Hibernians scored five minutes in added-time to beat Qormi 2-1 at the National Stadium and return to winning ways after a highly-disappointing loss to Mosta in their last outing.
For Qormi, it was yet another heart-breaking defeat after losing to Balzan with another goal on the 90th two weeks ago.
The Paolites had three changes from the team which lost to Mosta as Jurgen Borg, Andrei Agius and Denni replaced Rudy Briffa, Jonathan Pearson and Jorginho. Qormi caretaker coach Johann Scicluna, on the other hand, maintained faith in the same eleven players as the last game against Balzan.
Hibs managed to take the lead on the 37th when off a cross by Failla, Noah Ojuola tried to clear the ball but this reached Andrew Cohen who placed the ball at the back of the net.
One minute from time, Alex Nilsson was unlucky not to equalise, hitting the upright for Qormi.
Qormi however managed to level matters on the 73rd when off a Carlo Monti freekick, there was a clearance by a defender but the ball hit Ousmane Sidibe, ending at the back of the net.
Five minutes in added time, Hibernians notched the winner when a Jurgen Degabiele close-range effort was turned into a corner by substitute goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella and from the resulting corner, Andrei Agius headed the ball home.
QORMI Andreas Vella (86′ Jean Matthias Vella), Alessio Cassar, Ousmane Sidibe, Noah Olawole Ojuola, Billy Velo Berntsson, Steve Agius, Clifford Gauci, Kurt Magro (72′ Emerson Vella), Carlo Gordon Monti, Ryan Micallef (46′ Terence Vella), Alexander Nilsson.
Subs not used: Karl Sciortino, Edward Falzon, Sorin Virgil Oproiescu, Clayton Casha.
Coach: Johann SciclunaHIBS Jurgen Borg, Rui da Gracia Gomes, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Rodolfo Soares (29′ Jonathan Pearson), Marcelo Dias, Andrew Cohen, Bjorn Kristensen (82′ Jurgen Degabriele), Clayton Failla, Denni Rocha dos Santos (71′ Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro), Andrei Agius, Jorge Santos Silva.
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Daniel Buckle, Jonathan Pearson, Zach Scerri, Joseph Mbong.
Coach: Branko NisevicReferee: Glen Tonna
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Luke Portelli
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: T. Vella, Rui, Agius, E. Vella, A. Agius
Scorers: 37′ Andrew Cohen, 73′ Ousmane Sidibe, 90+5′ Andrei Agius
BOV Player of the Match: Billy Berntsson
At the Victor Tedesco Stadium, two substitutes were on target as Tarxien Rainbows came back from one goal down to beat Pembroke Athleta 2-1.
A win which enables Jacques Scerri’s side to move seventh, two points ahead of his former team Pembroke.
Tarxien had four changes as Timothy Tabone Desira, Matthew Tabone, Danilo Meira Santos and Ayrton Azzopardi replaced Daniel Zerafa, Luke Montebello and the suspended Alex de Paixao Alves and Carlos Menendez Hevia. For Pembroke, Siraj Eddin Arab replaced the injured Leighton Grech.
Pembroke took the lead on the 14th minute when off a Kyle O’Brien effort was deflected by a defender and off the rebound, Ariel Laudisi slammed the ball past the Tarxien goalkeeper.
Tarxien equalised on the 61st when Lucky Omeruo sent Luke Montebello through and the latter’s low shot beat goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.
Thirteen minutes from time, the Rainbows notched the winner when off an Oliveira corner, Daniel Zerafa headed the ball home past the Pembroke goalkeeper.
PEMBROKE Matthew Farrugia, Zoran Levnajic, Alex Cini, Rennie Tanti (79′ Lydon Micallef), Owen Bugeja, Paltemio Barbetti, Kyle O’Brien, Siraj Arab Eddin (70’ Gibson Bardsley), Ariel Laudisi, Gustavo Villalobos Carabajal, Austin Martz.
Subs not used: Mario Muscat, Miguel Attard, Tyron Fenech, Peter Paul Sammut, Geoffrey Spiteri.
Coach: Winston MuscatTARXIEN Andre Cassar, Ebiabowei Baker (55’ Daniel Zerafa), Manuel Caruana, Bruno Giglio de Oliviera, Timothy Tabone Desira, Tristan Caruana, Danilo Meira Santos (52’ Luke Montebello), Ayrton Azzopardi, Lucky Omeruo, Matthew Tabone (66’ Brandon Muscat), Joao Pedro Oliviera Santos.
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Roderick Bajada, Gaetano Gesualdi, Ren Mizugashira.
Coach: Jacques ScerriReferee: Sandro Spiteri
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow cards: Pedrinho, O’Brien, Villalobos, M. Caruana
Scorers: 14’ Ariel Laudisi, 61’ Luke Montebello, 77’ Daniel Zerafa
BOV Player of the Match: Austin Martz