Hibernians-Tarxien R 3-0
Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Pulis, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson, R. Soares (B. Muscat), J. Lima (A. Kardeck), A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, C. Failla, M. Dias (J. Bezzina) , J.P. Farrugia
Tarxien R: D. Cassar, C.Mamo, M. Caruana, M. Lopes Silva (M. Tanti), A. Esposito, J. Grioli, L. Almeida, R. Sammut, R. Bajada (O. Anonam), D. Bueno, S. Bonnici
Referee: M. Borg
Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, S. Attard
4th official: F. Zammit
Scorers: R. Soares 7, J. P. Farrugia 77
Yellow cards: M. Dias, A. Esposito, S. Bonnici, J.P. Farrugia, J. Grioli, J. Pearson, R. Camilleri
Red card: A. Esposito
Player of the match: C. Failla (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. C. Failla 2. J. P. Farrugia 3. L. Almeida
Hibernians fully capitalised on Tarxien’s erratic defending to score three times for a comfortable vistory on an afternoon when they barely needed to break sweat.Tarxien were unchanged from the side which played a scrappy goalless draw against same opponents in the last match of the second round.
Hibernians made two changes – Rodolfo Soares and Clayton Failla replaced Scott Chircop and Johann Bezzina in their starting line-up. Alan Kardeck, recalled to the team after Obiefule’s departure, was introduced as a late substitute.
This time the match did produce three goals, a sending off and penalty miss but it was no brimstone and fire. For large parts of a fairly sterile encounter, Hibernians dominated. They were helped by an early opener after seven minutes when a Tarxien clearance on Failla’s cross from the left fell invitingly to Rodolfo Soares to hit in from the edge of the area.
Tarxien’s immediate response came from Almeida who ran inside the Hibernians’ area from the right but messed his finishing with an erratic rising shot.
But the promise of some high-tempo fireworks quickly evaporated, giving way to a disappointingly firts half.
The Rainbows remained mostly erratic in their build-ups and showing flaws in defence. Their play lacked the invention and pace to break down Hibernians’ defence.
The goal apart, the other noteworthy episode of a mundane first 45 minutes was Esposito’s dismissal just past the half hour for a second booking in as many minutes.
Hibernians tried to exploit their numerical superiority after Bajada made way for Anonam in Tarxien’s more defensive set-up. Before the break, Lima shot his free kick over and Farrugia was stopped by keeper Cassar after his incursion inside the Tarxien area from the right.
Hibernians kept probing for that assuring goal in the second period but lacked enough fire power to really trouble the Tarxien rearguard.
On 56 minutes Dias’ glancing header, on Failla’s cross, went over.
Tarxien put in Mark Tanti for Lopes Silva and on the hour Lima’s inswing corner from the right was palmed out by keeper Cassar into another corner.
On 65 minutes Tarxien were afforded a chance to level matters when awarded a penalty after Pearson bundled Almeida inside the Hibernians area. But Tanti thumped his placed shot against the upright to keeper Muscat’s left.
Tarxien were further punished when Hibernians went close with a Kardeck effort hitting the post on Cohen’s cross.
On 77 minutes, Failla’s corner from the right was flicked in by Jean Paul Farrugia with his head, exploiting gaps in the Tarxien backline.
And five minutes later, the Paolites put some excessive gloss on their win with a third goal that had the Tarxien keeper to blame for a terrible gaffe. Substitute Bezzina played a long ball forward for Clayton Failla to chase and as the onrushing Cassar blatantly miskicked the clearance from outside the area, Failla was presented with the easiest of chances, steering the ball into an unattended net.