Qormi-Hibernians 1-4
Qormi: M. Farrugia, T. Caruana, G. Nocera (F. Santaguida), L. Del Guidice (L. Grech), J. Silva, E. Vella (R. Bajada), O. Bugeja, D. Pisani, J. Bondin, R. Innocenti, F. D’Aniello
Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson (J.P. Farrugia), J. Lima, R. Soares (M. Tabone), M. Dias, A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, C. Failla, Z. Levnaic, L. Edison (O. Obiefule)
Referee: F. Zammit
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, L. Portelli
4th official: A. Azzopardi
Scorers: A. Cohen 1, C. Failla 4, L. Edison 27, R. Soares 67, J. Silva 85
Yellow cards: R. Soares, L. Grech
Red card: J.P. Farrugia
Player of the match: L. Edsion (Hibernians)
TMI top three: 1. J. Lima 2. R. Camilleri 3. A. Cohen
Attendance: 1,916
Hibernians, full of energy, desire and a crucial dash of quality, deserved this sixth league victory on the trot that keeps them at the summit of the BoV Premier League with a hundred per cent record.
Their opponents Qormi looked poor yesterday, once again falling well below the standards of Premier League football. With some fairly basic defensive clearances that simply gifted possession to their opponents Qormi found themselves pinned back inside their own half for long stretches.
All the Hibernians’ goals came from different scorers, with Cohen breaking the deadlock, followed by Failla’s strike, Luis Edison’s header and another headed goal from central defender Soares.
It was surprising how Alfred Effiong and Roderick Sammut were omitted from the Qormi squad, who welcomed back Francesco D’Aniello in their starting line-up. Roderick Bajada, Leighton Grech and Federico Santaguida only made substitutes’ appearances.
Qormi showed too much lack of conviction and were always on the backfoot against superior opponents, who were full value for their win.
The leaders were three goals to the good already inside the first half hour and were even denied by the woodwork besides having another effort cleared off the line. With an ease and economy of effort,the Paolites added another goal and had another effort held out by the upright in a match that was never a contest. Qormi’s late Jorginho goal, after Hibernians were down to ten men, served only for statistical purposes.
The match was hardly one minute old when Hibernians took the lead. Edison’s header on Lima’s cross inside the Qormi area was blocked by keeper Farrugia but Andrew Cohen was quick to tap the loose ball in from close range.
The Paolites doubled their lead three minutes later. The pass again came from Lima’s feet, as far as wide palyer Clayton Failla who hit in, beating the Qormi keeper for power and precision.
Many feared a goal deluge as Hibernians remained on the offensive. Defender Vella cleared off the line an Edison goalbound effort after good work from the byeline on the left and on 26 minutes, the bar went to Qormi’s rescue, holding out Pearson’s header following a Lima free kick.
There was no denying Hibernians a minute later though. Luis Edison reached before Innocenti for Cohen’s cross and headed past keeper Farrugia.
Completely outplayed and outmuscled, Qormi were forced to replace the injured Emerson Vella with Roderick Bajada after only 18 minutes of the first half.
The inclusion of Leighton Grech for the second period might have given Qormi brief hopes of pulling themsleves into the match. His shot hit Camilleri’s hands inside the area but Qormi claims for a penalty were turned down by the referee. On 55 minutes, Grech again found himself inside the Hibernians’ area, but challenged by two opponents, he lost hsi balance and shot feebly on keeper Muscat.
Hibernians effected a double substitution on the hour puttinh in Obiefule and Jean Paul Farrugia. Cohen’s deep cross fell to the latter whose first timer missed the target.
On 67 minutes Rodolfo Soares, joining in attack, headed Failla’s cross from the right past keeper Farrugia and on 74 minutes other substitute Obiefule headed Dias’ cross against the upright.
In the late stages, Hibernians’ undisputed victory was marred by Farrugia’s dismissal on 78 minutes, qpparantly for showing dissent towards the referee. Two minutes later, Soares limped off injured and five minutes from the end, Jorge Silva chased Grech’s pass through the middle and beat keeper Muscat with a low drive to deny the leaders a clean sheet.