Hibernians sit on top of the BoV Premier League this morning after beating neighbours Tarxien Rainbows at the National Stadium yesterday, but await the outcome of Balzan’s match against Sliema Wanderers this afternoon.

Hibernians won this derby with the only goal of the match scored by Gilmar Ribeiro, soon after he had come off the bench, courtesy of a well executed second half free kick. That was the only difference between two sides who cancelled each other out for long stretches before the Paolites made the better of the few chances created. They also were denied by the post soon after going in front.

It was not pretty and Tarxien might feel they could have taken something from the game.

Hibernians needed an added time goal from Soares to see off St Andrews the previous week and keep in touch with leaders Balzan.

Coach Mark Miller made three changes to the side as Marcelo Dias returned from suspension and was given a start, together with attacking midfielder Montell Moore and forward Mohodou Jallow, in the absence of Jorginho.

Tarxien, unbeaten in their previous eight matches and bolstered by the return from suspension of their wide player Alex Alves, were expected to give their neighbours a tough ride. The Rainbows had shown from the start they fancied their chances and, with Emerson Marcelina excelling with his positional play in midfield , they showed no signs of inferiority.

The match had a predictably dour opening with neither side keen to force the pace.

On 20 minutes Hibernians’ keeper Hogg parried Alves’ shot from outside the area and then palmed the ball away before Nilsson could connect to it.

Hibernians neatly spread the ball around midfield but there was a desperate lack of thrust and, with Jallow largely anonymous, they had neither the craft nor the pace to threaten. They produced little apart from a couple of corners and free kicks.Towards the half hour, from a Lima free kick from the left, Kristensen headed over the Tarxien goal.

And on 38 minutes a Ponce free kick for Tarxien, from some 25 metres out, landed on the roof of the net.

Tarxien went close again four minutes into the second half. Nilsson darted inside the Hibernians area on an Alves through pass but was blocked by the alert Hogg into a corner. Hibernians’ response came five minutes later with a Lima free kick that narrowly missed the target.

With play becoming stale, both coaches were aware something needed to change. Hibernians introduced Gilmar Ribeiro for Jallow towards the hour and soon after, Tarxien substituted Prendes with Ayrton Azzopardi.

Riberio soon left his mark with his perfect execution of a direct free kick, just outside the Tarxien area, that gave the Paolites the lead after 69 minutes.

Hibernians almost made it two three minutes later. A Lima corner was cleared short by the Tarxien defence and Soares shot low against the foot of the post.

With Hibernians looking the better side, Tarxien’s expected reaction after falling behind did not materialise until six minutes from time, when keeper Hogg was called to keep out a low Alves effort as Nilsson lofted the loose ball.

But with a top-six finish well into their sights, Tarxien needed not exert themselves too much for the remaining minutes, with their FA Trophy qurter final against Balzan on the horizon.

 

HIBERNIANS-   1

TARXIEN R -     0

 

Hibernians: A. Hogg, R. Soares, A. Agius, C. Failla, J. Lima, B. Kristensen, J. Bezzina, J. Degabriele (D. Vella), M. Moore (D. Boljevic), M. Dias, M. Jallow (G. Ribeiro)

Tarxien R: P. Schranz, E. Baker, E. Marcelina, T. Caruana, D. Ponce (D. Micallef), A. Nilsson, S. Prendes (A. Azzopardi), D. Zerafa, A. Alves, K. Zammit, M. Tabone (J. Galea)

Referee: M. Apap

Asst.refs: D. Sultana, W. Debattista

4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: G. Ribeiro 69

Yellow cards: A. Agius, M. Tabone, G. Ribeiro

Player of the match: J. Lima (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Lima  2. E. Marcelina  3. A. Agius