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Lowenbrau Cup
Match Reports
| Lowenbrau Cup |
|---|
 | 10/07/2002, Hibernians Ground - Corradino Sliema Wanderers vs Hibernians FC2-3 (HT 2-2) |  |
| SLIEMA | Murphy Akanji, Ian Ciantar, Brian Said, Joe Brincat, Noel Turner, Kevin Sammut, Danilo Doncic, David Camilleri, Nenad Veselji (67' Stefan Zahra), Chris Okoh, Rupert Mangion. |
| HIBS | Mario Muscat, Kevin Cassar (67' Simon Zerafa), Branko Nisevic, Aaron Xuereb, Wilfred Spiteri (46' Antoine Zahra), Adrian Ciantar, Essien Mbong, Adrian Mifsud, Ndubisi Chukunyere, Roderick Baldacchino, Adrian Pulis. |
| Referee | Mark Spiteri |
| Assistant Referees | Charles Micallef, Kevin Azzopardi |
| Yellow Cards | 48' A. Ciantar, 69' Turner |
| Scorer: | 10' Branko Nisevic (H) 27' Adrian Mifsud penalty (H) 38' Nenad Veselji (S) 45+' Kevin Sammut (S) 91' Adrian Pulis (H) |
| A goal by Adrian Pulis in stoppage time gave Hibernians a 3-2 win over Sliema Wanderers in the second match of the Lowenbrau Cup. Therefore after losing the first game against Birkirkara, the Paolites are back in contention for the first honour of the season.
It was also a win which should act as a morale booster in view of next week's Champions League First Qualifying Round home tie against Shelbourne of Ireland. The Paolites had four changes from the team which lost to Birkirkara two days ago with Cassar, Nisevic, Xuereb and Chukunyere replacing Zerafa, Zahra, Scerri and Vella. Sliema Wanderers, on the other hand, for the first time under the guidance of coach Edward Aquilina paraded their new signings - Chris Okoh and Joe Brincat. Stefan Zahra returned for the Blues after being loaned to Hamrun mid-way through last season. In the first half, Hibernians were the better side in the early stages with the Blues creating some chances through counter-attacks. Off a cross Kevin Sammut from right, Doncic could only deflect the ball slightly and Veselji hit wide on nine minutes but a minute later, Hibernians took the lead. Off a corners by Kevin Cassar from the right, Branko Nisevic rose high to head home past Sliema goalie Murphy Akanji. Sliema went close on 18 minutes when off a cross from the right by Noel Turner, Nenad Veselji failed to connect from close range. Two minutes later, Hibs went close to doubling the score. Chukunyere intercepted a back-pass by Ian Ciantar from the right but his goal-bound shot was blocked on the goalline by Brian Said. Hibernians kept increasing pressure on the Sliema defence and Adrian Mifsud was floored inside the area by Brian Said on 27 minutes. From the penalty spot, Mifsud made no mistake. Sliema replied with a poor shot by Doncic from inside the area which was blocked by a defender. However seven minutes from the end of the first half, the Wanderers reduced the gap. Danilo Doncic sent Nenad Veselji through and the latter flicked the ball past Muscat. Mario Muscat came to the rescue for Hibs turning into a corner a fine shot by Ian Ciantar from outside the area but in stoppage time, he could do nothing to stop Kevin Sammut from equalising. Rupert Mangion chested the ball down inside the area following a pass by Brincat and served Sammut who hit low past Muscat. Two minutes in the second half, Pulis managed to clear into a corner an insidious cross by Brincat from the right before Doncic could conclude. Chukunyere was a constant menace for the Sliema defence and on 62 minutes, he went close as he rounded Akanji but his angled shot sailed parallel to the goalline and the chance was missed. On the other side of the pitch, Doncic created havoc inside the Hibs area but after dribbling a number of players, he wasted too much time and tried a lob which Muscat blocked. Off the rebound, Sammut's effort was cleared into safety by a defender. On 78 minutes, Chris Okoh tried his luck with a powerful shot from inside the area but his conclusion ended wide. Two minutes later, Akanji performed a brilliant save on a fine effort by Chukunyere from close range. As the game seemed heading for a 2-2 draw, Hibernians notched the three points when off a freekick from the left by Ciantar, Adrian Pulis was at the right place at the right time to head the ball past Akanji to the joy of the Hibernians supporters. | |
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