Hibrernians-Sliema W 3-1

 

Hibernians: H. Bonello, K. Tanti, R. Gomes, J. Lima, M. Dias (T. Tabone Desira), A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, J. Bezzina, C. Failla, L. Edison (J. Mbong), Jorginho (J. Degabriele)

Sliema W: G. Zammit, A. Scozzese, M. Potezica, J. Mintoff (L. Martinelli), M. Mifsud (A. Xuereb), A. Pisanu, C. Gatt Baldacchino, T. Cilia (P. Xuereb), P. Barbetti, B. Muscat, S. Bianciardi

Referee:  F. Zammit

Asst.refs:  J. Spiteri, D. Castillo

4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: M. Potezica 27, L. Edison 38, Jorginho 46, J. Degabriele 86

Yellow cards: M. Dias, B. Muscat, Jorginho, S. Biancardi

Red card: B. Muscat

Player of the match:  Jorginho (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Cohen  2. Jorginho  3. P. Barbetti

Attendance: 946

 

Hibernians came from behind to beat Sliema Wanderers 3-1, in a more comfortable fashion than the final scoreline suggests

The Paolites, full of energy, desire and a crucial dash of quality, deserved this third consecutive league victory that keeps them at the top, together with Birkirkara and Mosta.

Hibernians showed verve and vision in midfield with Bjorn Kristensen, Jackson Lima and Andrew Cohen spraying passes in all directions of the field, for Luis Edison and Jorginho to thrive about.

Sliema were unable to contain the Paolites’ urgency and mere huff and puff was not enough once they fell behind early after the restart and then were reduced to ten men following Beppe Muscat’s dismissal short of the hour.

Toothless in attack, with Michael Mifsud only a peripheral figure until substituted, the Wanderers left themsleves with too much to do in the second half.

Still winless, they are falling below their usual standards with too much regularity, failing to hold on to  their lead in every match played so far this season.

Hibernians were bereft of the suspended central defender Rodolfo Soares. Jackson Lima started the match for the first time this season as Henry Bonello was back in goal after missing the match against Qormi. Marcelo Dias again played at the back, on the right side of a three-man Hibernians’ defence.

Two notable absentees for Sliema were the injured skipper Alex Muscat and defensive midfielder Mark Scerri. Coach Alfonso Greco deemed it fit tio hand starts to John Mintoff and Trevor Cilia, as they stretched their opponents on the flanks in a flexible 4-3-3 formation, trying to limit the overlaps of Failla and Dias.

In a quiet start of the match, there were half chances at both ends by the qurter hour. Dias’ inviting cross from the right found no one to connect in front of goal for Hibernians as Michael Mifsud put his shot off target for Sliema.

The two goals, in an evenly balanced first half, came courtesy of some sloppy defending and loose marking from both sides.

Sliema forged ahead after 27 minutes after being awarded a free kick on the left. On Pisanu’s delivery, Marco Potezica was allowed space to put his dowward free header past keeper Bonello.

The Sliema rearguard should also carry some responsability in Hibernians’ equaliser 11 minutes later. Bianciardi allowed Luis Edison to control the ball from a high cross by Failla and as keeper Zammit rushed out to block, the Brazilian volleyed into an empty goal from the right.

Hardly within a minute of the second half, Hibernians took the lead. Cohen played the ball wide from the edge of the area towards Jorginho who was quick to hit in and render keeper Zammit helpless.

Sliema were rattled, mentally as well as at times physically. They risked of falling further behind when Luis Edison arrived fractionally late on a long cross by Lima.

And to complicate matters further for the Wanderers, they had defender Beppe Muscat sent off, four minutes short of the hour, for a second booking.

Hibernians exploited their numerical superiority with another late goal as they toyed with their opponents, keeping hold of possession and stroking the ball around with almost training ground easiness.

Four minutes from time, Luis Edison twisted and turned past the grounded keeper and the Sliema defenders inside the area, for substitute Jurgen Degabriele to hit in the loose ball via the underside of the bar.

Sliema looked a sorry ragged bunch at the end.