Hobernians-Vittoriosa 5-1

Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson (M. Bartolo),  R. Soares (O. Obiefule), M. Dias (B. Muscat), A. Cohen, C. Failla, J. Lima, L. Edison, Z. Levnaic, J.P. Farrugia

Vittoriosa: S. Cini, M. Buttigieg (L. Gauci), A. Spiteri (O. Ebesuwa), M. Pereira, Siraj Arab (G. Martin), C. Spiteri, C. Brincat, O. Guerrero, J.F. Aguiar, Samir Arab, M. Camilleri

Referee: G. Tonna

Asst.refs:  C. Francalanza, D. Sultana

4th official: S. Spiteri

Scorers: C. Failla 15, 60 pen, A. Cohen 53, M. Pereira 65, L. Edison 77,86

Yellow cards: S. Cini, C. Brincat, Z. Levnaic, O. Guerrero, J. Pearson

Player of the match: C. Failla (Hibernians)

TMI top three: 1. C. Failla  2. A. Cohen  3. M. Buttigieg

 

A  comfortable win for Hibernians, even contriving to miss a late penalty, put

them back on track and ensured they remain at the top. But this was timid, unfocused staff from Nisevic’s men, who only upped their standards and resolve in the second half. They seized on Vittoriosa’s nerves and punished them for their dismal defending.

At every stage Hibernians had been quicker to the ball, symptomatic of

Vittoriosa’s sluggishness. But this was nothing more than a case  of minimum effort for maximum return.

These are grim times for Vittoriosa that leaves them sinking fast. Toothless in attack, obliging in defence, they left themselves with too much to do after going three down by the hour.

Both teams were forced to make changes following defeats in their previous

matches. Hibernians, beaten by Tarxien Rainbows for the first time this season

and caught at the summit by Birkirkara, had their holding midfielder Bjorn

Kristensen suspended, but welcomed back Jonathan Pearson at the heart of their defence. Zoran Levnaic was given a start as Matthew Bartolo was relegated to the bench.

On their part, Vittoriosa, at the lower end of the table, beaten by Balzan and winless in their last six

matches, lately have released their two Brazilians Marcio Teruel and Ramon Dos

Santos. Mark Barbara was only named among the substitutes as Adam Spiteri,

Samir Arab and Michael Camilleri were given the nod. Coach Spiteri adjusted his formation to give his side more solidity in midfield as Hibernians dominated possession for the first 45 minutes.

The Paolites subjected their opponents to some concerted pressure but could not

find a way past the Stars’ amassed defence. Dias and Luis Edison had a relatively quiet first half. On the quarter hour, Vittoriosa keeper Cini rushed out of the area to block Levnaic but fouled him in the process to concede a direct free kick and collect a caution. Clayton Failla stepped up to leave him hooked to his line with an exquisite left foot shot.

Cohen tried to emulate Failla seven minutes later as Hibernians were awarded another free kick just outside the Vittoriosa area on the left. This time the effort was tame and keeper Cini could save.

Past the half hour, from a Lima corner, Pearson headed towards the middle for Soares to head just over. Towards the end of a mundane first half, Cohen and Edison hit weakly as Hibernians raked crosses inside the Vittoriosa area.

Hibernians continued their attacking theme after the break. Keeper Cini repelled

Failla’s shot. Dias’ cross shot from the right found no takers until the Paolites

doubled their lead on 53 minutes without looking particularly brilliant. With the Vittoriosa defence caught napping, Andrew Cohen headed in Lima’s free kick from the left.

Hibernians’ third goal on the hour, sealed the issue. That came courtesy of a penalty, won by Failla when tripped by Samir Arab as he was about to turn away from him. Failla himself tucked it away – his fifth penalty of the season.

Ironically, Vittoriosa regrouped after falling three behind and Gilbert Martin’s introduction for Siraj Arab. On 65 minutes Marcelo Pereira pulled one back for the Stars, finishing off Aguiar’s cross from the right.

Ten minutes later, Martin tested keeper Muscat with a hard close range shot.

But two more goals for Hibernians in the final 13 minutes extinguished Vittoriosa’s brief revival. Some misunderstanding between Vittoriosa defender Camilleri and the goalkeeper as they tried to block Luis Edison’s incursion, allowed the Brazilian to slot the ball between the two after 77 minutes. Four minutes from the end, Edison scored his second. He anticipated the onsrishing keeper Cini on a Cohen long pass forward, robbed him of the ball and hit it in.

Hibernians could have inflicted more damage on Vittoriosa at the stroke of full time but keeper Cini atoned for a poor perfromance when saving Failla’s penalty, awarded to the leaders after Spiteri fouled Edison inside the area.