Marsaxlokk-Hibernians 1-0
Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, C. Magro, S. Wellman, N. Gomes dos Santos, C. Mamo, M. Licari, T. Templeman, C. Frendo (S. Bajada), A. Schembri, C. Nwoko, W. Soares Gomes (J. Pace)
Hibernians: M. Muscat, P. Pullicino, A. Pulis (K. Spiteri), A. Xuereb, E. Mbong, A. Cohen, C. Failla, J. Vella (T. Scerri), J. Pearson, D. Camilleri, H. Doda (R. Baldacchino)
Scorers: A. Xuereb (og)
Referee: M. Borg Asst. refs: K. Borg, E. Spiteri 4th official: A. Casha
Yellow cards: K. Spiteri, N. Gomes dos Santos, M. Muscat
Player of the match: Rueben Gauci (Marsaxlokk)
TMI top three: 1. R. Gauci 2. P. Pullicino 3. J. Vella
An own goal by Hibernians’ defender Aaron Xuereb, five minutes from the end, gave Marsaxlokk a fortuitous win in a scrappy game that keeps them well in the hunt with the top-four pack. They now start the second phase only four points adrift of the leaders.
Marsaxlokk however enjoyed a huge slice of luck. They showed a lack of conviction for too long and the post as well as their keeper Rueben Gauci saved them from a second consecutive defeat yesterday.
Hibernians thus missed the chance to close the gap themselves on Birkirkara as they were overtaken by Sliema Wanderers for second place.
With the Wanderers winning before them, the Paolites were under pressure to bag full points but the win eluded them in unlucky fashion in the late stages. Although the early optimism dissipated as they failed time and again to perforate Marsaxlokk’s rearguard, in the final analysis, Hibernians did not deserve to lose.
In the first half this was pretty dismal stuff for the very few who had come to be entertained. Hibernians, who had shown the better intentions for the first half hour, faded away after Pulis’ forced substitution through injury.
Until then, a Camilleri free-kick was tipped into a corner by Marsaxlokk keeper Gauci and Doda’s flick on a Cohen corner hit the upright. When Vella whipped a wicked cross shot, Gauci had to retreat to tip the ball over the bar.
Marsaxlokk rarely ventured into enemy territory and Muscat’s only uncomfortable moment during a dull first half came towards the break when he scrambled Wellman’s meaty free-kick into a corner.
The second half was equally littered with misplaced passes and inaccurate finishing, the biggest culprit being Doda who, when faced with the onrushing Gauci, shot straight at him as Vella’s effort on the loose ball was also blocked by the keeper’s feet.
On the hour, Muscat’s tempestuous sortie felled the advancing Schembri outside the area. The Hibernians keeper was shown a yellow card and Marsaxlokk awarded a free-kick which Frendo shot against the wall.
On 70 minutes Hibernians went close when Pullicino’s shot took a deflection and the ball fell providentially to the unmarked Cohen who was foiled by Gauci.
Hibernians put in Scerri for the last quarter hour and also their saviour of late, Roderick Baldacchino for the last ten minutes as a Cohen effort missed the target by a whisker.
But the goal came on the other end though, albeit almost by accident. Licari found an opening on the right, crossed to Schembri at the other end and the latter’s cross towards the middle repelled against Aaron Xuereb’s thigh to beat his own keeper.
With Hibernians visibly frustrated, substitute Bajada could have sealed the issue on the stroke of time when his shot beat Muscat but was saved on the line. A second goal however would have been hard justice for Hibernians.