Sliema forward hustled and bustled to win possession just outside the area before he let fly an unstoppable low shot that rolled past the diving Muscat.
Stung by this setback, Hibs barely took a minute to draw level. Substitute Triston Caruana rifled a powerful low shot that Bonello failed to hold and in came Jonathan Caruana who fired home the rebound.
Severino, a second-half substitute, almost hit the target on 81 minutes when he got on the end of Matthew Bartolo's cross but his volley hit the crossbar.
Seven minutes from time, Bartolo passed to Severino who fired a fierce drive that flew just wide.
At the third time of asking, Severino struck gold. A minute into stoppage time, the Sliema midfielder picked up Bonello's goal-kick and produced a stinging piledriver from 25 metres out that flew into the top corner to the delight of the Sliema fans and players alike.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-5, J. Caruana-6.5, E. Herrera-6, A. Pulis-6.5 ('85 L. Grech), A. Xuereb-6, K. Formosa-5.5 ('67 T. Caruana-5.5), C. Failla-7, C. Callejas-6.5, J. Pearson-6, T.A. Mbongo-6, T. Scerri-6.5.
Sliema
H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-6, B. Nisevic-6, K. Bjedov-7 ('84 N. Turner), M. Bartolo-6.5, J. Chetcuti-6, I. Woods-6 ('90 J. Mintoff), I. Ciantar-5.5, J. Vella-6.5 ('61 D. Severino-7), R. Bajada-6, R. Briffa-6.5.
Referee: Anton Zammit.
Yellow cards: Nisevic; A. Muscat; T. Caruana.
BoV Player of the match: Kosta Bjedov (Sliema).