Hibernians 2
Cohen 64; Callejas 78
Marsaxlokk 2
Pullicino 42; Camilleri 82
Four goals and 11 yellow cards were the legacy of this stirring encounter between leaders Hibs and Marsaxlokk.
The notion that the teams in the Championship Pool, bar title rivals Valletta, roll over when they face Hibs was exposed as a fallacy as Marsaxlokk yesterday produced a spirited display to hold their more-quoted opponents to a 2-2 draw.
Coming from a 2-1 defeat to Valletta, Hibs had to get back to winning ways and dismiss suggestions that last week's upset might have hurt their self-belief.
A low-key performance in the first half, coupled with the concession of a goal just before half-time, turned up the heat on the Paolites but they rallied in the second period. Hibs managed to overturn the deficit with two goals in 14 second-half minutes only to be pegged back by Chris Camilleri's late equaliser.
The outcome meant that Hibs moved four points clear of Valletta at the top but the latter will cut the gap to just one point if they beat Sliema Wanderers this evening.
With Clayton Failla serving a one-match ban and Ben Camilleri out with a twisted ankle, Mark Miller was forced to make two changes from the team that lost 2-1 to the Citizens. Timothy Fleri Soler started at left-back and Jean Paul Farrugia played alongside Terrence Scerri in attack.
Marsaxlokk coach Patrick Curmi confirmed the 11 players who began the 5-2 defeat of Floriana.
The early exchanges were bereft of constructive football but after 14 minutes, Marcelo Pereira's run from the blindside caught Jonathan Caruana by surprise. The Malta defender's belated reaction left him with no option but to nudge Pereira off balance and concede a free-kick. Much to his relief, Caruana was only shown a yellow card for his offence.
Julio Alcorse's grounder was blocked by the sliding Christian Callejas but referee Saviour Tanti ordered the free-kick to be re-taken and booked Hibs' Uruguayan midfielder for encroaching.
Carlo Mamo's subsequent free-kick was parried away by Mario Muscat and Camilleri's shot from the rebound whizzed wide of the far post.
Close to the 25th-minute mark, Hibs fashioned their first scoring opportunity when Farrugia nodded the ball towards Scerri whose attempt to volley home was smothered away by the onrushing Reuben Debono.
Hibs were looking somewhat nervous and lacking conviction in these initial stages. This was evident when Muscat shaped up to kick the ball upfield just outside the box with ball still in hand.
The Hibs goalkeeper was cautioned and then saved by the woodwork as Camilleri's free-kick smacked against the bar.
Marsaxlokk continued to pour forward with purpose and a sense of urgency that belied their fifth position in the table.
Their efforts paid dividends when, with three minutes of the first half left, Gareth Sciberras powered his way to the byline. His cut-back rolled towards Alcorse who allowed the ball to run through his legs to leave the way clear for Peter Pullicino who had ample time and space to unleash a sizzling shot that went in via the post.
Hibs tore into Marsaxlokk in the opening stages of the second period.
Eleven minutes into the second half, Cohen's cross from a corner landed at the feet of Zeferino Soares Borges but his drive was pawed away by Debono.
Hibs broke Marsaxlokk's stiff resistance 19 minutes into the second half. Their equaliser owed everything to Cohen's guile, the Malta midfielder cutting in from the left before drilling a powerful shot into the net.
Invigorated by Cohen's equaliser, Hibs maintained the pressure. Brian Said hoofed the ball upfield after Scerri had anticipated Debono to a cross by Herrera and Soares Borges hit wide from a good position.
In a rare counter-attack, Marsaxlokk threatened to regain the lead. Alcorse flicked the ball to the sprinting Pereira who dashed into the box but his shot flashed against the side-wrigging.
Hibs quickly got the ball back into Marsaxlokk's half as Scerri outpaced his markers but his shot was saved by Debono.
Optimism among the vocal Hibs fans rose when, with 12 minutes remaining, their team was awarded a free-kick just outside the box. Callejas send the Paolites into raptures by bending his free-kick into the right-hand corner.
Hibs felt that they had turned the corner but Marsaxlokk just refused to give in.
Eight minutes of the game remained when Pullicino's long pass from the right was met by Camilleri who beat Muscat with a well-struck volley to give Marsaxlokk a share of the points and boost his former team Valletta's title chances.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-6, J. Caruana-6, E. Herrera-5.5, T. Fleri Soler-5 ('46 E. Cauchi-6), C. Callejas-6.5, T. Scerri-5.5, A. Cohen-6.5, J. Pearson-5, Z. Soares Borges-5 ('90 L. Grech), R. Galabov-5.5, J.P. Farrugia-5.
Marsaxlokk
R. Debono-6.5, M. Licari-6.5 ('84 T. Templeman), C. Mamo-6, G. Sciberras-6.5, R. Conceicao-6.5 ('74 W. Camenzuli), B. Said-6.5, K. Sammut-6, P. Pullicino-7.5, J. Alcorse-5.5, C. Camilleri-7, M. Pereira-6.5.
Referee: Saviour Tanti.
Yellow cards: Caruana; Callejas; Muscat; Pearson; Alcorse; Soares Borges; Pullicino; Sammut; Scerri; Galabov; Mamo.
BoV player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibs).