Hibernians 3
Mosta 1
Hibernians
M. Calleja Cremona
F. Apap
J. Wemmer
L. Da Silveira
J. Mbong
J. Grech (J. Santos Silva 72)
D. Vella
G. Izquier
E. Dos Santos (T. Tabone Desira 66)
A. Agius
I. Iriberri
Mosta
A .Vella
G. Aquilina
T. Agius (L. Formosa 90)
T. Yokochi
W. Gomes
R. Morisco
C. Chaney
T. Farrugia
DJ Brown (Z. Brincat 72)
JC Augusto
M. Muchardi
Referee: E. Mangion
Asst refs: A. Camilleri, D. Spencer
4th official: A. M. Sant
Scorers: G. Aquilina 7, J. Grech 17, J. Mbong 32, I. Iriberri 82
Yellow cards: R. Morisco 58, T. Tabone Desira 73,
Red card: R. Morisco 58, L. De Oliveira 62.
BOV Player of the match: J. Mbong
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Mbong, 2. I. Iriberri, 3. D. Vella
Attendance: 529
Hibernians turned a one-goal deficit into a 3-1 win yesterday as they beat a gallant Mosta side to remain within striking distance of the leading duo.
Mosta had opened the scoring through Gabriel Aquilina after seven minutes, but by the end of the first half, the Paolites had already turned the result in their favour with goals from Jake Grech and Joseph Mbong. A late strike by Imanol Iriberri assured them of the three points.
The Paolites remained third in the standings on 34 points, just one point behind Floriana, who were surprisingly beaten by Gudja yesterday, and Valletta, who can become the new league leaders if they win or draw today's match against Birkirkara.
Mosta remained ninth in mid-table on 22 points.
The first half was characterised by the sheer determination of the Paola lads who turned the result in their favour after suffering an early goal.
In fact, Mosta dominated the opening minutes and also took the lead through a good goal.
After that they were forced to retreat in their own area and after several efforts, it was no surprise that the Paolites equalised.
It then became an onslaught on the Mosta goal as the Paolites roared and raged around the Blues' area until they eventually got a second goal from Joseph Mbong who is returning to his best form.
In the second half, Mosta tried to get back on level terms as they took the initiative with the Paolites seemingly content with their slender lead.
In fact, they had to defend for most of the time - though with no risks - before they eventually scored the reassuring eight minutes from the end.
In the opening minutes, Mosta took Hibernians by storm as they searched for an early goal which arrived in the 7th minute, when Gabriel Aquilina received the ball in the area from a good pass by Eric Chaney, controlled it well and hit home a rising shot which beat goalie Matthew Calleja Cremona all ends up.
Hibs retaliated and on 15 minutes, Dunstan Vella was through in the area, but his effort was partially blocked by goalie Vella and then cleared away by Farrugia.
Two minutes later, goalie Vella was in action again to collect the ball from a dangerous Joseph Mbong cross.
The goal was in the air and it was no surprise that Jake Grech beat Vella with a low shot for the leveller.
On 19 minutes, from an Izquier cross, Dunstan Vella's header was well saved by the diving Andreas Vella in the Mosta goal.
On the 30th minute, the Paolites threatened again through Edison Luis Dos Santos who received a good pass from Grech only to see his effort going just wide.
Two minutes later, Hibernians took the lead. Joseph Mbong made the most of a defensive lapse to dribble round two defenders before blasting the ball past the onrushing goalie Vella.
Before the interval whistle, Mbong had another good effort well saved by goalie Vella.
Mosta ended in 10 men 13 minutes into the second half when Rafael Morisco was shown a yellow card by Mr Mangion. He started clapping and the official quickly showed him the red card.
Three minutes later, an Iriberri cross found the unmarked Dunstan Vella, but his effort was brilliantly punched away by goalie Vella.
In the 62nd minute, numerical parity was restored as Hibernians also ended up in 10 men. It was Leandro Da Silveira who was shown the red card after a 'last man' foul on Christian Eric Chaney just outside the area.
Hibs went very close to adding a third goal on 76 minutes when substitute Jorge Santos Silva lobbed the ball goalwards from outside the area and goalie Andreas Vella effected a miraculous save as he leapt backwards managing to turn the ball to a corner from just underneath the crossbar.
Moments later, they again went close through Imanol Iriberri who was thwarted by the upright despite beating Vella.
Iriberri was more successful in the 82nd minute when he received a cross from Timothy Tabone Desira to tap the ball home from close range.
Just before the end, Tabone Desira was thwarted by goalie Vella who did well to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.