Falcone double lifts Hibernians to thrilling win over Melita

MELITA           2     

Simanca 47

Bovenkamp 58

HIBERNIANS 3     

Falcone 41, 90

Caruana 52

MELITA

A. Lubik, A. Simanca, J.P. Attard, K. Mohani (87 E. Attard), Andre, M. Debattista (78 S. Martinez), A. Borg OIivier, M. Bovenkamp, D. Xuereb (87 M. Cachia), N. Cutajar (82 K. Bondin), H. Motta.

HIBS

H. Sacco, S. Hamanojda (84 L. Villela), K. Shaw, L. Caruana, K. Fraga, J. Degabriele, D. Xuereb, F. Falcone, A. Bruno, M. Ellul, G. Bastianos.

Referee: Ezekiel Barbara.

Yellow cards: Caruana, Shaw, Simanca, Attard.

Hibernians scored deep into stoppage time as they defeated Melita by the odd goal in five.

The Paolities were a better side during the first half, taking a narrow lead.

On the restart, Melita reacted well to equalise and after conceding a second goal, they managed to level matters.

However, Federico Falcone, who had opened the score for Branko Nisevic’s side, scored again in added time to hand Hibernians the three points.

Melita had two changes from their previous outing as Jean Pierre Attard and Nick Cutajar replaced Kurt Bondin and the suspended Jesus Yepez.

Hibernians, on the other hand, had Lucas Caruana, Dexter Xuereb and Alex Bruno back in the starting line-up as Pedro Henrique Nunes was unavailable, Miullen was ruled out through suspension while Bjorn Kristensen remained on the bench as he recovers from an injury.

The Paolities created the better chances in the early stages.

After going close with a Jurgen Degabiele effort ending just wide following a deflection by a defender on eight minutes, Federico Falcone had an overhead kick ending over the bar on 16 minutes when served by Giannis Bastianos.

A minute later, the Argentine forward hit the foot of the upright with a shot from the right.

Hibernians took the lead four minutes from the end of the first half. Alex Bruno delivered a cross from the right and Falcone placed the ball into the back of the net.

Two minutes later, Falcone hit wide off an inviting cross by Bastianos from the left.

Two minutes in the second half, Melita restored equilibrium.

Matthew Debattista delivered a corner from the left and Aldair Simanca rose high to head home past goalkeeper Hugo Sacco.

However, five minutes later, the Paolites regained the lead.

Jurgen Degabriele provided the assist from the left and Lucas Caruana slotted the ball past goalkeeper Aleksander Lubik.

Melita made it 2-2 on 58 minutes. Marc Van De Font Bovenkamp rose high to head the ball home off a freekick from the right.

In the remaining minutes, the two teams shared the exchanges but three minutes in added time, Hibernians notched the winner.

Falcone headed home from close range following a cross from the left by Bastianos.