Hamrun S.-Hibernians 1-4

Hamrun S: D. Cassar, M. Borg, P. Chircop, L. Sciberras, C. Maldini (L. Rodrigues), S. Nanapere, L. Motta, L. Grech, J. Grech, S. Raphael, J. P. Mifsud Triganza (P. Teixeira)

Hibernians: A. Hogg, R. Soares, M. Dias, J. Lima, B. Kristensen, C. Failla, A. Cohen, J. Degabriele (K. O’Brien), R. Telles (D. Vella), J. Bezzina, A. Agius

Referee: M. Apap

Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, W. Debattista

4th official: F. Zammit

Scorers: J. Degabrfiele 11, B. Kristensen 20, C. Failla 45 pen, J. Grech 55, A. Cohen 89

Yellow cards: P. Chircop, M. Dias, L. Sciberras, D. Cassar

Player of the match: B. Kristensen (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. B. Kristensen  2. A. Cohen  3. L. Sciberras

Attendance: 903

Hibernians reversed their first round defeat against Hamrun Spartans by scoring three times in the first half and another in the late minutes, dispelling any doubts of who will win it this time around.

This victory keeps them hot on leaders Balzan’s heels and leaves them unbeaten in the last six league matches.

In truth, it was a comfortable victory for Hibernians despite the game’s big billing beforehand.

Hibernians were full of energy and Andrew Cohen and Bjorn Kristensen in particular provided a dangerous threat from midfield.

They won this through tireless workrate with defensive discipline and organisation.

Hamrun have to adjust to life after Steve D’Amato who was sacked during the international break. Interim coach Jhonathan Holland made five changes in the team, and reshuffled his defence in particular.

David Cassar returned in goal instead of Tabone while Mark Borg played as centre back alongside Sergio Raphael. Philip Chircop and Luke Grech were the wide backs yesterday with Christian Maldini in front of the back four. With Neto suspended, Luke Sciberras took a more retreated role in midfield. Glenn Azzopardi, Patrick Texeira and Luis Rodrigues were relegated to the bench.

On their part, Hibernians made only two changes from the side that won the derby against Tarxien Rainbows. Andrew Cohen started the match instead of Joseph Mbong while Telles was given the nod ahead of Jorginho.

That did not hide Hibernians’ attacking intent which rewarded them with an early lead after only 11 minutes. Kristenseen played a perfect splitting pass for the advancing Jurgen Degabriele to hit past the helpless keeper Cassar.

Sitting firmly in the driving seat, Hibernians remained menacing even from set pieces. Past the quarter hour, from a Failla corner, Agius headed against the bar.

On 20 minutes Hamrun were not helpled by a terrible defensive error. Some hesitation between Raphael and the Hamrun goalkeeper allowed Bjorn Kristensen to stretch his leg to roll the ball over the line.

Their almost non existant reaction from the Spartans, suggested that this would be a routine win for Mark Miller’s side.

Midway through the half Cohen played a throughball to Degabriele who forced keepere Cassar to stretch himself and hold out his curling shot.

Past the half hour Telles arrived fractionally late on another Failla cross as the Paolites maintained the momentum.

And on the stroke of halftime Hibernians added further misery as Hamrun were three down. Chircop felled Telles inside the area to concede a penalty which Clayton Failla tucked away.

Hibernians took a more complacent approach after the restart and Hamrun were handed a lifeline in a fortuitous manner ten minutes into the second half. Jake Grech’s low free kick from the left took a wicked deflection off a Hibernians’ player and the ball landed behind keeper Hogg at the near post.

Hibernians decided to control the flow, at times playing the ball between them in neat triangles as Hamrun kept chasing their opponents.

The Spartans fell further behind two minutes from time again conceding a second penalty when keeper Cassar felled the advancing Bezzina inside the area. This time Andrew Cohen stepped up to score from the spot kick.

Sorry  Spartans had neither the craft nor the pace to threaten further and Hibernians ended up comfortable winners.

 PEMBROKE ATHLETA- 1

FLORIANA-                    2

Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, Z. Levnaic, A. Djeljilj, M. Micallef, P. Barbetti, S. Arab, S. Shodija, B. Mariano, B. Manevski (S. Eboh), O. Bugeja

Floriana: M. Grech, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani, C. Borg (A. Samb), I. Varela, M. Vella (B. Farrugia), J. Pisani, N. Chiesa, M. Fontanella, R. Camenzuli

Referee: A. M. Sant

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, D. Sultana

4th official: S. Pace

Scorers: I. Varela 63

Yellow cards: N. Chiesa, M. Micallef,  O. Bugeja, M. Calleja Cremona, Z. Levnaic

Red card: M. Fontanella

Player of the match: A. Samb (Floriana)

TMI top 3: 1. R. Camenzuli  2. A. Samb  3. A. Djeljilj

Playing with only ten men for almost the entire match, Floriana kept their nerves to beat bottom team Pembroke by two second-half goals.

Although made to sweat harder than expected, after their striker Mario Fontanella was sent off in the opening seven minutes, this win was  a deserved one for superior Floriana.

Amadou Samb made his mark on the team with his inclusion as a substitute at halftime. He played an assist to Varela in Floriana’s first goal and then scored the second himself to seal victory for the Greens.

Floriana not only recorded their third win in four matches but hauled Pembroke back into deep trouble at the foot of the standings.

Pembroke were a disppointing lot. Despite periods of good play and passing, they struggled to really trouble Floriana. Their best chances of a goal both came in the final five minutes.

The match was hardly seven minutes old when Floriana were on the backfoot. They had striker Mario Fontanella sent off for elbowing Adrian Borg as the two players were involved in a tussle in midfield.

Despite their numerical superiority, Pembroke hardly looked like troubling keeper Matthew Grech, who yesterday replaced Justin Haber, in the Floriana goal.

Chiesa, wearing the captain’s arm band yesterday,looked particularly classy in midfield, but Floriana, and especially Varela, were found wanting in the final third.

All the ball hogging merely produced any chances, although Pembroke might well have had a penalty when Jurgen Pisani charged into Mariano, sending the forward crashing inside the Floriana penalty area.

The sending off was the only noteworthy episode of a mundane first half.

Floriana put in Amadou Samb for Borg at halftime to give the Greens some impetus in attack. On the hour, the former  beat the Pembroke offside trap, rounded the goalkeeper but Pembroke defender Djeljilj managed to block him with a neat tackle.

Djeljilj later clipped the bar with his cross shot from the left before Floriana went in front past the hour.

Ignacio Varela ran to Samb’s forward pass from the right and beat keeper Calleja Cremona with a diagonal shot.

Even if two goals down, Pembroke kept trying. They were denied five minutes from the end when Ruiz cleared Barbetti’s effort on the line after keeper Grech failed to hold the ball.

But in added time, Pembroke managed to get a consolation goal. Shodiya’s cross from the left fell to Adrian Borg who headed in from close range. But that served only for statistical purpose.