Draw takes Hibernians down a notch

Champions Hibernians had to settle for a draw against lowly Naxxar Lions, and drop to fourth place in the standings, overtaken by Valletta.

Hibernians had enough to win the game, after fighting their way back from a goal down, and having two goals disallowed, the second in very controversial circumstances. Still, they did not look clinical enough to down Naxxar who gritted their teeth, stuck out their chest and hung in for the kind of point that is winning them a new sort of admiration, despite playing with ten men for the last quarter hour.

It was just as well Hibernians’ defence had some ragged moments of their own in a very open game.

The champions had Marcelo Dias and Rui Gomes back after suspension, but dropped both Jackson Lima and Jurgen Degabriele to the bench, with Dunstan Vella starting in midfield.

Naxxar also had Ndoye Ousseynou returning in the side, keeping cover in front of the defence.

They were the first to take a surprise lead after only seven minutes when Scott Fenwick took advantage of some soft defending by Rui Gomes, on a high ball inside his area, and headed over the onrushing keeper Hogg.

The Lions dropped deeper with the one-goal advantage as the game progressed, inviting Hibernians to attack.

But the champions were struggling to get any meaningful possession. They were strangely lacklustre, offering only a muted response, until they levelled matters midway through the half. Failla had his effort rebounding off the bar and the ball fell invitingly to Jorge Elias to head in from close range.

Past the half hour, Jorge Elias netted again from a Failla free kick but the goal was disallowed for an offside position.

On 37 minutes Hogg produced a smart save off Falzon’s powerful shot. And there was more controversy before half time. Naxxar’s penalty claims, for Rui Gomes’ push on Falzon inside the area, were turned down by the referee, who also ruled out another Hibernians goal, after Vella scored from a Dias cross, because another ball lay inside the Naxxar area, deemed to have been interfering with play.

Soon after the restart, a Falzon meaty free kick was repelled by Hogg.

Indeed Naxxar, with their speedy front pairing of Fenwick and Falzon, looked the likelier to score again.

After a lull in proceedings, Hibernians tried to stir things up with the introduction of Johan Bezzina for Rui Gomes past the hour. Mendes deflected the substitute’s free kick into a corner and a Sahanek grounder was blocked by Naxxar keeper Nicht.

Jurgen Degabriele went in for Kristensen but on 76 minutes, Naxxar were down to ten men after Mendy was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The champions increased their efforts, with a Failla free kick held out by the alert keeper Nicht, who also blocked a low Dias effort from inside the area.

Jorge Elias also shot over from a promising position and Dias scuffed the glaring of chances in added time as he blasted the ball over, in front of a gaping goal.

Such wastefulness proved costly for the Paolites at the end.