St. Andrews earn first point after holding Hibs in a draw

After suffering nineteen defeats in first nineteen matches, bottom-placed St. Andrews collected their first point in the BOV Premier League after holding champions Hibernians in a 2-2 draw.

Hibs struggled to break the deadlock and it was only a penalty which put them ahead. The Saints were quick to level matters through another penalty. A goal on the ninetieth seemed to hand Hibs the three points but St. Andrews have other thoughts, notching the equaliser in stoppage time. For the Paolites, this result is definitely a major disappointment as a win would have put them alone on top the BOV Premier League table and now share the top spot with Valletta who however have a game in hand.

Hibs coach Branko Nisevic could not count on Andrei Agius, Rui da Gracia Gomes, Diosdado Mbele, Marcelo Dias and Jorge da Silva Pereira but this is still no excuse. Edison Luis dos Santos made his comeback after being included as a substitute.

Following a goalless first half, the Paolites took the lead on the 55th when they were warded a penalty after Sorin Oproiescu brought Jurgen Degabriele down inside the area; Clayton Failla made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Two minutes later, Joseph Essien Mbong floored Matteo Desira Buttigieg inside the Hibs area and captain Joseph Farrugia converted for St. Andrews to level matters.

Hibs made it 2-1 on the 90th thanks to a great freekick by Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro which saw the ball hit the upright before ending at the back of the net.

However it was not over yet as two minutes in added time, Joseph Farrugia restored equilibrium when off a cross from the right, he slotted the ball past goalkeeper Rudy Briffa.

ST ANDREWS Jake Galea, Enmy Manuel Pena’ Beltre, Dale Camilleri, Bong Won Che, Jonatan Perez Cuesta, Sorin Oproiescu (90′ Jacob Walker), Matteo Desira Buttigieg (65′ Kyrian Nwoko), Joseph Farrugia, Chinatu Francis Onwudinjo, Michel Wisdom Salomon (90′ Michael Johsnon), Eloy Edu Nkene.
Subs not used: Dorian Bugeja, Clyde Cumbo, Liam Grech, Ryan Sammut.
Coach: Josè Borg

HIBS Rudy Briffa, Jonathan Pearson (88′ Jean Paul Farrugia), Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Rodolfo Soares, Andrew Cohen, Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Jurgen Degabriele (77′ Denni Rocha dos Santos), Joseph Essien Mbong (59′ Edison Luis Dos Santos), Gilmar Da Silva Ribeiro, Jorge Santos Silva.
Subs not used: Jurgen Borg, David Xuereb, Zach Scerri, Dunstan Vella.
Coach: Branko Nisevic

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Peter Abela
Additional Assistant Referees: Esther Azzopardi, Etienne Mangion
Fourth Official: Sammy Attard
Yellow Cards: Pearson, Gilmar, Soares, Pena Beltre, Oproiescu
Scorers: 56′ Clayton Failla pen, 57′ Joseph Farrugia pen, 90′ Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, 90+2′ Joseph Farrugia
BOV Player of the Match: Jake Galea

4 comments

  1. Tal-misthija Hibs!Maqlugha barra mit-trophy u issa dan ir-rizultat. Naraw nispiccawx barra mill-Ewropa wkoll.Tassew haqqu prosit lil min kien il-bravu li wara li tnehha Henry Bonello ddecieda li ma jingiebx goalkeeper ta’ esperjenza kif dejjem kellhom il-Hibs matul is-snin.

  2. Ma tlifnix tort tal-goaler ghax ma kellu ebda tort fil-goals. Nahseb ikun ahjar li naraw l-izbalji tal-kowc fl-ghazla tat-tim u s-sostituzzjonijiet banali li jghamel.

    1. Ma kontx qieghed nirreferi ghal din il-loghba partikulari meta semmejt il-htiega ta’ goalkeeper imma kien hemm okkazjonijiet ohra fil-league li goalkeeper ahjar seta’ salva whud mill-goals li qlajna u forsi kieku ghandna izjed punti.Il-goalers li hemm ghad jitjiebu b’izjed loghob imma meta tkun qed tiggieled ghal-league trid goaler ta’ esperjenza li jaghti kunfidenza lid-difiza kollha. Dwar il-coach naqbel mieghek mija fil-mija. Niftakar meta kien coach tal-under 19 tal-MFA.

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