Malkowski Hot and Cold in 2-2 Draw

Now that little Malkowski Junior is here, goalkeeper Zbigniew Malkowski has returned from his sabbatical to be at his delivering wife’s side and has assured Hibernian fans that he can concentrate on football again. While this may be true, it is clear that “Zibi” (it seems to me i’ve heard that nickname before…) will have to share a bit of his mental power in watching the holes formed within the suddenly porous Hibs defense.

Malkowski received high praise from mainstream media and the Hibs homepage last Sunday for his second-half effort in covering for the red-carded and sent-off Simon Brown, the Pole goalie’s first appearance on a Scottish pitch since January. Coming on for the last thirty minutes of play, Malkowski made a couple of huge stops including saving Shaun Maloney’s penalty save that UK media is still abuzz over and Hibs fans should be discussing for a while; thanks to Malkowski’s work, Hibs won 2-1 over Celtic.

The tides turn quickly, however, and judgment of Malkowski is certain to be harsh after yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Motherwell in a game called “crucial” to a Hibs advancement into the UEFA Cup. Before the weekend, Rangers held a four-point lead over Hibs for the third spot on the table. Like a good (and cliché-spouting) team player, Malkowski told the media that, for Hibernian, “every game is important at the moment” and “we want to finish in third place. It will be difficult but we want to do it.” True, perhaps, but they’ve just been dealt a blow with a nearly final-minute shot that might have been prevented with a bit of heads-up play.

Early on, Malkowski looked as sharp as he did when acquired in last 2005. In the fifth minute, Malkowski dove to make a gorgeous save. On the second serious threat, however, when Phil O’Donnell tipped a shot beyond the reach of the goalkeeper from about eight yards out to put Hibs in a 1-0 hole at half.

Malkowski’s workout was far from over. Coming out aggressive after the half, Motherwell drove relentlessly for to open the second, including a cross in minute 48 that Malkowski snagged. Hibs answered with a Chris Killen score and when Stephen Glass added a second late in the game, the visitors appeared to have the game locked up.

And then came penalty time. Within the three-plus minutes added by the referees, Motherwell stayed in control enough to earn a corner kick. Though cleared by midfielder Jamie McCluskey, Stephen Craigan (the Man of the Match who had tormented the Hibs defense all match long) was left wide open and the Motherweller banged in home with a precise high shot to equalize, harming Hibs’ UEFA prospects.

“The baby is born now,” said Malkowski as quoted in The Guardian sports pages, “everything is perfect.” Of course, Zibi M. said this before the Motherwell game. A difficult chore has become more difficult, with a second headache added to Coach Butcher’s already taxed mind: Malkowski himself admitted that “if I play well [against Motherwell] who is in goal for the next game will be a difficult decision for the gaffer.” Now Butcher must guess which Malkowski will show up.