A goal deep into stoppage time enabled Hibernians to beat Gudja United 2-1 at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Sunday to ensure they stay on top of the BOV Premier League table together with Birkirkara and Valletta with maximum points from two matches.
Gudja, on the other hand, suffer their second defeat and share the bottom spot with champions Hamrun Spartans.
Following the defeat to Sirens, Gudja had four changes as Louis Beland-Goyette, Tensior Gusman, Llywelyn Cremona and Farid Romero Zuniga replaced Ito Yasukaze, Ruslan Kisil, Hubert Vella and Junior Dibola Diwoto. For Hibs, on the other hand, Dunstan Vella was preferred to Ayrton Attard.
The Paolites took the lead on the 38th minute thanks to Gabriel Izquier Artiles who hit home off a cross from the right by Erjon Beu.
Wilfried Domoraud could have doubled the score for Hibernians but had an attempt which hit the upright.
Five minutes in the second half, Gudja equalised when Tensior Gusman advanced on the flank before serving Gabriel Mensah who hit home past Ibrahim Kone.
Gabriel Izquier was unlucky to hit the crossbar for Hibernians and later it was Leandro Almeida who hit the woodwork but six minutes in added time, Hibs notched the winner thanks to Jake Grech whose conclusion from inside the area was deflected by a defender past goalkeeper Glenn Zammit.
HIBS Ibrahim Kone, Ferdinando Apap, Leandro Almeida, Sergio Raphael dos Anjos (90+2′ Ayrton Attard), Jake Grech, Dunstan Vella, Erjon Beu (90+6 Timothy Tabone Desira), Brian Thaylor Lubanzadio Aldama (85′ Zachary Karl Grech, Andrei Agius, Gabriel Izquier Artiles, Wilfried Domoraud.
Coach: Stefano SanderraGUDJA Glenn Zammit, Louis Beland-Goyette, Rodolfo Soares, Tensior Gusman (67′ Junior Dibola), Llywelyn Cremona, Filip Pankarican (78′ Hubert Vella), Gabriel Mensah, Neil Tabone (83′ Neil Anthony Micallef), Farid Romero Zuniga, Justin Grioli, Igor Dudarev.
Coach: Thane MicallefReferee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Vasil Vasilev
Fourth Official: Slobodan Petrovic
Yellow Cards: N. Tabone, L. Almeida, Sergio Raphael, L. Cremona, J. Dibola, J. Grech
BOV Player of the Match: Gabriel Mensah