Watch: Marsaxlokk prevail in shoot-out against Hibernians to reach Jubilee Cup quarter-finals

Football Video Support awards Hibernians penalty as video technology makes entrance in Maltese football

Marsaxlokk booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Jubilee Cup when they edged past Hibernians in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished in a 2-2 draw at the Centenary Stadium.

The match turned out to be a hard-fought encounter between two teams who had also met last weekend when the Southerners came from behind to secure another 2-2 draw against Hibs to secure a Top Six place in the YoHealth Malta Premier.

There was an historic first in the first half when Hibernians were awarded a penalty after a Football Video Support review but Branko Nisevic’s men failed to maintain the momentum as they were held to another 2-2 draw to force a shoot-out.

Here, Marsaxlokk showed a strong mental strength to prevail after the shoot-out and further dampen Hibernians’ season as the Paolites bowed out of this one-off competition.

The match was evenly balanced in the opening minutes, with scoring chances few and far between.

It was Hibs who came agonisingly close to an opener on 15 minutes when Dexter Xuereb hit a thumping drive that goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez just managed to keep out, and from the rebound, Lucas Villela’s header was cleared off the line by James Vella.

Hibs did take the lead courtesy of a first-ever use by the Football Video Support in Maltese football on 29.

From a corner action, the Paolites protested that Marsaxlokk player Jake Ghio had handled the ball inside the area, but the referee waved play on.

However, Hibs coach Branko Nisevic asked for the action to be reviewed and referee Matthew De Gabriele, after consulting TV footage, ruled that the Paolites were right and awarded a penalty.

From the spot, Villela kept his cool to send Sanchez the wrong way.

However, Hibernians’ lead lasted only six minutes as Enrico Pepe picked up a short rebound at the edge of the area and his thumping drive flew into the top corner of the net.

The goal lifted Marsaxlokk who almost grabbed a second three minutes later when Marcelo Barros Santos let fly a thumping drive from 25 metres out with the ball touched by Sacco onto the crossbar.

Marsaxlokk completed the turnaround in stoppage time when, from an Aguirre corner-kick, Jubhel Tsoumou anticipated Sacco to head home.

 But Hibs managed to go into the half-time interval level when, from a central free-kick, Lucas Caruana’s strike was fumbled by Sanchez with the ball bouncing into the net.

The second half lost much of the intensity witnessed in the first half with scoring chances few and far between as scoring chances were scarce.

Hibs could have won it four minutes from time when Cleiton failed to connect with the ball from a few metres out after a pass from Pablo Alves.

A shoot-out was needed and here Pablo Sanchez came to the fore as he managed to save efforts from Bjorn Kristensen and Pablo Alves to put  Marsaxlokk into the quarter-finals.