Efficient Hibs start on a high

Sliema Wanderers 1
Hibernians 3

Hibernians claimed the first domestic honour of the 2006/07 season after shrugging off the challenge of Sliema Wanderers last night to win the Euro Challenge Cup.

First-half goals from Matthew Bartolo and Andrew Cohen and a late Terence Scerri strike assured the Paolites of claiming the triangular pre-season competition for the first time and bring to an end Sliema's dominance on the trophy that had lasted for the past two years.

Hibs finished on top of the three-team competition with a maximum six points... three ahead of the Wanderers with Birkirkara finishing bottom with no points after two defeats.

Although Sliema held most of the initiative yesterday, Hibernians were the more efficient side as they made the most of the chances that came their way with the speed of strikers Cohen, Scerri and midfielder Bartolo posing all sorts of problems to the Sliema defence.

Hibs' delight was more than legitimate when MFA vice-president Carmelo Bartolo presented the Euro Challenge Cup to Cohen to the delight of their fans.

The success will certainly be a timely psychological boost for the Paolites ahead of next week's UEFA Cup first leg tie against Dinamo Bucharest.

Hibernians coach Robert Gatt effected only one change to the team that beat Birkirkara 3-2 on Wednesday. Nigerian forward Ndubisi Chukunyere was promoted to the starting XI in place of Ben Camilleri.

The squad also included new recruit Daniel Buzurovic, a Croat defender. He came on for Adrian Pulis in the second half.

Sliema were still without a host of first-team players. With Roderick Bajada and John Mintoff suspended, coach Edward Aquilina included Andrew Scerri and Alex Muscat in his line-up. New signing Chucks Nwoko was handed a place on the bench.

Adrian Mifsud almost gave Sliema a flying start when after only five minutes he unleashed a powerful swerving shot that forced Mario Muscat into a fine save.

Hibs soon responded with a darting run from Matthew Bartolo who saw his shot parried away by Henry Bonello, the Sliema goalkeeper.

Claude Mattocks tested Muscat on 11 minutes but his shot was too central to worry the Hibs goalkeeper.

It was Hibernians who broke the stalemate two minutes later when Chukunyere did well to release Bartolo inside the area. The young midfielder's cross-shot took a deflection on its way past Bonello.

Sliema almost drew level on 19 minutes when from an Ian Ciantar free-kick, Stefan Giglio beat the Hibs' offside trap but his header flew wide with Muscat beaten.

But that was just a temporary reprieve for Hibs as two minutes later Andrew Scerri's close range flick was deviated onto the crossbar by Muscat but from the rebound Brian Said buried the ball home.

Bartolo almost put Hibs back in front on the half hour but his dipping shot hit the upright. At the other end, Giglio was also close when his header flew just over.

Hibs were back in the lead ten minutes from half-time when Cohen was floored in the area by David Carabott and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Cohen took responsibility and sent Bonello the wrong way.

Giglio kept threatening the Paolites from set-pieces. Six minutes before the interval he headed just wide from Ciantar's free-kick.

On 43 minutes, Terence Scerri chested down a good ball in the area but his grounder skimmed Bonello's upright.

Both teams effected one change at the restart with Sliema's Mark Scerri replacing Giglio while Kevin Cassar came on for Chukunyere.

As expected, Sliema took control of the game in the second half as they needed to score two goals to win the competition. However, for all their possession they struggled to create any danger to the Hibs defence.

Instead, it was Gatt's team who sealed the result with a third goal 15 minutes from time when Cohen slipped a quick pass to Terence Scerri who cooly dispatched the ball past the onrushing Bonello.

The goal was a severe blow to the Wanderers' comeback aspirations as they had no more energy left for a fightback with the Paolites easily administering their advantage for a merited success.

Sliema: H. Bonello, M. Di Lello, I. Ciantar, B. Said, D. Carabott, S. Giglio ('46 M. Scerri), L. Lombardi ('80 E. Caruana), A. Muscat, C. Mattocks, A. Mifsud ('72 C. Gatt Baldacchino), A. Scerri.

Hibernians: M. Muscat, K. Spiteri, A. Pulis ('52 D. Buzurovic), A. Xuereb, R. Mintoff ('82 K. Formosa), N. Chukunyere ('46 K. Cassar), M. Bartolo, E. Agius, A. Cohen, C. Failla, T. Scerri.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Scorers: Bartolo 13; Said 21; Cohen 35 pen; Scerri 75.

Yellow cards: Chukunyere, Mifsud.