Hibernians 4

Qormi 0

Hibernians: M. Muscat (L. Bonnici), R. Camilleri, A. Xuereb, D. Balbinot, R. Soares, C. Failla (T. Caruana), A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, S. Pisani, M. Dias (E. Herrera), L. Edison

Qormi: M. Farrugia, J. Chetcuti (S. Wellman), R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, K. Scicluna, D. Cachia (L. Sciberras), J. Bondin, J. Pereira, S. Duff, A. Bello-Osagie, D. Nwoke (Jos. Chetcuti)

Referee: K. Azzopardi

Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, M. Scerri

4th official: E. Azzopardi

Scorers: L. Edison 2, 45, 90+ C. Failla 42

Yellow cards: R. Sammut, M. Muscat, K. Scicluna, Jos. Chetcuti

Player of the match: Luis Edison (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. M. Dias 2. L. Edison 3. C. Failla

Attendance: 1,367

Hibernians are back on top of the Premier League standings after beating the in-form Qormi convincingly in a match shrouded with controversy and filled with plenty of incident.

Hibernians’ performance, recapturing the spirit of buoyance after a dull draw against Floriana the previous week, suggests Miller’s side has lost none of the credentials that make it serious title contenders as the first round comes to an end.

Hibernians made tactical changes to their side, with Aaron Xuereb playing as right back, Soares and Balbinot the two central defenders and Failla advancing in central midfield. Edward Herrera was relegated to the bench with Steve Pisani starting wide on the left. That gave the Paolites the edge in midfield, where Qormi sorely missed the inventive of their injured captain Joseph Farrugia. Instead, Qormi gave a debut start to their latest Scottish recruit Stuart Duff, but he was often outplayed in that sector of the pitch.

Qormi’s forwards were totally starved of service and their cause was further undermined by the forced substitution of Daniel Nwoke shortly before the quarter hour.

With the driving energy of Marcelo Dias on the flank and the illusive movement in attack of Luis Edison, Hibernians always had the ascendancy. Clayton Failla once again demonstrated his enduring brilliance and scored a spectacular goal, while Andrew Cohen was always prominently involved.

Qormi three times changed their defensive set-up in the course of the game. With Wellman starting on the bench, Matthew Bartolo played as left back but was always at pain to contain the irresistible forages of Dias and after the interval, Bartolo sapped positions with Jeffrey Chetcuti. The latter also looked slow to contain Dias and was eventually substituted by Wellman towards the hour, as Roderick Sammut moving wide on the left.

Qormi were on the back foot from the time they fell behind after only two minutes. Then they were undone by two more goals shortly before the break, the third stirring debate whether the ball had crossed the goal line before Bartolo had cleared it away, and never recovered.

Hibernians could not have had a better start. With one minute on the clock, Cohen’s inswinging free kick was tipped over the bar by keeper Farrugia. Failla’s corner from the right was deflected by Dias and the ball fell perfectly right for Luis Edison to flick it low past the helpless keeper.

Qormi were destined to face an uphill struggle. Bartolo, starting as right back, looked at pains to contain the powerful forages of Dias down the right flank. On the Brazilian’s incursion towards the half hour, Farrugia footed out his effort. Seven minutes later, the Qormi keeper foiled Luis Edison twice in succession, following a Cohen insidious free kick.

With Hibernians firmly in command, Qormi were undone by two goals in quick succession shortly before halftime.

On 42 minutes Dias, menacing as always, toyed with his marker Scicluna on the right flank before his delivery fell to Clayton Failla who beat keeper Farrugia with a low drive at the far end.

Three minutes later, Luis Edison made progress from the left. His shot went past the keeper but Bartolo looked capable of clearing out the ball. Assistant Scerri judged the ball to have crossed the line and the Hibernians’ goal stood, amidst harsh protests by the Qormi players, although serious doubts remain.

For the second half, Hibernians remained mostly the better team. Failla almost capitalised on Joseph Chetcuti’s erratic square pass but shot narrowly off target.

On 58 minutes, Muscat’s throw forward was outside the area but Qormi missed the chance with a Perreira horrendous free kick.

With a quarter hour remaining, the Hibernians keeper was substituted after injuring himself in a collision with Perreira and Soares as he tried to fist out a high ball.

His young understudy, Luke Bonnici was immediately tested with a long range shot from Bartolo but then the keeper brought a smart save off substitute Sciberras.

Three minutes into added time, substitute Herrera, with his first touch of the ball, provided a cross from the right for Luis Edison to steer the ball in from close range and complete his hat-trick as well as taking his tally to an impressive 14 goals already this season.