Hibernians 6
Mqabba 1
Mqabba: F. Azzopardi, C. Micallef, P. Grima (R. Duca), R. Sammut, B. Timotic, M. Potezika, D. Azzopardi, C. Calleja, B. Mamic, T. Mazzitelli (J. Nwoba), M. Briffa (J.P. Muscat)
Hibernians: M. Muscat, J. Pearson (P. Anizoba), A. Xuereb, R. Soares, J. Vandelannoite, B. Kristensen, A. Cohen, E. Herrera (S. Pisani), M. Dias, C. Failla (R. Camilleri), L. Edison
Referee: A. M. Sant
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, A. Grech
4th official: K. Azzopardi
Scorers: M. Dias 15, 45, B. Mamic 18, P. Grima og 28, E. Herrera 37, 48, L. Edison 43 pen
Yellow cards: R. Soares, B. Timotic
Player of the match: Marcelo Dias (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: M. Dias 2. L. Edison 3. A. Cohen
Hibernians enjoyed a goal feast yesterday as they hit Mqabba for six in a one-sided match that was over as a contest by half time.
Marcelo Dias, starting the match for the suspended Jackson Lima, Luis Edison and Andrew Cohen had a field day against inferior opponents, who fought gamely for the first half hour but were then undone by three goals towards the end of the first period. Mqabba now succumb to their third consecutive defeat which leaves them dangerously embroiled in the relegation battle come the Premier League’s second phase.
Injuries and suspensions deprived Mqabbba of five key players, including regular goalkeeper Kris Calleja and defenders Mark Anthony Psaila and Mauro Bonnici. Midfielder David Fenech was also suspended, while defender Julian Briffa was injured.
Hibernians still carried too much ammunition for their depleted opponents, especially as their most creative force, Marcelo Dias, gave them more options on the flanks.
As expected, the Paolites made the more assertive start with deputy keeper Franklin Azzopardi blocking Cohen’s shot, when put through by Luis Edison, in the opening minutes. Then Cohen’s shot on the turn on Dias low cross was blocked by the Mqabba defenders.
Mqabba, who tried to harass their opponents, carved their first chance after 12 minutes. Briffa’s long cross was headed down by Mamic towards Calleja who shot high and wide.
On the quarter hour, Hibernians struck on the break. Marcelo Dias played one-two with Cohen, ran clear and beat the onrushing keeper with a delicate lob.
Mqabba still summoned some effort. On 18 minutes, the Hibernians keeper Muscat was called to stretch full length to turn Potezika’s long range effort into a corner. From the resultant Calleja corner, Bojan Mamic reached high to head past keeper Muscat to level matters.
Hibernians restored their lead ten minutes later, also from a Cohen corner kick from the right which was deflected by defender Pierre Grima into his own net.
Mqabba’s response, who were still very much in the game until then, came from a Mazitelli menacing free kick, which keeper Muscat parried and then blocked Azzopardi’s effort on the rebound.
Dias was the culprit of a glaring miss past the half hour, shooting wide when put clear by Cohen in front of the Mqabba goal.
But Hibernians scored three times in quick succession inside the last seven minutes of the half. On 37 minutes Edison did all the work on the left after Mqabba had given away possession. His cross was headed in by Edward Herrera.
Five minute later, on Dias cross from the byeline, Timotic pushed the advancing Luis Edison inside the area and the Brazilian tucked away the penalty.
Hibernians scored their fifth in added time as Marcelo Dias advanced down the right on Edison’s pass and unleashed a low shot which beat the poorly-placed keeper at the near post.
With the points virtually secured, Hibernians eased down in the second half, even if they put in Anizoba for Pearson and retreated Failla in defence. Mqabba tried to mitigate the damages, although they still conceded another goal on 48 minutes. A Cohen’s sailing free kick was headed by Anizoba towards the middle for Edward Herrera to hit in from close range.
Curiously enough, Cohen wore the number 20 shirt in the second half and this was spotted by the fourth official after five minutes play and the Hibernians midfielder was forced to change to his original number 10 strip.
Mqabba, who looked resigned to their fate, missed a good opportunity when Calleja ran clear on Azzopardi’d cross but hit wastefully over.
On the other end, an effort by Dias was blocked by the Mqabba keeper and Cohen headed Vandelannoite’s cross over. On a Cohen cross, Anizoba’s shot was saved into a corner by Azzopardi.
On 78 minutes, the Mqabba substitute Nwoba advanced on the right but keeper Muscat footed out the danger.
Three minutes from time, Anizoba picked Potezika’s erratic back pass, advanced unhindered but keeper Azzopardi saved his angled shot, as Luis Edison twice went close in the dying minutes but failed to add to Hibernians’ goal deluge.