Sliema Wanderers 1
Mifsud Triganza 8
Hibernians 1
Cohen 41
Hibernians and Sliema Wanderers, who started the evening joint-leaders in the Euro Cup standings, fought out a 1-1 draw on Day Two of this pre-season competition at the Centenary Stadium, yesterday.
Buoyed by the victories over Valletta and Birkirkara respectively, Hibs and Sliema were looking to chalk up another three-pointer that would have put them within touching distance of landing the first honour of the 2009-10 season.
FA Trophy holders Sliema looked well on their way when Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza marked his first start for the Blues with a fine finish. However, the Paolites hit back and their efforts were rewarded when Andrew Cohen marked another impressive display with an equaliser just before half-time.
In the end, the stalemate left Sliema and Hibs still on top of the standings on four points with one other round of matches to go tomorrow.
Hibernians coach Mark Miller made three changes to the team that beat Valletta 2-0 earlier this week as Dutch players Ouichou El Houssaine and Taki Abelilah were out of the squad. Ben Camilleri and Jonathan Pearson started the match while the league champions' regular keeper Mario Muscat took his place in goal.
Sliema effected two changes. Matthew Bartolo and John Mintoff, the match-winner against Birkirkara, started on the bench. Their places were taken by Ivan Woods and Mifsud Triganza.
Sliema were off to a fast start as they took just eight minutes to break the deadlock. Alex Muscat slid the ball into the path of Mifsud Triganza who sped into the Hibs box before beating Muscat with a firm grounder.
Hibs could have drawn level a minute later when Jonathan Caruana put Camilleri through but the latter fired just wide.
On 17 minutes, Caruana was first to a Cohen corner but his header skimmed the bar on its way out of play.
Sliema regained the initiative and on 27 minutes Lucian Dronca unleashed a powerful drive that was pushed away by Muscat.
The match was evenly balanced though with Hibs looking determined to restore equilibrium and Cohen behind most of their moves up front.
The Paolites' pressure paid off four minutes from the break and it was no surprise that it was Cohen who grabbed the equaliser from a calibrated free-kick.
Just before half-time, Muscat sped into the Hibs' half but from his inviting centre, Mifsud Triganza could only tap the ball inside the side-netting.
Miller roped in striker Terrence Scerri in lieu of Adrian Pulis at the start of the second half with Ryan Mintoff switched to right-back.
The match lost much of its rhythm, however, with both teams adopting a more prudent approach now. As a result, scoring chances were scant at both ends of the pitch.
Sliema effected their first change on 61 minutes when Ryan Fenech was replaced by John Mintoff. Clayton Failla, formerly of Hibs, tried his luck from the distance but his effort flew wide.
At the other end, Cohen could have snatched it for Hibs when he burst into the Sliema box to meet Camilleri's cross. However, his rising shot never reached the desired destination.
Both teams stepped up a gear for a late winner but, in the end, the stalemate prevailed.
Sliema Wanderers
S. Agius, A. Muscat ('71 M. Bartolo), I. Azzopardi, R. Fenech ('61 R. Mintoff), J. Mifsud, M. Scerri, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, I. Woods ('75 R. Bajada), L. Dronca, I. Ciantar, C. Failla.
Hibernians
M. Muscat, R. Mintoff, A. Xuereb, A. Pulis ('46 T. Scerri), R. Camilleri, J. Caruana, J. Pearson, A. Cohen, R. Galabov, M. Cvetic ('67 L. Grech), B. Camilleri.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Yellow cards: M. Muscat, Failla, Scerri.