It was a historic night for Maltese football as three Maltese clubs made it through to the next round of the Conference League.

Commanding performance puts Hibernians in third round

Levadia         1

Hibernians    1

Levadia: Karl Andre Vallner, Milan Mitrovic, Maximiliano Ugge, Brent Lepistu, Ernest Agyiri, Robert Kirss, Artur Pikk (Karl Rudolf Oigus), Murad Velijev (73’ Liliu), Zakaria Beglarishvili (64’ Mark Oliver Roosnupp), Ilja Antonov (82’ Rasmus Peetson), Marko Putincanin.

Hibernians: Ibrahim Kone, Ferdinando Apap, Gonzalo Llerena, Jake Grech (85’ Gabriel Mensah), Terence Groothusen (54’ Yunusa Muritala), Jurgen Degabriele, Dunstan Vella, Thaylor Aldama (80’ Zachary Grech), Gabriel Izquier Artiles, Ali Diakite, Rodolfo Soares.

Referee: Henrik Nalbandyan ARM

Local champions Hibernians had a commanding pefomance in tallinn to obtain a deserved draw againt Levadia to go through 4-3 on aggregate where they will now face Latvia’s RFS. Hibernians were the better team creating the better chances in the match.

The Paolites only suffered some pressure in the dying minutes of the match when Levadia pushed everything forward in search of a winner. In the first half Hibernians had a couple of open chances with Groothusen shooting centrally from an ideal position and Artiles was denied by a brilliant Vallner save.

In the second half Levadia gained more territorial superiority but Hibernians were never in danger with Kone never really tested. On the other end Valner made a great save off a Jurgen Degabriele dipper and on 78 minutes the local champions took a deserved lead. Off a Degabriele corner, defender Ferdinando Apap headed home.

But Hibernians’ joy was shortlived as sixty seconds later Levadia drew level when Lilliu made his way on the right and crossed to the unmarked Oigus who slotted home from close range. Levadia were now in full forcing but Hibernians kept their cool and controlled with relative ease to earn a precious draw and qualification.

Maroons through on penalties after dramatic 3-3 draw in Serbia

Radnicki        3

Gzira U           3

(Gzira won 3-1 on penalties)

Radnicki: Filip Dujmovic, Nikola Stulic (62’ Branislav Tomic), Aleksandar Pejovic, Lazar Arsic (62’ Aleksandar Mesaro), Stefan Dimic (62’ Ryohei Michibuchi), Nemanja Jovicic, Anton Tolordava, Lazar Jovanovic, Maka Gakou (91’ Nikola Stajic), Sava Petrov, Nikola Aksentijevic.

Gzira U: Darijan Radelic Zarkov, Gabriel Boihrer Mentz, Luke Tabone (89’ Brooklyn Borg), Nikolai Muscat (90+5’ Steve Pisani), Zach Scerri (90+5’ Emmanuel Mbong) (120’ Andrew Borg), Marcelo Dias, Clive Gauci (66’ Jackson Mendoza), Toni Kolega (66’ Maxuell Maia), Ricardo Correa Duarte, Marko Cosic, Jefferson de Assis.

Referee: Andrei Chivulete (Romania)

Gzira United played a great part in Malta’s historic night yesterday when they managed to qualify after a penalty shoot-out against Serbia’s Radnicki. After the 2-2 draw at Ta’ Qali last week, Gzira played their hearts out and for three times came back from behind for a spectacular 3-3 at the end of 120 minutes. Penalties had to decide the outcome with Radnicki missing three from the first four taken, with Gzira scoring all their three penalties to go through to the third round.

Tolordava put Radnicki in front on fifteen minutes but sixty seconds later Jefferson De Assis drew level. On 77 minutes Petrov again put Radnicki in front, but when all seemed lost Jefferson obtained a dramatic equaliser in the twelfth minute of stoppage time. In extra time Radnicki were awarded a penalty and Pejovic made no mistake from the spot. With three minutes to go Maxuell Maia gave Gzira the thrid equaliser forcing the penalty shoot-out.

Pejovic, Michibuchi and Petrov missed for Radnicki, with Maxuell, Mendoza and Steve Pisani scoring for the Maroons to give Darren Abdilla’s side a historic qualification.

 

Spartans complete Malta’s magical night with another victory over Velez

Hamrun S        1

Velez Mostar   0

Ħamrun S.: H. Bonello, S. Borg, E. Marcelina, O. Bjelicic (80’ R. Callegari), J. Corbolan, R. Prsa, M. Guillaumier (80’ M. Fedele) , R. Camenzuli, J. Robert (62’ I. Nedeljkovic), E. Sukisa (62’ M. Balla Sowe), D. Soares

FK Velez Mostar: S. Bogdanovic, A. Barjic, F. Ikic, S. Zeljkovic, E. Halilovic (39’ A. Pavic), O. Prses, S. Radovac (56’ N. Andjusic) , Hasanovic, M. Cosic (69’ A. Dejanovic), N. Haskic, D. Pantelic (68’ E. Vehabovic)

Referee: Juri Frischer (Estonia)

Hamrun Spartans again defeated Velez Mostar yesterday at Ta’ Qali to qualify on a 2-0 aggregate. In front of yet another bumper crowd the Spartans notched another victory in the Europa Conference League to go to the third round.

Hamrun had a great start taking a fifteen minute lead through Jonny Robert. Sixty seconds later Velez were unlucky when a Zeljkovic shot hit the crossbar.

Hamrun went close again on the half hour through Matthew Guillaumier who missed a great opportunity and minutes later Dodo went close again for the Spartans. Hamrun were unlucky before the break when a Jonny effort slammed against the upright.

In the second half as expected Velez made a last ditch effort to came back in the contest but Hamrun defended well, passing through to some anxious moments, but in the end they fully deserved the victory and a passage to the third round.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina