Champions Hibs overcame the early dismissal of Leighton Grech to battle past Msida St Joseph thanks to a late goal by Latvian striker Olegs Malasenoks in a Premier Leagfue match at the Tedesco Stadium today.

Victory for Hibs lifted them to the top of the standings, level with Valletta and Qormi on 13 points.

Msida might have opened the scoring as early as the third minute. Emiliano Lattes pounced on a headed clearance by Adrian Pulis but he shot just wide. Lattes was then denied by Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper.

Olegs Malasenoks fashioned Hibs' first chance. The Latvian forward was first to Christian Callejas's free-kick but his volley flew wide.

Manuel Bartolo, the Msida goalkeeper, then thwarted Etienne Barbara but Hibs' optimism suffered a blow when Leighton Grech was sent off on 25 minutes for elbowing Msida's midfielder Adam Spiteri. Despite Grech's dismissal, it was Hibs who came close to breaking the stalemate when Edward Herrera's cross found Malasenoks but the latter's close-range flick was stopped by Bartolo.

Early in the second half, a central shot by Msida's Olushola Aganun was saved by Muscat. Aganun's looping shot then cannoned off the crossbar but, with 13 minutes remaining, it was Hibs who scored what proved to be the winning goal. Barbara was the catalyst as his through-pass rolled towards the sprinting Malasenoks who rifled past Bartolo in Msida's goal. Msida threw caution to the wind in the final stages but were denied by the Hibs defence and Muscat who effected two fine saves to deny Tyrone Farrugia and substitute Andrew Formosa.

HAMRUN BEAT DINGLI

Hamrun Spartans made it two wins on the trot after easing past Dingli Swallows who failed to recover from the concession of an early goal and the first-half dismissal of Victor Fiteni.

Hamrun Spartans went ahead after 16 minutes. Joao Batista Mawete steered the ball home from close range after Dingli had failed to clear Rupert Mangion’s cross from a corner.

Two minutes later, Dingli’s woes increased when Victor Fiteni was dismissed after a late tackle on Marcelo Pereira cost him a second booking.

Late in the first half, Mawete laid the ball on to the sprinting Pereira but the Brazilian twice failed to beat Jeffrey Farrugia in the Dingli goal. Hamrun sealed the issue three minutes into the second half when Pereira, running onto a brilliant pass from Mangion, chipped the ball over Farrugia.

Jonathan Holland hit wide for the dominate Spartans but nine minutes from time, Gaetan Spiteri made it 3-0 after receiving from Pereira.