Hibs back on song after late goals

Hibernians 2
Msida St Joseph 0

Hibernians' negative run in the Championship Pool came to an end yesterday after the Paolites struck two late goals to ease past Msida St Joseph in a drab encounter.

Quick goals from Ndubisi Chukunyere and man-of-the-match Matthew Bartolo in the final 12 minutes did the trick for Hibs who picked up their first win after four matches and leapfrogged Msida St Joseph into fifth place.

The match offered little entertainment to the sparse crowd that gathered at the National Stadium. With both teams out of the running for the league championship and a place in Europe, it was no surprise that these two FA Trophy semi-finalists took to this match with far less intensity than usual.

Goalscoring chances were few and far between for most of the opening hour, even though the match improved in the latter stages with Hibs showing the better ideas through the lively Bartolo and Andrew Cohen.

A surprise inclusion in Hibs' starting formation was Alex Camilleri who replaced regular goalkeeper Mario Muscat. Chukunyere regained a starting berth after his substitute appearance in last week's 3-2 defeat to Marsaxlokk. He took the place of Terrence Scerri who was absent from the Paolites' 18-man squad. Left-back Clayton Failla made way for Adrian Pulis.

Msida coach Patrick Curmi had to reshuffle his defence. Goalkeeper Omar Borg started on the bench as Manwel Bartolo was handed the onus of guarding his team's goal.

Stacey Vella and Tyrone Farrugia were both ruled out by knee injuries. Pio Sciriha moved into a more central defensive position while Roderick Baldacchino was switched to left-back. Ibrahim Babatunde and Ousseni Zongo both returned to the Saints' line-up but their African team-mate Daniel Nwoke was only certified fit to start on the bench.

The rhythm in the early exchanges was very slow with neither side showing enough flair and bite to create any danger. The only attempt at goal in the opening half hour was created by Msida on 15 minutes. Adrian Farrugia's swinging cross from a corner looked to have surprised Camilleri but to Hibs' relief, the ball bounced off the crossbar.

On 32 minutes, Msida threatened again when Babatunde moved past his marker but his shot was too weak to trouble Camilleri. At the other end, Chukunyere set up the sprinting Julian Vella whose shot was deflected onto the side-netting by Josef Mifsud.

On 34 minutes, Zongo showed fine footwork to bamboozle Kenneth Spiteri but the cross-shot from the Burkina Faso player was too long for Babatunde.

Just before the break, Msida goalkeeper Bartolo had to be alert to keep out Pulis's angled shot.

At the break, both teams were still locked at 0-0 and needed to show better play if they were to take all points from this match.

Hibs started the second half strongly. On 52 minutes, Bartolo sped past three opponents but his cross was too long for Cohen who somehow recovered possession. The Hibs forward swept past Stefano Grima and fired a thumping shot that Bartolo managed to punch away for a corner.

Three minutes later, Chukunyere was guilty of a glaring miss for the Paolites. The Nigerian was well picked out by Pablo Doffo but despite having only Bartolo to beat, he shot straight into the Msida goalkeeper.

On 57 minutes, Curmi effected his first change, bringing on Nwoke for Farrugia. The Nigerian forward almost made an instant impact when he was first onto Zongo's dangerous cross but stabbed the ball wide from routine distance.

The Hibs goalkeeper was kept busy and on 63 minutes he had to be on his toes to keep out Babatunde's flick following another Zongo service.

On 72 minutes, Zongo, having been teed up by Mifsud, outfoxed Pulis but his shot finished just over.

The stalemate was finally broken 12 minutes from time and it was Hibernians who forced the breakthrough. Cohen sent a dipping ball towards the towering Pulis who nodded it into the path of substitute Thomas Caruana. The latter forced his way past two defenders before setting up Chukunyere who easily headed past Bartolo at the far post.

The goal was a hard blow for the Saints who looked unable to react. Hibs took immediate advantage to seal their victory with a second goal four minutes later.

From a swift break, Bartolo sprinted forward before serving Cohen who immediately returned the ball to the Hibs winger. The nippy Bartolo burst into the area, dribbled the Msida goalkeeper and deposited the ball into an empty net.

Hibernians: A. Camilleri-6.5, K. Spiteri-6, A. Xuereb-6, J. Caruana-6.5, P. Doffo-6.5, M. Bartolo-8 ('89 C. Zammit), E. Agius-5.5 ('68 T. Caruana-6) A. Cohen-7 ('88 C. Failla), N. Chukunyere-6, J. Vella-6, A. Pulis-6.5.

Msida: M. Bartolo-6, S. Grima-6, R. Baldacchino-5, P. Sciriha-6, J. Mifsud-6.5, S. Bajada-6 ('80 K. Ebejer), D. Cachia-5.5, P. Fenech-5.5, A. Farrugia-5.5 ('57 D. Nwoke-5), O. Zongo-7, I. Babatunde-6.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Scorers: Chukunyere 78; Bartolo 82.

BoV Player of the match: Matthew Bartolo (Hibernians).

Next Fixtures

Saturday: (National Stadium) 3 p.m. Pietà vs Marsa; 5 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Birkirkara.

Sunday: (National Stadium) 3 p.m. Valletta vs Hibs; 5 p.m. Msida vs Marsaxlokk.