A goal by Andrei Agius nine minutes in the second half handed Hibernians a narrow win over Sliema Wanderers at the Hibernians Stadium on Saturday to move back to just two points behind leaders Hamrun Spartans.
This was the third consecutive win for the Paolites and the second consecutive defeat for the Wanderers who now share third place with Gzira United, six points behind Hamrun and five behind Hibs.
On the 11th minute, Hibernians seemed to have taken the lead when off a Jurgen Degabriele freekick from the left, Leandro Almeida’s header hit the crossbar with the ball bouncing beyond the goal line but the referee waved play.
However, the Paolites managed to break the deadlock nine minutes in the second half when Jake Grech served Andrei Agius who exchanged the ball with Dunstan Vella before beating Jake Galea with a low shot.
HIBS Matthew Calleja Cremona, Ferdinando Apap, Leandro Almeida, Ayrton Attard, Jake Grech, Jurgen Degabriele (88’ Jose Wilkson Teixeira ), Bjorn Kristensen (63’ Shola Shodiya), Dunstan Vella, Gabriel Izquier Artiles, Andrei Agius, Imanol Iriberri.
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Matthew Ellul, Edafe Uzeh, Zachary Karl Grech, Brite Anayochi Ihuomah.
Coach: Stefano SanderraSLIEMA Jake Galea, Alex Satariano (63’ Riki Kakinuma), Kurt Shaw, Alessandro Milesi, John Mintoff (75’ Dejan Vukovic), Juri Cisotti, 15-Denilson Pereira (26’ Edmond Agius), Ruslan Kisil (74’ Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro), Gabriel Aquilina, Jean Paul Farrugia, Myles Beerman.
Subs not used: Timothy Aquilina, Jake Engerer, Jean Borg.
Coach: Andrea PisanuReferee: Ishmael Barbara
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Alan Camilleri
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: G. Aquilina, K. Shaw, A. Milesi, A. Agius, A. Attard
BOV Player of the Match: Andrei Agius