Marsaxlokk 0

Hibernians 2

Marsaxlokk: C. Cassar, K. Polidano, M. Licari, J. Xerri (S. Cuatajar), S. Borg, C. Mamo, M. Valeriani, G. Caruana, P. Borg, J.P. Farrugia (J. C. Vella), D. Grech

Hibernians: M. Muscat, E. Herrera (A. Azzopardi), A. Xuereb, R. Soares, B. Kristensen, D. Sammut, C. Failla, T. Caruana, A. Cohen, S. Pisani, J. Bezzina (S. Chircop)

Referee: A. Arciola

Asst. refs: M. Debono, R. Vella

4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: S. Pisani 17, 42

Yellow cards: M. Valeriani

Player of the match: Steve Pisani (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. B. Kristenssen 2. S. Pisani 3. S. Borg

Steve Pisani scored a brace to give Hibernians a deserved win against Marsaxlokk and keep his side within touching distance of leaders Valletta.

The goals, one in each half, served to break the tedium which descended over Ta’Qali for most of the 90 minutes. To be fair, Marsaxlokk were poor and they never came to terms with the pace and persistence of Hibernians’ midfield play. Hibernians won without breaking sweat.

Marsaxlokk have become the laughing stock of local football. With Sunday Eboh and Clive Brincat suspended and Emiliano Lattes injured, yesterday they named only three substitutes, one of whom was goalkeeper Reuben Gauci.

It says something that they only put one shot on target during the first half and that came after 38 minutes from Jean Paul Farrugia. It did not trouble Hibernians’ keeper Muscat, who needed not be in attendance yesterday.

Hibernians also had some notable absentees, especially the suspended Marcelo Dias and forward Luis Edison, besides the injured Ryan Camilleri and Balbinot in defence.

Steve Pisani, who was Hibernians’ most advanced player, scored his side’s two to take a comfortable lead by halftime.

On 17 minutes Cohen picked Kristenssen’s pass, advanced and shot. Keeper Cassar held out but Steve Pisani was left unattended to hit in the loose ball.

Hibernians doubled their lead three minutes before the break. Pisani again was the first to react, after keeper Cassar had only parried Caruana’s powerful drive from the edge of the area, to tap in the loose ball.

Hibernians’ was a tetchy kind of advantage though. They rarely showed enough conviction against lamentable opponents and Cohen, Failla and Caruana were erratic with their conclusions.

Still, the Paoiltes continued to toy with their opponents after the restart.

On 55 minutes Cohen’s meaty free kick from outside the area on the left demanded an elastic save from keeper Cassar to turn the ball into a corner.

On 67 minutes, the woodwork saved Marsaxlokk from further derision as their defence failed to intercept Pisani’s cross from the right and Failla thumped his shot against the underside of the bar.

In the late stages, keeper Cassar thwarted Triston Caruana, turning his shot into a corner. And with one minute remaining, Pisani could have notched his hat-trick when running clear inside the Marsaxlokk area, but was denied by Sascha Borg’s timely tackle into a corner.