Hajduk too strong for Stripes

Hajduk Split 4
Ibricic 3, Kalinic 24, Busic 55, Ticinovic 71
Birkirkara 0

Hajduk Split underlined their supremacy over Birkirkara yesterday when they had the better of the Maltese side 4-0 in a one-sided match at the Poljud Stadium.

Encouraged by a sizeable crowd, the home side scored twice in the opening half and two others after the break to all but make sure of progression to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup.

Birkirkara tried to contain their opponents' fury for as much as they could but an early goal by Hajduk's influential midfielder Senijad Ibricic paved the way to a comfortable victory for the home side.

John Buttigieg opted for caution in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Martin Anastasi surprisingly taking the place of Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, leaving Michael Galea as the only forward in the team.

Hajduk are looking to re-establish themselves among the top teams in their country after a rather poor 2007/08 season by their own standards during which they finished fifth in the league standings.

New coach Goran Vucevic seems to have infused new confidence in the team and Ibricic's free-kick from just outside the box gave the hosts the start they were looking for against the unsettled Stripes.

Goalkeeper Omar Borg made a superb save on a Nikola Kalinic shot from inside the box after ten minutes and then a Kalinic header flashed just wide.

Borg did well to stop a Sinisa Linic shot as Hajduk penned the Maltese team inside their own half.

The Croatian's second goal arrived on 24 minutes when Kalinic was on the right spot in the Birkirkara box to hit home past Borg after picking up an Ibricic cross.

Birkirkara were finding it hard to carve openings in the Hajduk defence and their only shot at goal in the opening half came on 31 minutes but Shaun Bajada's try from the distance fell off target.

Ibricic almost made it 3-0 eight minutes before half-time but his shot was a whisker away from goal.

The second half saw the same pattern maintained as Hajduk gave Birkirkara little space where to manoeuvre. On 55 minutes, captain Tomislav Busic made it 3-0 with a firm header from close in and the home side eased their foot off the accelator with victory well under wraps.

Substitute Angus Buhagiar gave Birkirkara fresh impetus. However, his spirited play proved futile as Hajduk maintained control and went on to add another goal to their tally 19 minutes from time, thanks to substitute Mario Ticinovic. He blasted home from a rebound inside the Stripes' box.

Hajduk Split
D. Subasic, M. Buljat, B. Pandza, G. Rubil ('75 M. Bartolovic), I. Strinic, B. Zivkovic ('65 D. Jertec), D. Gabric ('57 M. Ticinovic), S. Linic, S. Ibricic, N. Kalinic, T. Busic.

Birkirkara
O. Borg, L. Lombardi, E. Yanchev, R. Hartvig, J. Zerafa, P. Fenech, G. Mallia, S. Bajada ('61 A. Buhagiar), A. Tabone ('80 J.P. Mifsud Triganza), M. Galea ('89 R. Sammut), M. Anastasi.

Referee: Carlo Bertolini (Switzerland).