Hibernians 3
McManus 72; Farrugia 73; Cohen 88 pen.
Ħamrun Spartans 4
Pereira 30; Anizoba 32, 42; Spiteri 47;
An incredible late comeback could not save 10-man Hibs from defeat to Ħamrun Spartans.
The final 18-minute period, in which Hibs hit three quick goals, was as sensational as the opening spell that resulted in Ħamrun going 3-0 up.
Unfortunately for Hibs, they were reduced to 10 men after just 36 minutes and conceded a fourth goal just after half-time – a deficit that seemed too big for Mark Miller’s side to claw back.
The English coach should shoulder some of the blame for sticking with an attacking line-up in the first half. Miller should have perhaps tried to contain the damage as the Spartans produced brilliant football in a devastating spell.
Steve D’Amato, the Ħamrun coach, gave a debut to new signing Peter Anizoba while Mark Anthony Bonnici and Lee James Agius were also included in the first team as Martin Hrubsa and Steve Bonnici were suspended and Scottish livewire Dene Shields missed out through injury.
The Spartans were forced to field a makeshift defence as Massimo Grima dropped back to partner Roderick Fenech while Jovan Vukanic switched flanks from right to left.
Miller made two changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Marsaxlokk as the injured Ryan Camilleri and Aaron Xuereb were replaced by Matthew Tabone and Jonathan Pearson.
There was no shortage of attacking intent in the early stages as the two teams strove to end their winless run.
Tabone almost flicked the ball into his own net when Anizoba raced down the right and his cross was deflected by the Hibs defender, the ball evading goalkeeper Mario Muscat and going out for a corner inside the first five minutes.
The Spartans continued to improve their reputation as one of the most entertaining teams in the Premier League as their creative midfielders lit up a riveting first half.
On 20 minutes, Ryan Fenech showed terrific vision to pick out Bonnici’s run and the defender’s low ball across the box was gleefully turned in by Marcelo Pereira.
Ħamrun were continually scything through the Paolites with the slick touches of Fenech and the pace of Anizoba unsettling their defence. On the half-hour mark, Grima sent a low free-kick just wide.
However, a second goal did not elude the Spartans for long as Ryan Fenech found Anizoba in the box and the Nigerian coolly headed in with 32 minutes on the clock.
The Paolites’ task became more complicated after 36 minutes when Adrian Pulis was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Ryan Fenech.
With Hibs needing a goal to keep their hopes alive, Miller gambled on playing three at the back but his move backfired.
Fenech advanced on the right before squaring to Anizoba who fired home to put Ħamrun 3-0 up three minutes from half-time.
At the start of the second half, the Spartans continued where they left off in the first period.
They charged forward again and got their fourth when Gaetan Spiteri outmuscled his marker but could only apply a feeble touch to the ball as he lost his footing.
Fortunately for the Ħamrun striker, the ball rolled past the grounded Muscat and over the goal-line.
Four goals ahead after just 47 minutes, the Spartans moved down a couple of gears in the second half and, incredibly, this almost cost them victory as the 10-man Hibs staged a reaction.
Substitute Jean Paul Farrugia wasted the Paolities’ only chance of the match but Paul McManus then showed him the way as he produced a beautiful floating lob to beat Ivan Casha after 72 minutes.
Moments later, Hibs came back into the game as Farrugia’s header, from Cohen’s free-kick, beat Casha.
It remained 4-2 until the final two minutes when McManus was put through on goal by Cohen’s deft ball over the defence but as the Scottish striker was about to shoot, he was pulled back by Roderick Fenech.
Cohen smashed the ball into the roof of the net from the penalty to push Hibs within one goal of the shell-shocked Spartans.
Hibs’ hopes of completing what would have been an amazing comeback were scuppered by Casha’s vital block on McManus deep into stoppage-time.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-5, A. Pulis, M. Tabone-4 (30 J.P. Farrugia-6), M. Clarke-4, Z. Levnaic-5, R. Hart-5, P. McManus-6.5, T. Caruana-4.5 (61 M. Gauci-5.5), J. Pearson-5, E. Herrera-5.5, A. Cohen-6.5.
Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha-6.5, M.A. Bonnici-6, M. Grima-6, Ryan Fenech-8.5 (82 R. Mangion), Roderick Fenech-5, G. Spiteri-6, J. Vukanic-5, L. Agius-6, M. Pereira-6 (66 A. Attard-4), D. Camilleri-6, P. Anizoba-7.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Pearson; Bonnici; Farrugia; McManus; Clarke; Levnaic; Vukanic.
Red card: Pulis (H) 36.
Attendance: 1,947.
BOV player of the match: Ryan Fenech (Ħamrun).
Playing Today
National Stadium: 7.30 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Qormi.