Tarxien R 1
Hibernians 2
Tarxien: D. Cassar, S. Sadowski (L. Vella Critien), C. Mamo, M. Caruana, E. Pereira, S. Giglio, J. Nzinga-Mayasi, K. Pulo, C. Sammut (W. Zerafa), R. Mintoff, C. Suguino (A. Carabott)
Hibernians: M. Muscat, J. Pearson, A. Xuereb, B. Kristensen, A. Cohen, R. Soares, C. Failla, M. Dias (J. Lima), P. Anizoba (S. Pisani), J. Vandelannoite, L. Edison
Referee: K. Azzopardi
Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, C. Francalanza
4th official: E. Azzopardi
Scorers: A. Cohen 9, P. Anizoba 22, J. Nzinga-Mayasi 77 pen
Yellow cards: A. Cohen, S. Sadowski, K. Pulo, R. Mintoff
Player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Dias 2. D. Cassar 3. A. Cohen
Attendance: 1,509
The end result does not reflect the flow and ebb of this derby, too one-sided to be called a contest, as the gulf in class between the sides looked evident as the match unfolded.
The neighbouring teams are going through contrasting fortunes. Tarxien Rainbows have slumped to their sixth defeat in their last seven matches as they linger in the place before last.
Yesterday, they were devoid of two suspended players, Orosco Anonam and Ricardo Costa, with Grioli and Bueno still injured. It was down to David Cassar who defied Hibernians time and again to spare his side a bigger defeat, as the Rainbows were largely bystanders, excluded from the festivities.
Ominously for their opponents, Hibernians were buoyed by the return of Marcelo Dias from suspension and with Jonathan Pearson starting the match for the first time this season. And with their full quota of foreigners on the pitch, latest signing from Sliema Wanderers, Jackson Lima, had to sit on the bench for 72 minutes before making a substitute appearance.
The Paolites keep up the chase with leaders Valletta and this derby win has helped them to close the gap to three points before the champions play Mqabba this afternoon.
It was superior Hibernians whose attacking intentions were the clearer, Brazilian Dias being the inspiration for most of their creativity.
Tarxien were soon on the back foot when conceding a goal after only nine minutes. Andrew Cohen exquisitely curled his direct free kick from the left around the Tarxien wall and beat keeper Cassar to his left.
Hibernians were soon on the ascendancy. Luis Edison chased a long ball but hit narrowly wide.
On 22 minutes the Paolites doubled their lead. Kristensen started the move, playing the ball wide to Dias on the right to send a perfect cross for Peter Anizoba to beat Mintoff in the air and head past keeper Cassar.
Hibernians had a goal disallowed on the half hour for Soares’ offside position as he tried to connect to Anizoba’s header.
And with half time looming, Edison headed Dias’ cross straight in the hands of the Tarxien keeper.
Tarxien effected a double substitution at the start of the second half, with Vella Critien and Carabott going in for Sadowski and Suguino, but the pattern did not change.
Hibernians remained potent going forward. Tarxien’s keeper Cassar looked concerned by Soares’ presence on a deep Cohen free kick and saved into a corner with difficulty. Cssar blocked Edison’s header on Failla’s ensuing corner.
On another Failla corner on the hour, Kristensen’s goal bound header was smartly tipped over the bar by the Tarxien custodian.
Tarxien, who had looked out of contention for most of the game, were handed a lifeline with 13 minutes remaining. They won a penalty when Pearson felled Pulo inside the area and their Congolese player Jimmy Nzinga-Mayasi tucked it away to reduce the arrears.
Hibernians, who had already withdrew Dias and Anizoba, were forced to show more diligence for the remaining minutes and again tested keeper Cassar on 83 minutes as he footed out Lima’s powerful free kick.
On the stroke of full time, substitute Carabott ran down the left. His low cross found other substitute Zerafa, whose low drive forced the grounded keeper Muscat to make his most difficult save of the match.
But that was too little too late. Hibernians are not so naïve to let the points slip away.