Żabbar St Patrick scored late to secure a point in a 1-1 draw against Hibernians in the Malta Premier League on Friday evening.
Hibernians appeared on course for victory after taking an early lead through Jamie Wahling, but Żabbar stepped up the pressure after the interval and were rewarded three minutes from time when Thomas Melillo found the equaliser.
The Paolites made two changes from the side that had lost to Marsaxlokk, with young Jayden Roe and new signing Alex Sobczyk replacing Fabian Jankovic and Ryder Matos.
Żabbar, meanwhile, brought in Adnan Basic, who had scored the winning goal against Birżebbuġa in their previous match, in place of Tobias Moriceau.
Żabbar threatened after only two minutes when Mario Fontanella, supplied by Nicolas Lancioni on the left, saw his angled effort deflected behind for a corner.
Hibernians responded immediately and took the lead a minute later. Moritz Romling exchanged passes with Boris Druga before setting up Wahling, who calmly slotted the ball beyond goalkeeper Patrik Mohorovic.
The Paolites continued to threaten and came close to doubling their advantage in the 14th minute. Joseph Mbong evaded two defenders on the left and entered the penalty area, but his angled effort was kept out by Mohorovic, with a defender completing the clearance.
Wahling then came close again shortly before half-time when his direct free-kick finished narrowly over the bar.
Żabbar emerged with greater purpose after the break and began putting Hibernians under sustained pressure.
Eighteen minutes into the second half, Lancioni collected a through ball on the right, moved inside and rounded a defender before firing over from the edge of the area.
Lancioni went close again six minutes later, with his effort from distance partially saved by Hibernians goalkeeper Matteo Cardinali. Fontanella collected the rebound and supplied substitute Vinicius Mendonca, whose close-range effort was deflected behind.
From the resulting corner, taken by Joao Mafra, Strahinja Jovancic headed towards Lancioni, but the latter’s header went over.
Żabbar continued to press. On 74 minutes, Isaiah Chukunyere produced a dangerous delivery from the left following a good move, but nobody was able to connect with the cross.
Four minutes later, Lancioni entered the area from the right, with subsequent efforts from Zean Leonardi and Tobias Moriceau blocked as Żabbar continued to search for the equaliser.
Their pressure finally paid off three minutes from the end.
Fontanella received a pass from Vinicius on the left, controlled the ball and then picked out Thomas Melillo. Melillo made no mistake, beating Cardinali with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area to make it 1-1.
Hibernians almost snatched the victory deep into stoppage time when Mbong delivered a cross from the left and substitute Jurgen Degabriele headed towards goal, but Mohorovic produced the save to keep out the attempt.
The late equaliser ensured the two sides shared the points, with Hibernians unable to hold on to their early advantage after a second-half spell dominated by Żabbar.
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