Title will be decided on last day as Hibernians defeat Senglea
Hibernians kept their title winning hopes alive and kicking when in a tricky match they defeated strugglers Senglea by two first half goals.
It was a merited win for the Paolites with the title race and the even the relegation issue going down to the wire.
Hibernians were seeking to return to winning ways after last week’s debacle when they lost to lowly Qormi. That defeat meant a lot since they practically handed the title to their rivals Valletta. For them a win was a must since any other result would have crowned Valletta Champions.
For Senglea this match was also was utmost importance and imperative for them were the maximum points.
The Cottonera outfit went into this match on a run of four consecutive results defeating St. Andrew’s and three draws against Tarxien Rainbows, Hamrun Spartans and Sliema Wanderers.
For this important match the Paolites had to do once again without Marcelo Dias. In the first round Hibernians defeated Senglea by a 2-0 scoreline.
The first action was recorded on 14 minutes when a Venancio acute free kick was punched away by goalkeeper Jovicic. Ten minutes later Hibernians responded when off a Jake Grech from the right the ball was met by Marcolino whose shot was cleared off the line by Leighton Grech.
Hibernians took the lead on the half hour when Fonseca squared the ball towards Taylon Marcolino whose low shot found the corner of the net.
And a minute from the end of the first half they doubled their lead when Jake Grech rounded a solo run with a wonderful strike into the corner of the net.
Senglea started the second half in an aggressive mood and in the 48th minute a Silva Santos low drive from the edge of the area was saved by Jovicic.
In the 61st minute Senglea went near to reduce the deficit when off a Venancio corner, a perfect header by El Sidqy was tipped over the bar by Jovicic.
And in the 75th minute Marukawa blew an easy chance from close range following a Grech cross from the right.
Three minutes from the end of the match Jovicic produced a fine save denying Venancio when his free kick was tipped over into a corner. And on the stroke of time Fonseca’s header found substitute Vella but his shot was well saved by Farrugia.