Hibernians staged a brilliant comeback as they scored four goals in the final thirty minutes to turn a two-goal deficit into a 5-3 win over Gżira United at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Monday.
It was a highly entertaining clash with the two teams sharing the exchanges for most of the game but with the Paolites showing greater determination in the final half hour to turn defeat into victory in style.
Hibernians had Joao Teixeira making his debut with goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu, Aiden Zammit, Pablo Alves and Pablo Cacho making their first league appearance.
On the other hand, new Gżira coach Clive Mizzi had new signings goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo, Pablo Fonseca, Clayton Failla, Jork Becerra, Marc Van de Bovemkamp, Johan Bonilla and Kante all in the starting line-up.
Hibernians took the lead on 32 minutes thanks to Jurgen Degabriele who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Colombo following a cross by Lucas Villela from the right.
The Maroons levelled matters on 45 minutes. Jork Becerra intercepted a pass by a defender and delivered a cross from the left with Maxuell Maia tapping the ball in the direction of Johan Bonilla who beat goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu.
Gzira made it 2-1 four minutes in the second half when off a freekick by Clayton Failla from the right, there was a deflection with Johan Bonilla and Kante having shots blocked by the former took the rebound and beat Branescu with a powerful shot in the top left corner.
The Maroons extended the lead on 56 minutes. Clayton Failla sent Kante through and goalkeeper Branescu collided with Pedrao in an attempt to stop the Gżira forward. Maxuell Maia returned the ball to Kante who had a first attempt blocked by a defender before placing the ball at the back of the net.
Both Branescu and Pedrao abandoned the pitch injured.
Hibernians reduced the gap on 63 minutes thanks to Pedro Cacho whose first time effort from outside the area following a clearance by Gabriel Mentz gave Colombo no chance.
Three minutes later, a cross by Alfred Silas Hamajoda from the right reached Lucas Villela who slotted the ball past Edoardo Colombo.
Hibs made it 4-3 on 85 minutes courtesy of Miullen who received a through ball by Villela and beat the Gzira goalkeeper with a diagonal shot and one minute from time, the Paolites scored the fifth goal when Lucas Villela took advantage of some poor defending by the Maroons’ rear-guard and hit low past the helpless Colombo.