Ibrahim Said delivered a decisive strike in the dying minutes, ensuring Motherwell opened their Scottish Premiership campaign with a triumph over Hibernian at Easter Road. The match was settled in the 85th minute when Said capped a swift counter‑attack, turning a tightly contested game into a 2-1 victory for the visitors. The opening half was largely uneventful, with both sides probing but failing to create clear-cut chances.
Motherwell midfielder Oscar Priestman was involved early, winning a penalty that he subsequently missed, while also conceding a spot‑kick. Five minutes before the interval, Lukas Fadinger broke the deadlock for the visitors, slotting home his third goal of the season after a clumsy challenge on Priestman allowed him space in the box.
Motherwell responded quickly after the break. Regan Charles‑Cook, who had been a constant threat on the wing, missed a golden opportunity to double the lead.
Shortly thereafter, Martin Boyle restored parity for Hibs in the 56th minute, capitalising on a loose ball after Priestman was bundled over in the penalty area. The home side pressed for a winner, with Martin Moorman making two crucial goal‑line clearances.
However, Said, who had already netted three times for Motherwell, found the back of the net for his fourth club goal, sealing the win. The decisive finish came after a swift one‑two between Said and debutant Alex Lowry, which released Williams inside the box; the Nigerian forward side‑footed the ball past the Hibs keeper. Motherwell entered the match without a fully fit, recognised centre‑forward, forcing them to rely heavily on Said’s ability to carry the ball from deep positions. As the half progressed, the Steelmen grew more confident on the ball, employing quick passing down the right flank.
This culminated in a clumsy tackle by Josh Mulligan on Priestman, which allowed Fadinger to finish his third goal of the season. In the second half, Charles‑Cook again came close, firing a shot from 22 yards just wide after a rapid throw‑in caught the Hibs defence off‑balance.
He later had a clear chance to make it 2-0 when Jason Kerr failed to control a high ball, allowing Charles‑Cook to run onto a through‑ball aimed at Raphael Sallinger. Instead of rounding the keeper, he opted to shoot, and the effort was comfortably saved.
Fadinger threatened from distance on two occasions, while Alex Paulsen was called into action for the first time, producing a superb diving save from Ethan Lowe’s first‑time volley. Motherwell’s goalkeeper, however, struggled with a crowded penalty area, palm‑ing away several crosses, which forced Moorman to clear the line on two occasions. Hibernian drew confidence from Boyle’s successful spot‑kick and generated a number of quality chances. Owen Elding forced a fingertip save from Paulsen with a 30‑yard effort, and Lowe’s attempts were repeatedly cleared by Moorman after the Motherwell keeper could only manage a palm in the congested box.
In the closing stages, Motherwell introduced debutants Alex Lowry and Jamie Knight‑Lebel. A pivotal moment arrived when substitute Olly Whyte won the ball in midfield and launched a quick break.
Lowry exchanged a one‑two with Said, then laid the ball to Williams, whose square pass was side‑footed home by the Nigerian forward, confirming the win. Paulsen later denied Ante Suto with a sharp save, and Elding headed over his own cross.
Lowry forced another stop as Motherwell saw out the match, preserving the narrow lead. The victory marked a successful start for new manager Alfred Johansson, who has already secured three wins from three games, and demonstrated the team’s resilience after the departure of Jens Berthel Askou. Overall, the match featured a blend of disciplined defending, swift counter‑attacks, and moments of individual brilliance, with Said’s late winner providing the decisive edge in a tightly contested encounter.