H. Bonello, R. Compri, M. Guillaumier, S. Attard (74 I. Inzoudine), N. Garcia, J. Mbong (46 M. Carboni) (88 Jonny), V. Polito (74 O. Bjelicic), D. Ceter, D. Bulevardi (88 Eder), E. Marcelina, R. Camenzuli (102 E. Blessing).
HIBERNIANS
L. Branescu, A. Silas (90 A. Diakite), K. Shaw, L. Caruana (46 T. Halabaku), M. Debattista (57 M. Debattista), B. Kristensen, D. Xuereb, D. Norenkov (75 D. Bonnici), P. Henrique, S. Akinbule (46 Miullen), Charleston.
Kevin Halabaku scored an extra-time winner as Hibernians stunned Ħamrun Spartans 2-1 to win the Super Cup at the National Stadium.
It was a dramatic outcome to a match which saw Ħamrun Spartans dominate for much of the opening 70 minutes and had taken the lead with an Emerson Marcelina first-half penalty.
However, their failure to put the game beyond Hibernians’ reach with a second goal proved costly as the Paolites grew in stature as the inclusion of Miullen, Halabaku and Mailson gave them a new lease of life.
Miullen pulled the team level from a penalty and when Ħamrun were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Ognjen Bjelicic in extra-time, the Paolites sensed that it could be their day.
And so it proved as Halabaku provided a spectacular late winner that not only handed the Spartans first-ever defeat in a Super Cup final, but more importantly handed Hibs their fifth success in the competition.
Ħamrun Spartans coach Giacomo Modica elected to keep the same 11 players that started their 4-0 victory over Naxxar Lions.
On the other hand, Hibs coach Branko Nisevic started with midfielder Bjorn Kristensen as one of three central defenders alongside the returning Kurt Shaw and Charleston, who replaced Duane Bonnici and Mattias Ellul.
Ħamrun Spartans dominated the match for much of the first half as they enjoyed long spells of possession, with Hibernians happy to soak up the pressure and try to hit their opponents with quick transitions.
After ten minutes, the Spartans had their first chance as they recovered possession just outside the area, and Joseph Mbong’s shot was saved by Hibs goalkeeper Branescu.
On 21 minutes, Shaisen Attard was unlucky not to score when, in another quick raid, Damir Ceter pulled the ball back towards the young forward, who saw his thumping drive hit the bar.
Buoyed by this opener, Ħamrun continued to administer the match but failed to create more chances.
On the other hand, Hibernians failed to muster a response as they looked short of creativity upfront.
On the restart, Hibernians made two offensive changes as they roped in Kevin Halabaku and Miullen instead of Lucas Caruana and Sunday Akinbule.
On the other hand, Joseph Mbong was replaced by Michele Carboni.
Carboni was soon in the thick of action as on 47 minutes, Matias Garcia charged forward and fed the Italian winger but his shot was high and wide.
The woodwork denied Ħamrun Spartans a second goal on 54 minutes when, in a quick counterattack, Ceter raised clear and he pulled the ball back towards Danilo Bulevardi, who saw his thumping drive hit the bar.
From the rebound, the ball fell to Carboni, who fired just past the upright.
On 69 minutes, Garcia found Carboni in space, and the Italian winger outmuscled Kristensen and picked Attard on the edge of the area, but the youngster fired wide.
Hibs finally threatened on 72 minutes when Miullen powered his way forward but his shot was deflected into the hands of Bonello.
Hibernians levelled matters ten minutes from time, when Miullen was upended inside the area by Bjelicic and from the spot the Brazilian made no mistake.
The Paolites were continuing to grow in stature, and four minutes from time, Bonello did well to block Mailson from close in as the match drifted into extra-time.
The first half extra-time was dominated by Ħamrun, but they only had one effort towards goal in stoppage time when Ceter fired wide from inside the area.
Hibernians started the second half brightly and were unlucky not to score in the second minute, when from a Duane Bonnici cross, substitute Ruber Arcadia saw his header come off the upright.
Eight minutes from time, Ħamrun were reduced to ten men when Bjelicic upended just outside the area and was shown a second yellow card.
When it looked as though the match would finish in a penalty shoot-out, Halabaku provided the winner.
The January new signing hit a thumping drive from the edge of the area that gave no chance to goalkeeper Henry Bonello, to the delight of the Paola fans who kick-started their celebrations.
