Hibernians and Żabbar St Patrick shared an entertaining 3–3 draw in their Bottom Six opener on Matchday 14 of the YoHealth Malta Premier, in a match packed with drama, VAR interventions, goals and a late comeback.

Match Report

Hibernians made a bright start and were awarded a penalty in the 8th minute after Mayron fouled Iapert inside the area, following a video review requested by Hibernians coach Branko Nišević. Iapert stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to give the Paolites an early lead. Mayron was also shown a yellow card for the incident.

Żabbar hit back almost immediately, drawing level a minute later when Zean Leonardi received the ball inside the box and finished clinically past Sacco.

The Saints then turned the match around in the 15th minute. Jake Micallef flicked on a cross from the left, allowing Strahinja Jovancic to head home from close range. Żabbar extended their advantage further in the 19th minute when Leonardi collected the ball, turned sharply and fired past Sacco to make it 3–1. The goal was again checked by video support amid doubts over Leonardi’s position, but referee Joseph Scerri confirmed it stood.

Hibernians tried to regain control but struggled to cope with Żabbar’s attacking intent, while the first half also saw a flurry of yellow cards for fouls by Nunes, Alves and Caruana.

Late goals deny Zabbar victory and earns Hibs a point

At the start of the second half, Hibernians made a double substitution, introducing Silas and Ellul in an effort to change the tempo. Żabbar remained dangerous, with Fontanella going close in the 57th minute, only for Sacco to react well and deny him.

The turning point came in the 61st minute when a confrontation between Mayron and Mendonca resulted in a second yellow card for the Żabbar midfielder, reducing the Saints to ten men.

Hibernians gradually increased the pressure and were rewarded in the 85th minute when goalkeeper Grech failed to hold a shot from Nunes, allowing Mendonca to pounce and score from close range.

Deep into stoppage time, Hibernians completed their comeback. Buhagiar delivered a ball towards goal, and Grech could only deflect it into his own net, sealing a dramatic 3–3 draw.

Żabbar nearly snatched a winner with the final kick of the game, but Sacco reacted well to keep out Gambarte’s direct free-kick.

Referee

Joseph Scerri

Man of the Match

Zean Leonardi (Żabbar St Patrick)

Line-ups

Hibernians:
Hugo Sacco (GK); Lucas Caruana (45+ YC, 82’ Lyon Abela), Lucas Villela Iapert, Bjorn Kristensen (C), Dexter Xuereb (82’ Liam Buhagiar), Kevin Halabaku, Duane Bonnici (46’ Matthew Ellul), Cleiton De Jesus Mendonca Padilha (61’ YC), Pedro Alves Da Silva (34’ YC, 46’ Alfred Silas), Pedro Henrique Nunes Silva (33’ YC), Charleston Dos Santos.

Żabbar St Patrick:
Jonathan Grech (GK); Pedro Santiago Cejas, Brian Ariel Gambarte (C), Jake Micallef, Strahinja Jovancic, Zean Leonardi, Ryan Scicluna, Mayron Marques Barbosa da Rocha (7’ YC, 61’ YC, RC), Kean Scicluna, Jurgen Pisani, Mario Fontanella.