HIBERNIANS 5
Degabriele 32
Cacho 63; Villela 66, 89
Miullen 85
GŻIRA UNITED 3
Bonilla 45, 49
Silva 56
HIBERNIANS
L. Branescu (61 H. Sacco), S. Hamanjoda (78 A. Bruno), L. Villela, Miullen (88 L. Caruana), J. Degabriele (78’ D. Xuereb), B. Kristensen, J. Teixeira, A. Zammit, P. Alves, P. Cacho, Pedrao (61 M. Ellul).
GŻIRA UNITED
E. Colombo, G. Mentz, P. Fonseca (46’ Andre), A. Borg (70’ D. Xuereb), M. Maia, C. Failla, L. Riascos, J. Becerra, M. Bovenkamp, J. Bonilla (76’ S. Martinez), F. Silva.
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Yellow cards: Silva, Pedrao, Villela, Kristensen, Cacho.
Hibernians came back from two goals down to beat Gżira United 5-3 in a highly entertaining clash at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.
Both sides played their hearts out, with Hibernians going ahead just past the half hour and Gżira turning the score in their favour with two goals at either side of half-time.
The Maroons extended the lead further but a brilliant comeback by the Paolites saw them recover from a two-goal deficit by scoring four goals.
Hibernians had Joao Teixeira making his debut with goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu, Aiden Zammit, Pablo Alves and Pablo Cacho making their first league appearance.
On the other hand, Clive Mizzi, the new Gżira United coach, handed the debut to eight new signings with Gabriel Mentz, Andy Borg and Luis Riascos being the only three players from last season’s squad to start for the Maroons.
The two teams shared the exchanges in the opening minutes and on the half hour, Maxuell Maia went close to putting the Maroons ahead.
The Brazilian received a through ball by Johan Bonilla, anticipated two defenders to lob the ball over goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu but his attempt ended just over.
Two minutes later, Hibs took the lead. Lucas Villela delivered a cross from the right and Jurgen Degabriele slotted the ball past San Marino international goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo.
The Maroons levelled matters on 45 minutes. Jork Becerra intercepted a pass by a defender and delivered a cross from the left with Maia tapping the ball in the direction of Bonilla who hit hard past the Hibernians goalkeeper.
Four minutes in the second half, the Maroons made it 2-1.
Following a Clayton Failla free-kick, there was a deflection with the ball reaching Bonilla whose shot was blocked.
Fabricio Silva took the rebound but his effort was blocked once again with Bonilla this time beating Branescu with a powerful shot.
Gżira almost added another on 54 minutes with Fabricio Silva pouncing on to a cross by Failla but the Brazilian’s diagonal shot scraped past the post.
However two minutes later, the Maroons went 3-1 ahead. Failla sent Silva through on the left, goalkeeper Branescu in an attempt to halt Silva’s run collided with defender Pedrao, both ending on the ground.
Maia returned the ball to Silva whose first attempt was blocked by a defender but then managed to place the ball at the back of the net.
Both Branescu and Pedrao had to be substituted with the latter being hospitalised. They were replaced by Hugo Sacco and Matthew Ellul.
Hibernians reduced the gap on 63 minutes. Pedro Cacho picked Mentz clearance and beat Colombo with a firm drive.
The Paolites equalised three minutes later. Alfred Silas delivered a cross that was not dealt with by the Gżira defenders and Villela slotted home.
Five minutes from time, Hibernians went 4-3 ahead.
Villela released Miullen on the right and the latter entered the area before beating the Gżira custodian with a diagonal shot.
But it was not over yet as four minutes later, the Gżira defence failed to clear the ball and Villela took full advantage to fire home.
