Sliema W 1

Paola H 3

After losing this game, Sliema dropped to third placing on 25 points from 12 games while Paola H are in fifth position on 22 points also from 12 games. The game was played at a very fast pace and was action-packed. After a balanced first period, Paola H enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges after the resumption.

The Paolites applied the early pressure. Ayrton Dimech served Triston Abela Wilson in the area from a free kick and Sliema keeper Matthew Attard saved his header and moments later he foiled Joseph Mbong with a timely sortie after he was put through in the area by Matthew Brincat.

Hibs opened the score in the eighth minute when Brincat served Mbong in the area and he scored with a hard grounder.

In a Sliema reaction they mounted two actions. Aiden Friggieri was fouled on the right flank and the ball was cleared away from the freekick by Iousef Meli and Friggieri was again fouled outside the area and from the freekick by the same player the ball was blocked by the defensive barrier. 

Sliema restored equilibrium in the 12th minute when Mark Anthony Scicluna entered the area after dribbling past an opponent and served Omar Xuereb with a through ball who shot past Hibs keeper Mikhail Sciberras.

In the 15th minute Paola came close a second goal when Matthew Camilleri served Mbong in the area and he drove slightly out.

In another action by Sliema, Scicluna released Friggieri on the right flank but he drove high from the edge of the area, and in Paola’s last action before the break, Brincat was fouled outside the area and the ball was deflected to a corner from the free kick by Camilleri.

Eight minutes after the restart Mbong should have scored a second goal but he drove out with an open goal at his mercy after a perfect through ball by Carlos Grech.

Brincat then served Mbong in the area and Attard denied him with a diving save, and Mbong served Brincat with a through ball and a defender cleared the ball to a corner.

In the 48th minute, Paola H restored their slender lead. Mbong dribbled past two opponents on the left flank and after he crossed the ball in the area it was handled by substitute Damir Milosavjevic and Brincat made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Sliema then won a corner kick on the left flank which was well-taken by Friggieri and Sciberras was forced to fist the ball away, while at the other end, Grech served Mbong in the area but he missed the upright from his shot.

Friggieri was then fouled in midfield and Sciberras saved in two attempts the strong free kick by Carl Joseph Cassar.

The Paolites resumed with their pressing, Mbong was fouled on the right flank and the ball was cleared to a corner from the free kick by Brincat and Daniel Buckle served Mbong in the area and Attard was forced to dive and save his shot.

A minute before the end of normal time Hibs scored their third goal when Buckle served Mbong with a through ball who entered the area after dribbling past an opponent and scored with a diagonal hard grounder.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi

Player of the match: Matthew Brincat (Paola H)