Msida SJ-Hibernians 0-2

Msida SJ: O. Borg, D. Theuma (L.Micallef), J. Mifsud, S. Grima, T. Farrugia, C. Sciberras, D. Cachia, P. Fenech (M. Valencia), I. Babatunde (S. Tagliaferro), D. Nwoke, O. Zongo

Hibernians: M. Muscat, P. Pullicino (E. Agius), A. Pulis, A. Xuereb, E. Mbong, A. Cohen, C. Faillla, J. Vella (R. Baldacchino), J. Pearson (K. Spiteri), D. Camilleri, H. Doda

Scorers: H. Doda, R. Baldacchino

Referee: A. Azzopardi Asst. refs: P. Agius, M. Debono 4th official: C. Pisani

Yellow cards: E. Mbong, T. Farrugia

Player of the match: Mario Muscat (Hibernians)

TMI top three: 1. C. Sciberras 2. P. Pullicino 3. E. Mbong

Msida St Joseph dominated this match for long stretches but were unable to profit from a hatful of chances and finally paid the penalty. Although their strikers ran havoc inside the Paolites’ rearguard, they failed to conclude and were finally caught up with two goals, one in each half, to finish on the losing end.

Hibernians thus ended their run of two previous matches without a win to go into second place in the table, three points adrift of leaders Birkirkara, who play their last match of the second round this afternoon.

Hibernians’ display was far from full bodied but well beyond sufficient for yesterday’s purpose against opponents struggling to clinch a Championship Pool berth which looked so close a couple of months ago.

In fact their opening goal, two minutes before the break, came against the run of play. As Msida keeper Borg rushed out to intercept Cohen’s penetrating pass, Haruna Doda pounced on the ball and scored from an acute angle close to the byeline on the left.

Were it not for their profligacy, Msida could have taken the lead themselves much earlier.

The Saints’ willingness to come at play lent the game its lively opening. A Sciberras header was blocked on the goal line and a Zongo cross by the tenth minute was blocked into a corner by Pulis. On Nwoke’s cross, Babatunde’s low drive was footed into a corner by keeper Muscat, as a litany of shots were blocked in succession by the Hibernians’ defenders.

Past the half hour a Fenech dipper nearly caught the Hibernians keeper out of place but the ball fell onto the goal’s net.

Msida continued with their persistent but inaccurate search for an equaliser after the restart. A Farrugia long shot was blocked by Muscat and Sciberras headed Cachia’s cross just wide.

Past the hour, Zongo beat keeper Muscat with a lob but Xuereb averted the danger, clearing into a corner.

Hibernians though, were counter attacking with increasing fluency in the second half. Pullicino tested keeper Borg with a low drive and when Doda laid a good ball for the unmarked Mbong, the Hibernians midfielder skied it from the edge of the area.

Msida were undone by one of their dangerous breaks on 67 minutes. Cohen’s long cross from the left was knocked by Pulis towards the middle for substitute Roderick Baldacchino to slot it in from close range.

Msida looked shaken and the relieved Hibernians created another good opportunity when a Pullicino shot was palmed out by keeper Borg.

Msida’s double substitution late in the match brought no rewards for the wasteful Saints who now remain without a win in their last seven matches and goalless in their last three.

The future looks bleak!