360sports Malta Premier 2024/25 – MD32
Żabbar St Patrick…..2
Hibernians…..2
Żabbar St Patrick and Hibernians each walked away with a point in the opening match of the bottom six this weekend, meaning both teams maintained their respective positions in the league standings.
In the first half, Żabbar St Patrick took the lead in the 11th minute. The move began down the right flank, with Oliveira delivering a well-timed pass to Gambarte, who found himself unmarked inside the box. He struck low, and the ball slipped beneath goalkeeper Sanchez to give Żabbar an early advantage. Just three minutes later, Hibernians responded with a threatening move down the left side. Captain Kristensen squared the ball to Degabriele, who was also free inside the penalty area, but Żabbar goalkeeper Dod was alert and blocked the striker’s effort. In the 24th minute, Hibernians came close again, this time from a left-wing cross by Shaw. Degabriele volleyed first-time, and his shot narrowly missed the upright.
In the 27th minute, Żabbar were forced into their first substitution when Davey sustained an injury and was replaced by Grech. Five minutes later, Grech was involved again, sending in a good delivery toward Ilic inside the box, but the Hibernians defender reacted quickly to clear the danger. Then, in the 35th minute, Żabbar doubled their lead. A costly mistake by Sanchez, who hesitated on a clearance, allowed Ilic to steal the ball and tap into an empty net. In the final moments of the half, Żabbar’s De Paiva tried his luck from distance on the left, but Sanchez this time made a solid save.
At the start of the second half, Hibernians made their first substitution, replacing goalkeeper Sanchez with Sacco. In the 55th minute, Żabbar responded with a double change, bringing on Keqi and Santos in place of Oliveira and Ilic. Just two minutes later, Hibernians had a chance to pull one back when Villela Iapert fired from close range on the left, but his shot went straight at Dod. In the 61st minute, Hibernians finally found the net through Villela Iapert. His shot struck the upright but rebounded into goal past Dod, who was unable to stop it.
In the 66th minute, referee Joseph Scerri booked Żabbar goalkeeper Dod for delaying a goal kick. Then, in the 72nd minute, Żabbar’s Gambarte received a yellow card for a reckless challenge. One minute later, Żabbar made another double substitution, with Micallef and Jovicic replacing Gatt and Gambarte, respectively.
In the 78th minute, Hibernians grabbed the equaliser. Silas made a run down the right and struck a powerful shot, catching Dod slightly out of position. The Żabbar keeper failed to stop the effort as the ball flew into the net. Two minutes later, in the 80th minute, Hibernians head coach Branko Nisevic made two changes, introducing Eviparker and Abela for Degabriele and Silas.
Żabbar nearly regained the lead in the 86th minute when Santos fired a shot from the edge of the box, but Sacco reacted well and saved. In stoppage time, Hibernians made a fourth substitution, sending on Portelli in place of Sorokin. The match ended in a draw, with both sides sharing the points.
Player of the Match: Stefan Ilic (Żabbar St Patrick)
Referee: Joseph Scerri
Żabbar St Patrick:
Lukas Dod (GK, 66’ YC), Sean Gatt (73’ Jake Micallef), Brian Ariel Gambarte (72’ YC, 73’ Dorder Jovicic), Stefan Ilic (55’ Marcelo Barros Santos), Antonio Pio Iervolino, Akpan Izaak Etim, Strahinja Jovancic, Isaac Thomas James Davey (27’ Zachary Grech), Vinicius De Paiva, Dion Fava (C), David Oliveira Souza (55’ Kristian Keqi)
Hibernians:
Pablo Sanchez Nino (GK, 46’ Hugo Sacco), Alfred Hamanjoda Silas (80’ Lyon Abela), Kurt Shaw, Lucas Villela Iapert, Jurgen Degabriele (80’ Timothy Abiodun Eviparker), Bjorn Kristensen (C), Isaiah Chukunyere, Stanislav Sorokin (90+ Jake Portelli), Apostolos Ilias Martinis, Matthew Ellul, Rui Bruno Fragoso Monteiro Ribeiro
