Hibernians-Omonia Nicosia 0-3

Hibernians.: M. Muscat, P. Pullicino, A. Pulis, A. Xuereb, E. Mbong, T. Scerri, A. Cohen (A. Zahra), R. Baldacchino (J. Vella), D. Camilleri, C. Failla (R. Mintoff), H. Doda

Omonia: D. Leoni, G. Theodotou, G. Korolovski, M. Papaioannou (L.Kakoyiannis), V. Grosdanoski, J. Koslej, G. Vakouftsis (S. Dobrasinovic), C. Kaifas (I.Ioakim), N.Georgiou, S. Christou, P. Konnafisi

Referee: S. Podeschi (San Marino)

Ass Refs: M. Busignani, M. Giusti, 4th official: G. Rossi

Scorers: V. Grosdanoski (2), G. Vakouftsis (pen)

Yellow cards: A. Xuereb

Just like their first leg match,Omonia Nicosia proved very tough opponents, full of purpose and invention for a very disappointing Hibernians side, which went down heavily on home soil yesterday, to complete a miserable experience for Maltese clubs in European competitions this season.

The Cypriot side was encouraged by a handful of colourful and noisy supporters in stark contrast to the few scores of Maltese spectators present at Ta’ Qali. With their pace and power up front, Omonia always looked likely winners, especially after taking a very early lead which paved the way for a deserved and well earned victory and a 6-0 aggregate score.

What was disappointing about the Hibernians performance was the ineptitude of their defending. David Camilleri played at the back, with Failla included in the starting line-up and Mintoff relegated to the bench. Coach Robert Gatt reverted to Mintoff in defence for the second half, as Failla’s substitute, when the Paolites were already two goals down.

Offered little protection by their midfield, the back four were quite a distance off pace and found themselves increasingly troubled, particularly by Vakouftsis’ pleasing accurate centres and the mobility of Omonia’s front runners.

Omonia’s early goal might have come as a shock for Hibernians’ plans of at least keeping themselves in contention despite a three-goal deficit from the first leg. With hardly five minutes on the clock, Koslej played a long ball behind the Hibs rearguard for Vlatko Grosdanoski to beat keeper Muscat with a looping header on the run.

Cohen did well to beat his opponent on the right flank three minutes later, delivered a testing cross which was headed by Scerri but the effort lacked the required punch and Omonia’s keeper could save.

Midway through the half, Omonia created two good scoring opportunities which they however failed to finish off. Pulis’ timely tackle into a corner prevented Theodotou from connecting well on Vakouftsis’ insidious low cross. Shortly afterwards, Koslej shot Theodotou’s cross off target, the ball taking a slight deflection into a corner.

But there was no denying Omonia a second goal two minutes before the break, when awarded a penalty as Grosdanoski advanced towards goal on Christou’s through ball and was floored by the onrushing Muscat. Georgios Vakouftsis, who had also scored a penalty in the first leg in Nicosia, again executed his spot kick with perfection to give his side a comfortable half-time lead.

Hibernians showed some bright approaches after the restart but were hardly ever that menacing to cause a real threat to Omonia’s compact rearguard.

Another defensive lapse by the Hibernians’s defence when failing to cut Kaifas’ penetrating pass, allowed Vlatko Grosdanoski to run through on his own, outplay keeper Muscat inside the area before depositing the ball into a unattended goal to dismantle the Maltese side. The match, which was never a contest, was as good as over.