Balzan FC: M. Camilleri, Y. Camilleri, M. Mandy, S. Giglio (M. Borg), B. Bondin (M. Deanov), J. Pace, R. Conceicao, D. Grima (M. Licari), C. Caruana, R. Forace, A. Elton Da Silva

Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Pulis (D. Balzan), R. Camilleri, J. Pearson, R. Soares, A. Cohen, B. Kristensen (J. Bezzina), Z . Levnaic, M. Dias, J.P. Farrugia (J. Nwoba), J. Lima

Referee: A. Azzopardi

Asst.refs: R. Vella, D. Sultana

4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: A. Elton Da Silva 20, 45+ pen, A. Pulis 36., A. Cohen 45

Yellow cards: J. Lima, M. Dias, S. Giglio, M. Mandy

Red cards: M. Muscat, M. Dias, M. Licari

Player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Elton Da Silva 2. J. Lima 3. J. Pace

■ Silvio Vella

Three players sent off and plenty of drama, this rollercoaster was shrouded in controversy as Hibernians, playing with a man down for the whole second half, finally got the better of stubborn Balzan.

A much debatable penalty incident on the stroke of halftime, brought about keeper Mario Muscat’s dismissal and Balzan’s equaliser in an eventful first half. Hibernians also had forward Marcelo Dias sent off 20 minutes from time, but the same fate befell Balzan’s substitute Maloclm Licari two minutes later.

For all their bold efforts, however, Balzan had nothing to show and might have felt only misery at the end. They remain without a league win after five matches. They went ahead and managed to draw level after conceding twice in the first half but appeared less incisive in the second half, although Elton Da Silva exposed vulnerability in the Hibernians’ defence.

Yesterday they missed the creativity of their suspended Brazilian Pedro Calcado, although Renato Conceicao, playing in midfield, left a good impact on the game and was the protagonist in the controversial penalty incident.

Early tame efforts by Hibernians, with Balzan keeper Camilleri holding out Lima’s effort and and a Dias shot going over, did not intimidate Balzan, who carved out two good opportunities past the quarter hour and managed to break the deadlock.

On 17 minutes Elton won possession inside the Hibernians area on the right, swivelled off Pearson and with keeper Muscat off his line, he shot over.

Elton himself atoned for that miss three minutes later. He made the better of Muscat’s block at his feet on Caruana’s pass forward, won an aerial challenge with Pearson and headed over the keeper.

Hibernians were forced to substitute the injured Farrugia with Nwoba soon after and Balzan threatened once more with a Pace long distance shot from the right that flew just over.

Hibernians ‘ immediate response saw them go close twice with a Dias header, on Nwoba’s cross, palmed out by keeper Camilleri and a Dias low cross for Ryan Camilleri, well blocked by the grounded Balzan shot stopper.

Hibernians drew level on 36 minutes . On a Lima corner from the right, Adrian Puilis reached first to head in his second league goal of the season.

Hibernians looked to have taken the bit between their teeth by then. Dias played the ball to Cohen who flicked it wide to Nwoba, denied by an excellent save from keeper Camilleri, pushing the ball against the bar and into a corner, thereby endorsing Hibernians’ attacking danger.

Balzan responded on 43 minutes when Elton put Conceicao through, his square pass fell to the unmarked Mandy who se low shot went narrowly wide.

But there was still a lot of late drama before halftime. Hibernians went ahead for the first time in the match after Dias galloped down the right and his low cross shot was flicked in by Andrew Cohen.

Deep into two minutes of added time, came the most talked about episode of the match. Conceicao again went into the Hibernians area with alarming ease, grounded the keeper who rushed to block him from near the byeline and fell nonchalantly as Muscat made some slight contact with his body.

The referee awarded Balzan a penalty and harshly dismissed keeper Muscat whose hot protests seemed justified as there were doubts whether Conceicao was denied a clear scoring opportunity from where the incident took place.

Elton Da Silva tucked away the penalty, beating reserve keeper Balzan with a powerful shot to restore equilibrium.

Although eclipsed by the penalty controversy, the second half was nonetheless electrifying.

With a man down, Hibernians re-emerged with a tactical defensive change, dropping Levnaic as centre back and moving Pearson on the flank. They managed to restore their lead on 51 minutes, again from a set piece. Keeper Camilleri failed to intercept Lima’s corner from the right and John Nwoba headed towards goal with the ball rebounding off the keeper’s back before crossing the line.

Before Balzan could shrug off the setback, their goalkeeper was forced to repel another of Lima’s fierce drives from outside the area.

Balzan tried to hit back and Conceicao’s inswinger was smartly held out by keeper Balzan.

Hibernians were down to nine men on 71 minutes. Dias’ handling earned him a second booking but even Balzan had Malcolm Licari, who had just gone in as a substitute a minute earlier, sent off on 73 minutes in what looked like another rash decision by the referee. The Balzan player extended his foot as the Hibernians keeper grasped the ball on the ground.

Balzan’s late efforts were foiled by a good showing from the young Hibernians keeper. He blocked substitute Deanov as he ran inside the area on 86 minutes and then turned Elton’s header superbly into a corner on the stroke of full time.