Hibernians-Marsaxlokk 3-0

Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Pulis, A. Xuereb, R. Mintoff, D. Camilleri, E. Mbong, P. Pullicino (E. Agius), N. Chukunyere, A. Zahra (M. Bartolo), T. Scerri (E. Azzopardi), A. Cohen.

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, C. Paiber, C. Magro, M. Caruana (B. Caruaua), K. Mamo, I. Zammit, J. Pace, T. Templeman, C. Frendo, M. Licari (A. Cassar), E. Thornton (M. Ivanov Trendafilov)

Referee: A. Casha, Ass referees: C. Micallef, E. Farrugia, Fourth official: M. Borg

Scorers: T. Scerri, P. Pullicino, A. Cohen

Player of the match: Ndubisi Chukunyere (Hibernians)

TMI top three: 1. N. Chukunyere, 2. A. Cohen, 3. P. Pullicino

Hibernians easily had the better of Marsaxlokk to move temporarily into second place in a match which they dominated from beginning to end proving to be miles ahead from a poor Marsaxlokk.

The Paolites will be eager spectators on Saturday as they hope to remain in second place given they have a game in hand. They will hope that Valletta and Birkirkara drop important points as the hunt for second place becomes more intriguing.

With the return of the suspended Andrew Cohen, Hibernians could field a full side and this proved a handful to Marsaxlokk who had Cleavon Frendo and Malcolm Licari also returning from suspension but who still had to take the field without a number of their regular players still out through injury.

Hibernians were solid not only in defence, where they rarely if ever gave the Marsaxlokk strikers any space but they built their victory thanks to their solid midfield and very fast attack.

In this regard Chukunyere, Peter Pullicino, Essien Mbong were combining well with Cohen, Scerri and Zahra and for the first 30 minutes in the first half, such was the difference in class that it seemed as if Hibernians were playing against a team from a lower division.

The strikers were carving opens like a hot knife passing through butter and causing continuous headaches to the Marsaxlokk defence.

Marsaxlokk will have their goalkeeper Debono to thank for keeping the score respectable. And when he was beaten, on three occasions, they avoided more goals thanks to clearances off the goal-line.

The Paolites immediately took the upper hand in the opening minutes as they dominated proceedings with Marsaxlokk finding it difficult to contain their attacks and having to operate on counter attacks.

After just two minutes, Zahra entered the Marsaxlokk area perilously and Debono had to block with his feet to corner.

Ten minutes later, Zahra was faster than the Marsaxlokk defence and penetrated well but his cross was blocked in extremis by Magro.

The goal was in the air. A Chuckunyere header was blocked by Frendo on the goal-line. From the rebound Scerri attempted a shot at goal but this time the ball was cleared by Mamo.

In the 17th minute, Hibernians managed to score. Scerri entered the area and hit a low shot past a helpless Debono.

It was evident that Hibernians were in command. They were rewarded for their perseverance in the 23rd minute when Chuckunyere in the heart of the penalty area passed to Pullicino who kept his cool and then hit low past Debono.

On the change of ends, Hibernians continued to pile up the pressure as Marsaxlokk were completely dominated and too poor in attack.

Zahra passed to Scerri on the hour and the latter’s shot was blocked by Debono.

It was only here that the Paolites seemed to loose steam and finally Marsaxlokk started to come out of their defensive shell. But by this stage, Hibernians could defend safely and operate on fast counter attacks always procuring havoc.

In their first dangerous move in the 74th minute, Marsaxlokk nearly scored. Trendafilov unleashed a ferocious drive from an angle and beat Muscat but the ball thumped against the post.

Then substitute Alessio Cassar tested Muscat with a low but central shot which the Hibernians goalkeeper neutralised with ease.

The Paolites sealed the issue in the 90th minute when after some fine work by Chukunyere, substitute Azzopardi passed to Cohen who controlled the ball and then hit a curling lob which beat Debono all ends up.

In added time, Muscat had to dive full length to turn to corner a Mamo effort. It was Marsaxlokk’s last attempt. But by then, the match was over.