Hibernians-Floriana 3-0
Hibernians: M. Muscat, P. Pullicino (E. Agius), A. Xuereb, D. Camilleri, E. Mbong, A. Zahra, C. Failla (J. Vella), A. Cohen, T. Scerri (J. Caruana), R. Mintoff, H. Doda
Floriana: S. Agius, R. Gango-Rtsa, J. Briffa (R. Darmanin), K. Fabri, C. Cassar, M. Micallef, M. Brincat (M. Caruana), T. Cilia, A. Da Silva, A. Eviparker (N. Baldacchino), A. Mifsud
Referee: A. Azzopardi Asst refs: C. Micallef, N. Debattista. 4th official: K. Azzopardi.
Scorers: A. Cohen, H. Doda, T. Scerri
Yellow cards: A. Cohen, A. Xuereb, T. Scerri, J. Briffa
Player of the match - A. Cohen (Hibernians)
TMI best three - 1. A. Zahra, 2. P. Pullicino, 3. C. Failla
Floriana met an irresistible force called Hibernians yesterday and were hit by another goal rot.
The Greens went in at half-time three goals down, shell-shocked by the Paolites’ sizzling onslaught. Adrian Mifsud’s debut for Floriana, against his former team, did little to sort out Floriana’s profligacy in front of their opponents’ goal. The striker earned his side a penalty which Da Silva contrived to miss just before the break. Otherwise he looked innocuous in a Floriana teethless attack.
The absences of both Pulis and Spiteri in defence, did not hamper Hibernians’ resilient approach to the game. They cracked in three goals by the first 20 minutes in a devastating burst as Floriana caved in during a fatal seven minutes of the first half, showing serious flaws in their covering.
The damage was mainly inflicted by Doda, Scerri and Cohen with Zahra and Failla both looking menacing on opposite flanks.
Ironically Floriana were the first to test keeper Muscat with an Eviparker long-range drive.
But on 13 minutes, Hibernians broke the deadlock. Doda’s effort shivered the bar and opportunist Andrew Cohen easily shot in the rebound. Three minutes later Failla ran down the left flank, crossed low from the byeline for the unmarked Haruna Doda to shoot past the stranded keeper Agius.
Floriana collapsed to concede a third goal on 20 minutes. Agius was again rendered helpless by Terence Scerri’s defiant strike on Zahra’s cross from the right.
Hibernians appeared at that stage to have the edge in power and confidence. Scerri could have added another goal past the half hour after rounding the onrushing Agius but Gango-Rtsa cleared his goal-bound effort into a corner. Scerri put a header wide on Cohen’s cross and Zahra exchanged the ball with Cohen, only to be foiled by Fabri.
On the stroke of half-time, Mifsud was bundled by Xuereb and Pullicino inside the area to earn Floriana a penalty but Da Silva’s spot kick was saved by keeper Muscat, helped by the post.
Although Hibernians remained firmly in command in the second period, they failed to add further goals, despite some close shaves and several corners as Floriana’s defence was repeatedly ripped apart by the Paolites’ exciting attack.
Scerri was close with three attempts, one being saved by the keeper, one missing the target and one hitting the upright, before being substituted.
Floriana, pulling off Brincat and Briffa in the second half, rarely ventured into enemy territory except for an Eviparker misplaced shot on Cilia’s cross soon after the restart and a powerful drive by susbstitute Baldacchino, well saved by keeper Muscat, in the late stages.
There was no doubting Hibernians’ deserved win at the end.