GŻIRA UNITED 3
Xuereb 22og; Andre 37; Maia 46
HIBERNIANS 2
Silas 47; Cleiton 80
GZIRA UNITED
E. Colombo, D. Abela, A. Borg, B. Borg (61 D.Xuereb), A. Penha da Costa, M. Maia (78 F. Virgens) L. C. Riascos, S. Bastic (61 C. Failla), M. Van De Bovenkamp, I.N’sa Chrisnovic, M.Stojanovic.
HIBERNIANS
L. Branescu, C. Attard (73 A. Diakite), A. Silas (58 S. Akinbule), K. Shaw, R. Hernandez (73 D. Bonnici), Miullen, B. Kristensen (73 Mailson), D. Xuereb, K. Halabaku (78 Cleiton), P. Henrique, Charleston.
Referee Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow cards: Miullen, Failla, Dexter Xuereb
Red cards: Virgens (G) 88; Xuereb (H) 90.
Holders Hibernians were knocked out of the FA Trophy after slumping to a 3-2 defeat, in a tale of two halves, as the Paolites’ spirited comeback fell agonisingly short.
Gżira United produced a dominant first-half performance to establish a commanding lead over Hibernians, striking twice in an action-packed opening 45 minutes.
But Hibernians refused to throw in the towel as despite conceding a third goal early in the second half they tried to fight back, and managed to pull two goals back.
However, they could not find an equaliser as Gżira progressed to the quarter-finals.
The first real opportunity of the match arrived for Gżira in the 17th minute when Andre Penha da Costa tested Hibernians goalkeeper Branescu with a low drive.
The shot was well-directed but Branescu reacted sharply to parry the effort and keep the score level.
Gżira, however, continued to press and were rewarded five minutes later.
In the 22nd minute, a dangerous free-kick delivery from Stasa Bastic caused confusion inside the Hibernians penalty area. Defender Dexter Xuereb, attempting to clear under pressure, inadvertently turned the ball into his own net to hand the Maroons a deserved advantage.
Buoyed by the opener, Gżira maintained their attacking momentum.
In the 35th minute, Isemoli N’Sa tried his luck from distance with a powerful strike from outside the box, but his effort sailed well over the crossbar.
It came as little surprise when Gżira doubled their lead before the break.
Andre Penha da Costa was once again at the heart of the action, controlling the ball superbly before driving into the area and finishing with a composed low shot beyond Branescu.
The Maroons went into half-time firmly in control, having combined intensity, precision, and attacking intent to put the holders under sustained pressure.
Gżira opened the second half in dramatic fashion when Brooklyn Borg swung in a left-wing cross and Maxuell Maia, unmarked at the far post, powered a header past Branescu.
Even the most optimistic Hibs supporter could not have predicted what came next. Hibernians responded almost immediately.
Kevin Halabaku fed Alfred Silas, who turned sharply and fired a superb shot past Edoardo Colombo.
The Paolites kept up the pressure and on 68 minutes Pedro Henrique nodded a dangerous effort goalwards, forcing Colombo into a smart save on the line.
Ten minutes from time, Hibs cut the deficit further. Henrique controlled a ball in the box with his chest and guided it onto the far post, where substitute Cleiton met it with a diving header to beat Colombo.
Drama continued late on.
On 88 minutes, Virgens, who had been introduced ten minutes earlier, was sent off after a Football Video Support review.
Referee Fyodor Zammit initially issued a yellow, but following the review, upgraded it to a red for a studs-up clip on Hibs midfielder Mailson.
Hibernians’ numerical advantage was quickly neutralised when Xuereb picked up a second yellow and was sent off.
The Paolites’ last hopes were extinguished moments later when Cleiton’s header was comfortably held by Colombo.
