Hibernians toiled beyond expectations to beat Pieta Hotspurs with a fortuitous win, courtesy of a last minute goal in added time by substitute Caruana, after trailing their opponents for more than an hour.

Pieta had been playing with nine men for the last quarter hour, yet managed to hold on to Hibernians’ second half onslaught after taking a first half lead.

Okonkwo’s sending off and Cohen’s penalty past the hour paved the way for Hibernians’ victory, which looked hard done on their opponents. The Hotspurs hardly ever looked second best to their opponents, but were thwarted in the dying minutes, albeit let down by some lack of discipline, ending the match in eight men.

Hibernians were only a shadow of the team which beat Birkirkara in the previous outing as their play lacked conviction and decent finishing. They took control from the start of the second half but it was a nervy kind of supremacy as they still struggled to make their numerical superiority show in the face of an organised Pieta defence.

Unlike Hibernians’ unchanged side, Pieta’s line-up showed a number of changes from the one which played a one-all draw against St George’s the previous week. Apart from the suspended Camenzuli and Sammut, Pieta coach Vittorio dropped Debono and Decesare to the bench and had to do without Tasca, who although included in the official line-up, failed to make an appearance, probably as he suffered some injury during the warm-up. There were starts for Calleja, Camilleri, Mifsud and Herrera instead.

The Hotspurs opened with more endeavour than has been the case in recent games, with Kondev at the centre of operations.

They managed to take the lead against the unsettled Hibernians after 17 minutes. Calleja played the ball inside the middle and Daniel Theuma fired it in from close range after Okoh’s effort was deflected in his way. Keeper Muscat held the ball, but only after it had crossed the line.

Hibernians were stunned but failed to pull themselves into the game as Pieta defended deeply and carefully after going in front.

Okoh cleared the ball off Scerri’s feet when clear inside the area but hesitated too long to conclude. On the half hour Okoh failed to connect with Kondev’s sailing free-kick.

With Pieta running no big risks, they threatened before the break when Kondev sent an inviting low ball across the face of the Hibernians’ goal with nobody near to connect.

Hibernians’ best moment of a dull first half came on the stroke of halftime when Chukunyere beat Sciberras’ marking to chase a Cohen quick free-kick forward but the final shot went wide.

Hibernians put in Bartolo for Failla for the second half and improved their performance as they took the bit between their teeth. They looked dangerous down the flanks, only to be let down by the poor quality of their crosses.

Pieta however sounded another warning on 55 minutes when Deanov collected Calleja’s short pass and sent an arrow-like drive from 20 metres which Muscat saved superbly into a corner.

But Hibernians kept pushing forward and Cohen’s low cross from the left was missed by Pieta’s defenders and Scerri’s effort was deflected into a corner.

On 65 minutes, Okonkwo’s robust challenge on Scerri, who was through on Cohen’s pass, earned him a red card as Hibernians were awarded a penalty which Andrew Cohen tucked away to restore equilibrium.

After Chukunyere went close with a headed effort on Cohen’s free-kick, Pieta suffered another setback on 75 minutes when Calleja also received his marching orders after a second bookable offence.

Hibernians tried to exploit their numerical superiority, putting in Caruana and later Zahra, in search of a winner. But despite their late onslaught, they looked unable to penetrate Pieta’s resolute defence as they raked numerous crosses and free-kicks, all capably dealt with by keeper Hogg who put on a valiant late showing.

The Paolites needed three minutes of added time however to finally overcome Pieta’s resistance through substitute Thomas Caruana who capitalised on a chaotic action inside the Pieta area, with Chukunyere even hitting the post, before netting the winner, after which even Daniel Theuma was dismissed for a second booking as unlucky Pieta finished with eight men.

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Pieta H: A. Hogg, D. Okonkwo, C. Okoh, B. Sciberras, M. Deanov (A. Debono), C. Calleja, C. Camilleri, S. Kondev, D. Mifsud (R. Camilleri), D. Theuma, E. Herrera

Hibernians: M. Muscat, K. Cassar, R. Briffa (T. Caruana), A. Xuereb, P. Doffo, E. Agius (A. Zahra), U. Nwoko, N. Chukunyere, T. Scerri, A. Cohen, C. Failla (M. Bartolo)

Referee: M. Borg Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, A, Camilleri 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: D. Theuma, A. Cohen (pen), T. Caruana

Yellow cards: C. Failla, M. Muscat, C. Calleja, D. Theuma, E. Herrera, A. Hogg

Red cards: D. Okonkwo, C. Calleja, D. Theuma

Player of the match: Svetlan Kondev (Pieta H)

TMI top three: 1. S. Kondev 2. A. Cohen 3. C. Okoh