Hibernians 1
Hamrun Spartans 1
The sixth and last berth in the Championship Pool was at stake last night as Hamrun Spartans locked horns with Hibernians in the final match of the 2007-08 Premier League's first phase.
With the pressure weighing heavily on both sets of players, the game took a while to ignite but a goal by Hamrun Spartans' defender Bratislav Timotic early in the second half flared the match into life as Hibs, who were faced with a must-win scenario yesterday, turned the screw in an attempt to overturn the result.
The Paolites, bracketed among the early favourites for the league title but whose inconsistency dragged them into the Relegation Pool mire, managed to level matters through substitute Adrian Mifsud who thus set up a thrilling finale.
The crowd at the National Stadium endured a nerve-jangling finish as Hibs pounded the Spartans rearguard but inspired by an excellent display from goalkeeper Sean Sullivan, Marco Gerada's troops weathered the pressure to secure a top-six berth, much to the delight of their fans.
Gatt made no fewer than four changes from the team that lost 2-0 to Msida. Defender Aaron Xuereb, midfielders Edmond Agius and Ben Camilleri and striker Terence Scerri were roped into the first XI at the expense of Adrian Pulis, Timothy Fleri Soler, Ndubisi Chukunyere and Adrian Mifsud.
The return from suspension of two experienced players like Rupert Mangion and Gaetan Spiteri impelled Hamrun coach Gerada to alter his starting line-up from his side's 2-1 victory over Floriana last week.
Mangion replaced Precious Monye who was ineligible to play yesterday due to suspension and striker Spiteri was preferred to Kevin Borg.
Hibs' 4-3-3 approach reflected their must-win situation while Gerada opted for a more conservative 4-4-1-1 set-up, a justified choice given that a draw would suffice for Hamrun to squeeze into the top six.
A low shot by Alfred Effiong was saved by Mario Muscat and at the other end, Pablo Doffo surged past the Hamrun defence to pick up a pass from Andrew Cohen but his piledrive was smothered away by Sullivan.
The frequency of scoring chances decreased considerably as the first half gathered pace. On one occasion, Ryan Fenech was hustled out of possession by the Hibs defenders as he was about to conclude while Hibs had a Clayton Failla dipper finishing wide.
Four minutes past the half hour, Sullivan was hurtling to his left to palm away Abada Fish's free-kick.
As half-time approached, Hibs mounted a brief spell of pressure but their attempts at crosses and runs into the box were thwarted by the vigilant Hamrun defenders.
On the stroke of half-time, Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper, dashed across the penalty box to prevent the ball crossing the bye-line after Effiong's scrambled shot from the edge of the penalty area had been deflected by the white-shirted defenders.
Hibs' best chance to open the scoring came on 51 minutes. Doffo made progress on the right before he delivered a low cross into the goalmouth. Roderick Fenech was first to the ball but he only managed to roll it into the path of Camilleri who sized up a powerful shot but Sullivan used his experience to repel the danger.
Driven on by Doffo's power, Hibs tore into Hamrun in the early stages of the second half. Their growing pressure ought to have yielded an opener after 59 minutes as Failla's lofted cross from the left fell invitingly to Camilleri in the six-yard box but the latter's soft flick from close range was tipped away by Sullivan.
From the possibility of going a goal up, Hibs were shocked to find themselves a goal down 17 minutes into the second half.
The Spartans won a corner after Mark Anthony Bonnici's incursion down the right was intercepted by Jonathan Caruana. The former Birkirkara right-back delivered the cross from the corner and as the Hibs defence failed to clear, defender Bratislav Timotic stole in at the far post to stab the ball home. The Serbian defender celebrated his goal by taking off his shirt and climbed over the perimeter glass separating the Spartans fans from the pitch.
Gatt responded to his side's predicament by taking off left-back Failla in favour of striker Mifsud while Gerada first replaced Bonnici with Borg and, 20 minutes from time, he sent on Diego Cucciardi for Spiteri.
The situation cried out for Hibs to throw caution to the wind and they obliged, although their all-out approach left them rather vulnerable at the back.
Agius swung over a good cross from the right but Scerri's header was belted away by Roderick Fenech. His brother Ryan got on the end of a counter-attack by the Spartans but his central grounder was blocked by Muscat.
On 79 minutes, Sullivan again foiled Hibs with a top-notch save from Doffo's screamer but in their next attack, the Paolites drew level. Sullivan again did well to parry Scerri's effort from point blank but Mifsud was on hand to score from the rebound.
Galvanised by their equaliser but needing another goal to salvage their top-six mission, Hibs lay siege on Hamrun's goal who began to betray signs of uneasiness in their efforts to defend the result.
Four minutes from time, Doffo's cross from the right was met by Cohen but his header bounced wide.
In stoppage time, Hibs thought they had hit the jackpot when Adrian Pulis, who had replace Fish, summoned a powerful header from Cohen's free-kick but the alert Sullivan blocked.
After the final whistle referee Anton Zammit showed the red card to Roderick Fenech for dissent.
Hibs: M. Muscat-6.5, A. Xuereb-6.5, J. Caruana-6.5, C. Failla-5.5 ('67 A. Mifsud), P. Doffo-8, T. Scerri-5, A. Cohen-4.5, E. Agius-6, A. Fish-5 ('83 A. Pulis), B. Camilleri-5, U. Edafe-5 ('88. N.Chukunyere).
Hamrun: S. Sullivan-8.5, M.A. Bonnici-6 ('67 K. Borg), Roderick Fenech, S. Meilak-6, Ryan Fenech-6.5, J. Debattista-6.5, R. Mangion-6.5, N. Galea-6.5, B. Timotic-7, G. Spiteri-5.5 ('71 D. Cucciardi), A. Effiong-5.5.
Referee: Anton Zammit.
Scorers: Timotic 62; Mifsud 79.
Yellow cards: Ryan Fenech; Spiteri; Effiong; Timotic.
Red card: Roderick Fenech 90.
BoV Player of the match: Sean Sullivan (Hamrun Spartans).