Failla’s late strike boosts Gżira and leaves Hibs’ Top 6 hopes in tatters

Gżira United moved on the brink of securing a Top 6 berth as a late strike from Clayton Failla enabled them to overcome Hibernians 1-0 at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

It was a stunning outcome to a match that had seen Hibernians enjoy the majority of possession while also creating the better chances but their profligacy in front of goal came back to haunt them.

That is because Gżira delivered the killer blow with one of their few efforts on target to pick up three valuable points that lift them to third place in the standings on 17 points.

While the results fails to give them mathematical certainty of a Top 6 berth, Gżira will seal their spot should Sliema fail to beat Floriana later on Saturday and Birkirkara fail to overcome Ħamrun Spartans on Sunday.

On the other hand, the defeat left Hibernians’ hopes of a Top 6 berth in tatters as they remained in ninth place on 11 points, and only a minor miracle will see them make it to form part of the group of teams challenging for the top placings in the second phase.

Hibernians had started brightly, and after five minutes, Kevin Halabaku was denied by a spectacular save by Gżira goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo.

The Paolites threatened again on 17 minutes when Kristensen picked Duane Bonnici inside the area, but the Hibs winger was denied by a providential block by Isemoli Chrisenovic.

Gżira looked on the ropes, and Halabaku threatened again on 26 minutes when Halabaku saw his first effort blocked by a defender, and from the rebound, the winger was denied by Colombo.

Gżira’s first attempt at a goal arrived on the half-hour mark when Brooklyn Borg’s shot was saved by Branescu.

After the break, Hibernians kept pushing, but they had to wait until the 74th minute for their first real chance when Cleiton picked Alfred Silas, who fired wide.

Seven minutes from time, Hibs almost struck, but Charleston’s header from a corner finished just wide.

Instead, it was Gżira who grabbed the winner on 87 minutes when, from a central free-kick, Clayton Failla’s shot caught Branescu by surprise with the ball finishing into the back of the net to the delight of the Maroons’ clan.