Hibernians-Mosta 2-2
Hibernians: D. Balzan, T. Tabone Desira, J. Pearson, I. Radusinovic, R. Camilleri, Z. Levnaic, J. Lima (C. Failla),B. Kristensen, O. Obiefule, L. Edsion, J.P. Farrugia (A. Cohen)
Mosta: O. Borg, R. Ekani, M. Brincat, I. Grech, T. Farrugia, M. Micallef, I. Zammit, C. Fernandez (K. Zammit), A. Carrozza, B. Kaljevic (D. Pereira), G. M Piccioni
Referee: C. Pisani
Asst.refs: W. Debattista, D. Sultana
Additional refs: M. Borg, M. Apap
4th official: F. Zammit
Scorers: G.M. Piccioni 41, 68, O. Obiefule 51, J.P. Farrugia 71
Yellow cards: R. Ekani, B. Kaljevic, J. Lima, L. Edison, J. Pearson
Player of the match: J. Lima (Hibernians)
TMI top three: 1. J. Lima 2. G. M. Piccdioni 3. O. Obiefule
This battle for a place in European competition ended with honurs even. A point apiece consolidates Hibernians’ third place in the Championship Pool standings as Mosta now move above Sliema Wanderers in fourth place.
Slightly better than their opponents in the first 45 minutes, the Paolites had to absorb some pressure from Mosta after the restart as Enrico Piccioni’s side wanted to win to make further progress.
Hibernians deserve acclaim for their perseverance. Twice they trailed their opponents but fought back to clinch a deserved draw.
They are now in a much stronger position for a third place finish as they remain six points above the same Mosta.
Hibernians, on a high following three consecutive wins, could afford to leave Andrew Cohen and Clayton Failla on the bench and use them as substitutes late in the game. Bjorn Kristensen returned in midfield.
Mosta were also unbeaten in their last three matches, having collected five points from a possible nine at kick off.
The Paolites carved out the better chances in an open first half during which both sides did a lot of running but were little productive.
After 10 minutes, Hibernians threatened when a Lima free kick fell to Edison whose shot was blocked by the Mosta defenders and Lima’s shot on the run from the rebound, was ably turned into a corner by keeper Borg. From the resultant Lima corner, Radusinovic headed wide.
Hibernians went close again nine minutes later. Pearson’s goalbound header on a Lima corner forced keeper Borg to stretch himself and save.
On the half hour Piccioni and Radusinovic chased a long ball inside the Hibernians area. Goalkeeper Balzan rushed off his line to block into a corner.
Then, four minutes from the break, Mosta opened the scoring. The grounded keeper Balzan was beaten after he allowed the ball to bounce in front of him, on a Gian Marco Piccioni powerful free kick from outside the area, as it finished over the line.
Hibernians took only six minutes into the second period to draw level. On a Lima cross from the left, Edison laid the ball in the path of Obinne Obiefule to fire the ball at the top of the net. It was the Nigerian’s 14th league goal of the season.
To their credit, Mosta were not demorilised. On 56 minutes, an inswinging Fernandez free kick from the right was turned into a corner by keeper Balzan with some difficulty.
From that point onwards, the volume went up. Kaljevic galloped down the right flank, going past Tabone Desira, but with Piccioni and Ekani left unmarked inside the Hibernians’ area and with a clearer sight of goal, he opted to take a shot himself, with keeper Balzan again saving well.
Mosta forged ahead again on 68 minutes. Gian Marco Piccioni chased a Kaljevic through ball, avoided Pearson’s sliding tackle and slotted the ball between the goalkeeper and the near post.
Hibernians again restored equilibrium hardly three minutes later. Obiefule chased a long pass from Kristensen but fell when challenged by the onrushing goalkeeper inside the Mosta area. The ball rolled invitingly to Jean Paul Farrugia who slotted it in from close range.
Hibernians almost went in front themselves on 73 minutes. Lima’s shot from a tight angle on the left, clipped the far post.
Mosta could have grabbed the win in the final stages but were twice denied by keeper Balzan who atoned well for his shortcoming in the first goal.
The young Hibernians goalkeeper blocked Piccioni’s effort as he went past Tabone Desira and then again stretched himself to hold out substitute Pereira’s fierce grounder.
In the final anlysis, a draw was a fair result though.