Hibernians          3

Levadia Tallinn   2

Hibernians: I. Kone, Z. Grech, L. Bravo, R. Soares, F. Apap, D. Vella, J. Grech (A. Attard 77’), A. Diakite, G. Artiles, J. Degabriele (G. Mensah 91’), T. Groothusen (Y. Muritala 77’).

Levadia: K. Vallner, M. Mitrovic, M. Ugge, R. Peetson (I. Antonov 77’), M. Roosnupp, B. Lepistu, Lilliu (R. Kirss 53’), E. Agyiri, A. Pikk, Z. Beglashvili (M. Valijev 77’), M. Putincanin.

Referee: Volen Chinkov (Bulgaria)

Scorers: F. Apap 17’, J. Degabriele 13’, M. Ugge 87’, Y. Muritala 90’, E. Agyiri 94’.

Yellow cards: B. Lepistu, Z. Grech, L. Bravo

 

Two late goals scored by Levadia foiled Hibernians brilliant first half as the local champions had to settle down for a slender 3-2 victory. Hibernians completely dominated their opponents in the first half building a deserved two-goal cushion.

However in the second half Levadia slowly took control of the match as the local champions tired out and were a struggling lot in the final phase of the game. Levadia are physically more prepared as they are in mid-season having already played 19 games in their league.

The qualification is still wide open as Hibernians will take this lead to the Estonian capital in the hope of preserving this lead. Hibernians started like a hous on fire with Artiles hitting the side netting on five minutes and with a Jake Grech dipper just missing the target.

On 17 minutes Hibernians took a deserved lead when from a Degabriele corner Ferdinando Apap headed home. Six minutes later Hibernians doubled their lead when a Vella shot hit the beas of the upright and from the rebound Jurgen Degabriele headed home.

It looked so easy for Hibernians as they continued to dictate going close with shots from Artiles and Diakite and with Apap missing a great opportunity in front of goal.

On the resumption Hibernians let the initiative to the more prepared opponents who slowly but surely took control of the game. Hibernians tried to control the game and their goalkeeper Kone was rarely tested.

However on 70 minutes he pulled great save off Agyiri. In the last ten minutes of the game the Hibernians players were in apparent physical difficulty and on 87 minutes defender Ugge pulled one back when he headed home an Agyiri corner.

Hibernians however still had the power to fight back and re-established their two goal cushion on 90 minutes when substitute Muritala drove home from an acute angle.

Levadia did not throw in the towel and threw everything in attack in the remaining minutes and on 94 minutes Agyiri managed to put the ball at the back of the net for a great setback for the local champions.