Sliema dent Hibs’ Euro hopes in tale of two penalties

HIBERNIANS                 0SLIEMA WANDERERS 1 Sliema Wanderers kept their top-four hopes alive after beating Hibernians 1-0 in Sunday’s second match at the National Stadium.  With this win, Sliema have narrowed the gap on the sixth-placed Hibs to three points with five matches remaining. The Paolites were the better side in the first half. Midfielder Jackson Lima went close with a swerving corner that was tipped away by Sliema goalkeeper Glenn Zammit who also stopped a dangerous shot by the Brazilian. Hibs were made to pay for their failure to translate their possession into goals in the first half. Five minutes after the restart, Rodolfo Soares appeared to have been dispossessed by the charging Edmond Agius who ended up on the turf after being pushed by the Brazilian defender. Referee Clayton Pisani pointed to the spot and Matias Muchardi’s effort had the better of goalkeeper Andrew Hogg who managed to get a hand to the ball but could not hold it. Midway into the second half, Hibs had a glorious chance to level matters. They were awarded a penalty after Dunstan Vella’s run into the box was illegally stopped by Kurt Shaw. Jurgen Degabriele stepped up for the penalty but his weak shot was blocked by Zammit. BOV player of the match: Glenn Zammit (Sliema Wanderers).  ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 3SENGLEA ATHLETIC 0 Ħamrun Spartans scored three goals in the second half to see off the challenge of Senglea Athletic 3-0. The Spartans remain eighth but have now moved nine points clear of the 10-placed Senglea Athletic. After a goalless first half, Tiago Souza da Silveira fired the Spartans ahead two minutes into the second half, heading home from Thiago Espindola’s corner from the left. To make matters worse for Senglea, they were reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute as Gonzalo Julian Leyton was dismissed by referee Ishmael Barbara for raising his elbow at Spartans striker Alex Nilsson. A minute later, Lydon Micallef doubled the Spartans’ advantage with a routine header from Nilsson’s cross. Cristian Zaccardo made it 3-0 10 minutes from time. BOV player of the match: Alex Nilsson (Ħamrun Spartans).