Hibernians 1
Floriana 0
Hibernians: M. Muscat, J. Pearson, J. Vandelannoite, R. Soares, R. Camilleri, B. Kristensen, A. Cohen, J. Lima, C. Failla, E. Herrera (P. Anizoba), L. Edison (M. Dias)
Coach: M. Miller
Floriana: M. Bartolo, D. Pisani (R. Darmanin), M. Micallef, E. Akoto, O. Bugeja, I. Woods, T. Paris, A. Grabowski (J. Mintoff), C. Caruana (T. Farrugia), O. Sodje, A. Da Silva
Coach: J. Brincat
Referee: A. Arciola
Asst.refs: R. Vella, D. Sultana
4th official: A. Azzopardi
Scorers: A. Cohen 24
Yellow cards: I. Woods, L. Edison, T. Paris, D. Pisani, A. Cohen, M. Bartolo, T. Farrugia
Player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. A. Cohen 2. I. Woods 3. T. Paris
Hibernians closed the gap on leaders Valletta to three points, with the latter having a game in hand, as they beat Floriana with a solitary Andrew Cohen goal scored midway through the first half.
Although it was Hibernains whose attacking intentions were the clearer, with midfielder Cohen being the inspiration for most of their creativity, it was a low key match as Floriana were bereft of conviction on the few occasions they attacked the Hibernians’ goal.
Both teams went into this game in some vein of good form, following wins in their previous matches. Hibernians needed the points to keep up the heat on leaders Valletta while Floriana need to consolidate third place, with Birkirkara hot on their heels.
Hibernians were an unchanged side, with Ryan Camilleri keeping his place as left back and Jackson Lima again starting ahead of Marcelo Dias.
Floriana were forced to make two changes. Pablo Doffo and Clyde Borg were both suspended. Christian Caruana was making his return after a three-match absence, while Alandson started in attack. Ivan Woods played in an unusual retreated role in front of the defence during the first half but then moved upfield after the restart as Floriana substituted Caruana with Tyrone Farrugia at halftime.
The first 20 minutes were totally barren and served only as a cure for insomnia. After that, Failla shot over and his other long range shot forced keeper Bartolo to save on the ground.
On 23 minutes Lima narrowly missed the target with his direct free kick from 30 metres out, only for Andrew Cohen to break the deadlock a minute later. The Hibernians midfielder cut through the middle from the right before unleashing a powerful shot that beat the Floriana keeper from the edge of the area.
Hibernians kept playing the tune. Herrera put Luis Edison clear with a long pass but the Brazilian forward shot wastefully over.
Floriana’s only chance fell on 38 minutes when a Soares headed clearance fell to Grabowski who played the ball square to the advancing Alandson who shot against the side netting.
On the stroke of halftime, Sodje headed Woods’ free kick past keeper Muscat but the goal was disallowed for offside.
The second half was even far less exciting, with Floriana unable to make a decent reaction and Hibernians happy to defend their lead with minimal difficulty. Both defences remained largely untroubled.
Cohen crossed from the right for Luis Edison to head over with difficulty.
On 69 minutes, Sodje, who was only a peripheral figure, hit Farrugia’s pass first time but missed the target completely.
Muscat then rushed out of his area to clear the ball and as it fell to Woods, he tried to lob it into an empty goal but his effort lacked precision.
Hibernians also put in Dias and Anizoba, with John Mintoff and Ryan Darmanin going in as late substitutes for Floriana. But none could stop the sterility that had spread into the match and Cohen’s only goal proved decisive for Hibernians at the end.