Pietà break duck to leave Hibs in turmoil

Hibernians 0
Pietà 1

The dark clouds stretching over Paola are in danger of causing a big thunderstorm.

Their spirits down after a 3-2 defeat to Birkirkara, Hibs were widely expected to revive their top-six place hopes when they squared up to a Pietà Hotspurs team still searching for their first win of the season.

From time to time, football throws up a shock result, a giant-killing act, and the first Premier League fixture of 2007 did just that.

A lively and committed performance from the youthful Pietà side earned them their first victory of the season which leaves the misfiring Hibs team in turmoil.

Carl Pulo's goal brought three deserved points, the first for coach Carmel Busuttil since he took over from Davide Vittorio, as the Paolites, despite having 86 minutes plus an additional four of stoppage time to avert the impending disaster, only succeeded in confirming their difficult moment with another sluggish display.

Andrew Cohen led Hibs on to the pitch as Mario Muscat was axed from the starting team after his error-strewn performance against Birkirkara.

Having seen out his two-match ban for his red card in the 3-1 loss to Sliema, Nigerian Udo Nwoko duly regained his place in Hibs' initial XI. Ndubisi Chukunyere was also back in favour with coach Robert Gatt.

Busuttil re-affirmed his faith in the club's young players.

Domenic Mifsud was absent because of suspension and Ryan Camilleri missed out through injury. Digger Okonkwo was conspicuous only by his absence from Pietà's 18-man squad.

The Hotspurs, starting the match as the bottom-placed team with only three points from 13 matches, could not have enjoyed a better lift-off.

Not more than four minutes had elapsed when Martin Deanov's square pass squirmed towards the unmarked Pulo who slotted the ball past the stranded Alex Camilleri.

Pietà's early breakthrough was an unexpected blow for Hibs who took some time to impose themselves on the game. As the first half moved on, the Paolites' possession count increased but their efforts were easily held off by the Pietà rearguard where goalkeeper Andrew Hogg and defender David Camenzuli repelled everything that came their way.

After 26 minutes, Matthew Bartolo produced a good cross from the right but Cohen's header was saved by Hogg. Hibs were now piling on the pressure, Cohen having a low shot rolling just wide of the near post.

Lacking flair and bite for most of the first half, Hibs badly needed to lift their game after the change of ends. The first four minutes of the second half saw them creating more scoring chances than they had in the entire first period.

On the first occasion, Julian Vella, a half-time replacement for Clayton Failla, lofted the ball towards Scerri whose first-time volley was parried by Hogg. Edward Herrera, the fast-improving Pietà defender, was on hand to clear.

Chukunyere then had an angled shot coming off Carl Sammut's body and within minutes, Hogg effected an excellent save to touch Scerri's rising effort away for a corner after Cohen had opened up the Pietà defence with a back-heel pass.

Pietà might also have doubled their lead inside the opening two minutes of the second half when a fluid move, involving Herrera, Deanov and Pulo, ended with the latter shooting towards goal but Kevin Cassar blocked the danger.

Although Hibs saw more of the ball, Pietà were dangerous on the counter. In one such attack Quilin Refalo was thwarted by a Camilleri save. Thirteen minutes into the second half, Scerri powered his way through but his effort rolled across the face of goal.

Pietà provided another reminded of their lingering threat, Deanov and Pulo both hitting wide after their team-mates had made the most of the unplugged gaps in the Hibs defence.

Midway through the second half, the Paolites should have restored parity when Chukunyere's flick dropped invitingly at the feet of the unchallenged Scerri who opted to strike the ball first time. The outcome was a tame, central shot which Hogg saved easily.

Minutes later Busuttil was ordered off the bench after he disputed the referee's decision to award Hibs a dubious free-kick.

The introduction of Adrian Pulis in an advanced position on the left gave Hibs' attack a new dimension.

Danger loomed for Pietà when Pulis floated the ball in the Pietà area, Chukunyere cushioned the ball for Bartolo whose firm drive was deflected for a corner.

With the end of the game looming large, the pressure from Hibs doubled but the Pietà fledglings stood firm. In the dying minutes, Silvan Ciscaldi may have sealed the points for Pietà when Pulo freed him inside the box but his attempt was deflected away for a corner.

Hibernians: A. Camilleri-5, J. Caruana-5.5, A. Xuereb-5.5, K. Cassar-5.5 ('64 A. Pulis-6.5), M. Bartolo-6, U. Nwoko-6, P. Doffo-5.5, N. Chukunyere-6, A. Cohen-6, T. Scerri-6, C. Failla-5 ('46 J. Vella-6).

Pietà: A. Hogg-8, S. Grech-6 ('60 S. Ciscaldi-5.5), B. Sciberras-6.5, M. Deanov-6 ('86 C. Mackay), Q. Refalo-6, C. Pulo-7, C. Sammut-7, D. Camenzuli-7.5, S. Kondev-6.5, E. Herrera-7.5, D. Kokavessis-6 ('62 G. Goodlip-5.5).

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Scorer: Pulo 4.

Yellow cards: Kondev; Cohen.

BoV player of the match: Andrew Hogg (Pietà).