Hibernians-Qormi 5-3

Hibernians – D. Balzan, T. Tabone Desira, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson, J. Lima Siqueira, S. Chircop, B. Muscat (J. Degbriele 73 min), Z. Levnaic, M. Bartolo, E. Dos Santos (Z. Scerri 93 min), O. Obiefule

Qormi – M. Farrugia, A. Effiong, R. Bajada, C. Terribile (L. Gabrieli 89 min), G. Gianola, L. Cantoro, S. Quintieri (D. Pirotta 81 min), E. Vella, D. Pisani, R. Sammut, L. Grech.

Referee – Marco Borg

Assistant referees – Edward Spiteri, Sammy Attard

Fourth Official – Fyodor Zammit

Scorers – C. Terribile 2 min, O. Obiefule 9 min, 15 min, E.L. Dos Santos 10 min, 92 min, J. Lima Siqueira 48 min, A. Effiong 57 min, L. Grech 86 min

Yellow cards – R. Bajada, C. Terribile, Z. Levnaic, J. Lima, A. Effiong, S. Quintieri,

Player of the match – Edison Luis Dos Santos (Hibs)

TMI best three – 1. E. Dos Santos (Hibs), J. Lima (Hibs), A. Effiong (Qormi)

Led by a brilliant Edison Luis Dos Santos and with some deadly finishing from Obiefule, Hibernians beat Qormi 5-3 in an entertaining match to consolidate their third position in the table and mov closer to league leaders Birkirkara who on Sunday were defeated by second placed Valletta.

Hibernians were worthy winners as they created the best chances of the match, although missing a lot in the process. Qormi’s defensive set up left much to be desired as the Hibs strikers made their way with relative ease in front of Farrugia.

Credit however goes to Qormi for their fighting spirit and never say-die attitude that kept them in the match till the final whistle evn though they were in fact outclassed by Hibernians.

After barely two minutes play Qormi took the lead when Quintieri passed towards Christian Terribile who beat Balzan with a low drive. Hibernians had an immediate reaction with Lima Siqueira passing towards Matthew Bartolo whose effort went slightly off target.

On nine minutes Hibernians were back on level terms when Dos Santos passed towards Obiefule who powered his way defender Sammut and beat Farrugia from close range. Not even sixty seconds later Hibernians were in front when Edison Luis Dos Santos pounced on Qormi lapse in midfield to advance and fire home a precise grounder.

Two minutes later Hibernians should have made it three when Dos Santos passed towards Bartolo who blasted high from an ideal position. But the third goal came on fifteen minutes when Lima’s through pass found Obiefule unmarked and the striker shot low past Farrugia.

The match was fast flowing with scoring chances in quick succession. On 25 minutes Cantoro’s shot was brilliantly saved by Balzan and on the other end Obiefule’s shot was partially saved by Farrugia and from the rebound Edison Dos Santos shot incredibly wide with an open goal at his mercy.

The last fifteen minutes of the first half were more balanced and Qormi went close on 44 minutes when a Cantoro freekick slammed against the crossbar.

The second half started with a Cantoro shot well saved by Balzan. But on 48 minutes Hibernians put the issue beyond doubt when Lima and Edison ripped the Qormi defence apart and the former fired home past a helpless Farrugia.

On 58 minutes Qormi pulled one back when Alfred Effiong shielded the ball well and beat Balzan with a shot on the turn. The game continued to be an entertaining affair with both sides creating a lot of scoring opportunities especially Hibernians who had a field day in attack.

But four minutes from the final whistle Qormi were back in the reckoning when Alfred Effiong did all the spade work before passing towards Leighton Grech who scored a beauty with an angled shot. Qormi now threw everything forward in an attempt to snatch a dramatic equaliser but in stoppage time Hibernians killed off their residual hopes when Edison Luis Dos Santos scored his second goal when he managed to win a rebound with goalkeeper Farrugia to score a relatively easy goal with an open goal at this mercy