Pembroke Athleta notched a late equaliser to stop ten-man Hibernians from registering a fifth consecutive win, holding them in a 1-1 draw at the Hibernians Stadium on Saturday.
Despite playing for almost an hour in ten men after having a player sent off, Hibs managed to take the lead early in the second half and seemed heading for victory but Pembroke had other ideas and levelled matters in added time.
Both coaches several changes from their last game. Winston Muscat replaced Miguel Attard, Peter Paul Sammut and Ariel Laudisi with Alex Cini, Leighton Grech and Gustavo Villalobos. On the other hand, Hibs coach Branko Nisevic named Jonathan Pearson and Joseph Mbong in the starting line-up, naming Rui da Gracia Gomes and Marcelo Dias among the substitutes.
The Paolites were reduced to ten men on 32 minutes after Andrei Agius was sent off by Andorran referee Luis do Nascimento.
However they still managed to break the deadlock on 58 minutes through a header by Jorge da Silva Pereira following a Clayton Failla freekick from the right.
One minute in added time, Pembroke notched the equaliser when off a fine move by Siraj Arab on the left flank, the ball reached Austin Martz who slammed the ball home past goalkeeper Rudy Briffa.
PEMBROKE Mario Muscat, Zoran Levnajic, Alex Cini, Louis Cutajar (9′ Rennie Tanti), Owen Bugeja, Leighton Grech, Paltemio Barbetti (78′ Siraj Arab Eddin), Gustavo Villalobos, Kyle O’Brien, Austin Martz, James Togbah (68′ Ariel Laudisi).
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Lyden Micallef, Miguel Attard, Tyron Fenech.
Coach: Winston MuscatHIBS Rudy Briffa, Jonathan Pearson, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Rodolfo Soares, Andrew Cohen (76′ Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro), Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Andrei Agius, Joseph Essien Mbong (67′ Marcelo Dias), Jorge da Silva Pereira, Jorge Santos Silva.
Subs not used: Jurgen Borg, Rui da Gracia Gomes, Jurgen Degabriele, Zach Scerri, David Xuereb.
Coach: Branko NisevicReferee: Luis do Nascimento
Assistant Referees: Pedro Carvalho Alexis Terrazo
Fourth Official: Ignasi Villamayor
Yellow Cards: Pearson, Togbah, Agius, Failla, Briffa
Red Cards: 32′ Andrei Agius
Scorers: 58′ Jorge da Silva Pereira
BOV Player of the Match: Jorge da Silva Pereira
Attendance: 925