Superior Hibs stroll through

Pietà Hotspurs 0
Hibernians 4

Two goals in each half were enough for Hibernians to put behind them last week's defeat to champions Sliema Wanderers. Yesterday they showed better qualities and strolled to a comfortable win over Pietà Hotspurs at the National Stadium.

Hibernians' success was never in doubt as Robert Gatt's team were superior in all departments.

With Andrew Cohen and Essien Mbong in imperious form, they launched attack after attack and had it not been for their profligacy in front of goal they could have left Ta' Qali with a more pronounced victory.

On the other hand, Pietà were far from the side that performed so admirably against Floriana last week. Georgi Deanov's team struggled to contain the lightning attacking forays of the Hibs forwards.

Up front the Hotspurs rarely posed any danger as their attacking moves lacked the much needed flair and inventiveness to unlock a watertight Hibs defence.

Gatt effected only one change from the team that was beaten 3-0 by champions Sliema Wanderers in their opening league match last week. Antoine Zahra was drafted in the starting XI at the expense of Ryan Mintoff.

Deanov, the Pietà coach, was forced to make do without David Camenzuli. The defender was serving suspension with his place in the team awarded to Dean Gera.

The Paolites pressed on the accelerator right from the word go as they laid siege on the Hotspurs' defence in search of an early opener that would settle their nerves. They managed to fulfil their goal in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.

The clock marked seven minutes when they won a corner from the right. Cohen drifted the ball towards the centre of the area and Ilian Deanov, in an attempt to clear away, inadvertently headed the ball past a surprised Andrew Hogg, the stranded Pietà goalkeeper.

Three minutes later, Cohen was again the provider when he sent a teasing cross inside the box but Terence Scerri miscued his header and the ball finished wide.

Pietà were dangerous on 14 minutes when Martin Deanov created some space for himself on the right before sending a dangerous low cross towards Carmelo Sciuto but the Italian forward failed to connect.

In the 21st minute, Scerri should have double his team's tally when he was again released by Cohen. However, with only the keeper to beat he missed the target altogether.

A minute later an Essien Mbong piledriver was punched away by Hogg.

Hibs kept holding much of the initiative but rarely troubled Hogg. That all changed six minutes from the break when they doubled their advantage. It was a co-ordinated move initiated by the industrious Mbong. He put Haruna Doda through on the flank. The Nigerian squared the ball towards Cohen and in no time the ball was in the Pietà net.

A minute from the break Sciuto almost put Pietà back in the match but his curling free-kick was saved to a corner by the alert Mario Muscat.

Hibs kept threatening even when ends were changed. On 47 minutes, Cohen's short pass from a free-kick put David Camilleri through in the Pietà area before he crossed towards Scerri who, however, failed to hit the target.

Pietà's chances of a recovery were reduced nine minutes into the second half when Claudio Calleja limped out injured with his place taken by Andrew Decesare.

The game was over when Hibs notched their third on 66 minutes.

Zahra dashed strongly into the box but lost his balance. The ball fell kindly to Scerri whose shot was partially blocked by Hogg and from the rebound Zahra hammered the loose ball home.

Fifteen minutes from time Pullicino picked Scerri with a calibrated pass and the latter hit a rasping low shot that was blocked by Hogg.

The Pietà keeper suffered a foot injury and was replaced.

Substitute Psaila was called into action nine minutes from time when he did well to keep out Doda's close range shot.

But a handful of seconds later he could do nothing to stop Hibs from netting again.

Peter Pullicino's low cross was fumbled by the Pietà goalkeeper, the ball rolled into the path of Scerri who fired home the Paolites' fourth goal.

Substitute Decesare was close to pulling one back for the Hotspurs five minutes from time but his fierce drive was repelled by Muscat.

Pietà: A. Hogg-5 ('76 P. Psaila), D. Gera-5, C. Sammut-6, A. Spiteri-5, B. Sciberras-5, I. Deanov-5, S. Ciscaldi-6, C. Calleja-5 ('54 A. Decesare), C. Sciuto-6, D. O'Flaherty-5, M. Deanov-6 ('61 S. Zahra).

Hibernians: M. Muscat-6, P. Pullicino-6, A. Pulis-6 ('70 R. Mintoff), A. Xuereb-6, E. Mbong-8, A. Zahra-7 ('83 M. Bartolo), A. Cohen-8, R. Baldacchino-7 ('66 J. Vella), T. Scerri-6, D. Camilleri-7, H. Doda-6.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Scorers: I. Deanov 7 og; Cohen 39; Zahra 66; Scerri 82.

Yellow Cards: O'Flaherty, Spiteri.

BoV Player of the Match: Essien Mbong (Hibernians).