HIBERNIANS 4
SLIEMA W. 3
It was another sour end for Sliema Wanderers yesterday after succumbing to their second consecutive defeat to practically end all their hopes of retaining the league title.
This defeat, and Birkirkara's win on Friday, puts the Blues eight points adrift of the leaders, and now the Stripes need only one more point from their remaining three league matches against Marsaxlokk, Hibernians and Sliema to be crowned new Maltese champions.
Hard as they tried, yesterday's efforts were not enough to avoid defeat for the reigning champions, who seem to slip further behind to what they aspire with every passing week.
On the other hand, a revamped Hibernians recovered their winning form after a disappointing draw with Valletta the previous week, to keep within strikinging distance of a European berth.
Boosted by an early two-goal lead, the Paolites held off Sliema's challenge, especially in the second half, and survived with a slice of good luck as well. In fact there were times when Sliema looked capable of taking at least a draw, only to be denied twice by the woodwork.
Injuries and suspensions forced both coaches to field understrength sides, bereft of many key players. In the absence of Muscat, Xuereb, Spiteri and Failla, Hibernians had a makeshift defence while Sliema also had Dilello and Bogdanovic absent through suspension besides the injured Giglio and Brincat.
They were soon facing an uphill task as they conceded a five-minute penalty for Lonbardi's foul on Cohen. Keeper Akanji nearly put a hand to it but was beaten by Andrew Cohen's powerful shot.
On 18 minutes, the Wanderers suffered another setback. Haruna Doda headed in Williamson's testing cross from the right after Debono failed to head it out.
Sliema tried to regroup and pulled one back within three minutes. Danilo Doncic, who was eligible to play for Sliema after being erroneously included on the suspended players' list in midweek, ran in from the right to connect on Woods' pass and beat reserve keeper Camilleri with a low diagonal shot.
Midway through the half they went close to drawing level when Turner advanced on the left but finally shot against the side netting. And past the half hour, Bajada sent a sailing free-kick just wide.
Hibernians' s response came on 37 minutes when Doda lobbed the ball forward to put Cohen clear but Akanji dived to his left to palm out the striker's goal bound effort.
But there was no denying Hibernians five minutes before the break. Sliema's rearguard was looking vulnerable on Cohen's menacing free-kick and as the ball fell to Haruna Doda, he was presented with the easiest of chances to steer in the ball from close range.
The second half was equally eventful with scoring opportinities at both ends. To Hibernians fell the first chance when Doda headed Cohen's free-kick wide but Sliema produced their best spell of the match in a 20-minute period during which they reduced the arrears and were twice denied by the woodwork.
Defender Said headed a long Bajada free-kick against the crossbar with keeper Camilleri beaten before they pulled one back on 78 minutes.
Substitute Josef Mintoff connected well on Woods' cross from the left to volley the ball past a helpless Camilleri.
Only two minutes later, a Turner rising shot deserved better fate when it thumped against the bar.
And just when the champions were pressing hard for an equaliser, striker Terrence Scerri, who had only been on the pitch for ten minutes after returning from a long lay-off, put the issue beyond them. He outpaced Lombardi's challenge to beat keeper Akanji with a powerful drive at the near post with six minutes remaining.
The visibly rocked champions valiantly summoned enough effort to stride up the field one more time as skipper Noel Turner stooped low to head in substitute Scerri's cross from the right in added time. But that was too little too late.
The championship issue is almost a forlorn conclusion now.
Hibernians: A. Camilleri, A. Pulis, R. Mintoff, D. Williamson (L. Desira Buttigieg), E. Mbong, A. Cohen (P. Pullicino), R. Baldacchino, E. Agius, J. Vella (T. Scerri), D. Camilleri, H. Doda
Sliema W: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, B. Said, D. Debono, L. Lombardi, N. Turner, D. Doncic, R. Bajada (M. Scerri), J. Farrugia (J. Mintoff), I. Woods, L. Grima
Referee: J. Attard Asst. refs: I. Spiteri, C. Micallef 4th official: C. Pisani
Scorers:A. Cohen (pen), H. Doda (2), D. Doncic, J. Mintoff, T. Scerri, N. Turner
Yellow cards; R. Bajada, R. Baldacchino, D. Debono, A. Muscat, L. Grima
Player of the match: Haruna Doda (Hibernians)
TMI top three: 1. H. Doda 2. A. Cohen 3. I. Woods