Floriana-Hibernians 0-4
Floriana: D. Hanford, A. Scicluna, I. Edet, S. Pisani, I. Coronado, D. Pinheiro, D. Baldachino, C. Borg, B. Farrugia (I. Galea), G. Muir, D. Kokavessis (L. Casha)
Hibernians: D. Balzan, T. Tabone Desira, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson, J. Lima, S. Chircop, Z. Levnaic, M. Bartolo (J. Degabriele), B. Muscat, O. Obiefule, L. Edison (Z. Scerri)
Referee: A. Azzopardi
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, R. Vella
4th official: A. Arciola
Scorers: O. Obiefule 20, 23, L. Edison 74, 79
Yellow cards: S. Chircop, J. Pearson, J. Degabriele
Player of the match: O. Obiefule (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. O. Obiefule 2. L. Edison 3. J. Lima
Attendance: 468
Two teams in deep crisis of form tried to make amends for their recent disappointing results and especially for their exit from the FA Trophy in midweek.
Hibernians were depleted, bereft of regulars Mario Muscat, Clayton Failla, Bjorn Kristensen, Andrew Cohen and Jean Paul Farrugia due to injuries, suspensions or the coach’s sheer choice, fielding a distinclty unfamiliar team.
Still they showed more determination to put themselves on track again and capitalised on their opponnents’ woes to beat them with two goals in each half.
Floriana made changes to their starting line-up, after setbacks in the league and the FA Trophy in recent weeks, as Andre Scicluna returned in defence and Darrell Baldacchino was again preferred as wide back to Sacha Borg. Igor Coronado started the match as did new recruit Dylan Kokavesiss in their attack.
But it was another abject performance from the Greens and another defeat that will almost surely see them fight off against relegation in the league’s second phase.
The match was probably safe for the Paolites before the half hour.
A three-minute burst by their Nigerian forward Obinne Obiefule gave Hibernians a two-goal cushion midway through the half. On 20 minutes Obiefule picked Edison’s cut-back passs from the byeline to beat keeper Hanford with a low strike at the far post.
Three minutes later, Obiefule took Bartolo’s pass in his stride from the left, cut through the middle past Edet with a strong challenge, avoided Scicluna’s tackle and beat Hanford again with a powerful shot.
Floriana looked visibly rattled although they twice went close to reducing the arrears before the half was over. Past the half hour, Pisani volleyed over the bar after the Hibernians’ young keeper Balzan failed to hold the ball and five minutes before the break, Balzan palmed out Coronado’s angled header on a Pisani cross from the right. But overall, it was a muted response.
The second period was even bleaker with Floriana unable to make a decent reaction and keeper Balzan was never really severely tested again.
Hibernians third goal a quarter hour from time, ended the game as a competitive spectacle. On a Lima free kick from the left, Luis Edison anticipated keeper Hanford and Pinheiro to head in. And five minutes later, with Hibernians playimg out time, Luis Edison scored his second. With Floriana defender Scicluna caught out of sorts on Obiefule’s pass, the Brazilian ran through the middle to beat keeper Hanford for the fourth time.