Hibernians 2
Msida SJ 0
Msida SJ: O. Borg, J. Galea (Tyron Farrugia), Tano Farrugia, J. Mifsud, C. Micallef (R. Bajada), D. Cachia, M. Boni, F. Cauchi, D. Theuma, M. Porceddu, A. Farrugia.
Hibernians: M. Muscat, K. Spiteri, A. Pulis, A. Xuereb, R. Mintoff, E. Mbong, P. Pullicino, A. Zahra (J. Pearson), R. Baldacchino, T. Scerri (N. Chukunyere), A. Cohen.
Referee: M. Borg. Asst refs: N. Debattista, E. Spiteri, 4th official: C. Pisani.
Scorers: T. Scerri, A. Cohen.
Yellow cards: J. Mifsud, K. Spiteri, D. Cachia, C. Micallef,
Player of match: E. Mbong
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Zahra; 2. A. Cohen; 3. M. Porceddu.
Hibernians moved to third place in the standings, one point above Birkirkara as they beat Msida St Joseph by two goals to nil yesterday evening at the Centenary Stadium.
A goal in the first half from Terence Scerri and another from Andrew Cohen five minutes from the end, were enough to see the Paolites through.
Robert Gatt’s side now has 23 points while Msida remain firmly anchored to the 13-point mark.
Msida were missing their midfield trio of Sciberras, Bajada, and Sammut – all injured, as well as striker Daniel Nwoke, while Hibernians had Chukunyere missing.
In the first half, play was more or less balanced, but it was evident that Hibs were a better side technically speaking with Andrew Cohen, Antoine Zahra and Essiem Mbong superior in the midfield sector.
The Paolites took some time to settle down, but after scoring the opener through Scerri, they took command although their fort also passed through some anxious moments.
In the second half, although Msida tried harder to save the game, they were never allowed too much space by a well organised Hibs defence in which Ryan Mintoff, Adrian Pulis, Kenneth Spiteri and AaronXuereb never put a foot wrong.
So superior were the Paolites that goalie Muscat was rarely, if ever, tested seriously during the second half.
Msida again felt their absentees badly, but they must be commended for their generous effort as they tried to hit back, especially through Daniel Theuma and Manrico Porceddu.
The match had a quiet start with play restricted more or less to midfield. But on the 15th minute, off a Porceddu cross, Boni failed to connect in front of Muscat and moments later, from a Boni cross, Daniel Theuma had his first timer well saved by the diving Muscat.
Hibernians took the lead on 20 minutes. An Andrew Cohen freekick was intercepted by Terence Scerri and he made no mistake with a low shot that had Omar Borg beaten all ends up.
Msida reacted and on 32 minutes, off a Fabio Cauchi cross, it was Porceddu who had a first timer going just wide.
On the 37th minute, Hibs went close to adding a second goal. Antoine Zahra beat two defenders on the right flank and crossed dangerously into the Msida area. Clint Micallef managed to clear as far as Andrew Cohen whose shot, however, just missed the target.
On the 61st minute, Hibs threatened again when off an Antoine Zahra low cross, it was Scerri who lifted his effort from an ideal position well over the bar.
Six minutes later, it was Essiem Mbong who headed over a Cohen freekick. And the Nigerian midfielder was unlucky on 81 minutes when he had another header hitting the crossbar with Borg completely beaten, off another Cohen freekick.
Hibs assured themselves of the three points on 85 minutes when Andrew Cohen took the ball from three quarters pitch and beat one man after another before hitting the ball past a helpless Omar Borg.
At the referee’s final whistle it was a pity to see some players getting involved in an uncalled for incident as they were heading into the dressing rooms. It was a sort of free for all but with the help of some team-mates and the coaches, order seemed to have been restored quickly, at least till the players were out of sight.