PIETA HOTSPURS 0
HIBERNIANS 2
Pieta H: M. Montfort, P. Deliminkov, B. Sciberras (S. Grech), Q. Refalo, C. Pulo, M. Vella (D. Mifsud), C. Sammut, C. Mckay (S. Ciscaldi), G. Goodlip, E. Herrera, R. Camilleri
Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Xuereb, J. Caruana, C. Failla, P. Doffo, T. Scerri, A. Cohen, U. Edafe (J. Scerri), J. Vella (R. Briffa), E. Agius, J. Alcorse
Referee: A.M.Sant Asst.refs: C. Micallef, G. Tonna 4th official: M. Borg
Scorers: J. Alcorse, T. Scerri
Yellow cards: C Pulo, M. Muscat
Player of the match: Terence Scerri (Hibernians)
TMI top three: 1. A. Cohen 2. T. Scerri 3. R. Camilleri
Injuries to key players and suspension took their toll on poor Pieta, bereft of Deanov, Galabov, Camenzuli, Aquilina and Kondev as they were outplayed and outmuscled by a superior Hibernians side, guided by assistant coach Edmond Lufi on the touchline, in the absence of Robert Gatt, who is serving a two-match ban.
This was a no contest in a dull match. Poor Pieta, who missed a second half penalty, surrendered to a second consecutive defeat against more competent opponents who themselves spurned chances galore to win only 2-0.
As expected, Hibernians dominated the proceedings in a one-sided first half, with Pieta mostly bystanders.
The Paolites, who had defenders Mintoff and Cassar absent through injury, scored twice within three minutes to take a 2-0 lead by the 22nd minute and virtually wrap up the points. They broke the deadlock when a Doffo free-kick from the right was headed from the byeline by Scerri towards the middle for Julio Alcorse to tap the ball in from close range.
Then Vella, who started the match, played the ball forward to Terrence Scerri to beat the square Pieta defence and shoot low past the helpless keeper Montfort.
Hibernians kept up the tempo and towards the half hour again went close when Alcorse’s powerful shot was turned into a corneer by Montfort.
Shortly before the break, Hibernians were denied by the woodwork. Cohen’s effort was palmed out by the Pieta keeper, but Scerri thumped the loose ball against the bar.
The pattern of the game did not change much in the second half, even though Pieta put in Mifsud and Ciscaldi after the interval.
Hibernians had close shaves by Alcorse and Scerri before Pulo ran on the left, made way towards the middle only for keeper Muscat to block his shot in two attempts.
On the other end, a Doffo volley from outside the area, on a Cohen corner kick, was blocked by the Pieta defence.
As the Paolites toyed with their opponents, Cohen failed to make contact to Scerri’s teasing cross after good footwork by Alcorse. On 70 minutes Doffo’s long range shot on Pieta’s defensive clearance, was saved by the diving Montfort.
Seven minutes later, Pieta were providentially presented with a chance to pull themselves back into the game when awarded a debatable penalty after Pulo fell under Caruana’s tackle. Muscat’s strong protests with the referee cost him a booking but the Hibernians custodian dived to his left to block Herrera’s penalty kick after the dust had settled.
Montfort saved Pieta from further derision as he blocked Scerri’s incursion.
In the late stages, Hibernians failed to add further goals as Scerri arrived late on Alcorse’s cross as the Paolites continued to bask in their complete superiority till the end.