Hibs maintain winning momentum

Qormi 1
Effiong 74
Hibernians 3
Failla 9, 69; Scerri 59

Hibernians's flying start to the new season continued yesterday after they eased past Qormi to chalk up their second successive win.

It was another convincing performance by the Paolites who have now scored eight goals in their opening two outings with only two goals conceded, an encouraging statistic for coach Mark Miller who is expected to take over the reins of the team later on this month.

While the opposition may not have been the toughest of the pool yet, the Paolites have given enough proof that they should provide a strong challenge to the championship hopefuls.

Two goals from man of the match Clayton Failla, another by Terrence Scerri and the dismissal of Joseph Chetcuti midway through the second half helped to sway the tie in Hibs' favour as they never looked in danger of surrendering their two-goal lead.

Qormi coach Jesmond Zerafa effected one change to his starting formation as Chetcuti was assigned a midfield role instead of Anatole Debono as the newly-promoted side stuck to their 4-1-3-2 approach with experienced Massimo Grima deployed as the link between defence and midfield.

With Hibernians still missing the services of Andrew Cohen, assistant coach Edmond Lufi paraded new signing Congolese Alexis Tekumu Mbongo as Scerri's striking partner. Mario Muscat returned to guard the Hibernians' goal while Jonathan Pearson missed out through injury.

Five minutes into the encounter, Qormi survived a scare as the quick thinking Farrugia rushed out of goal to block the surging Scerri before the Hibs' skipper could shoot at goal.

Three minutes later it was Qormi's turn to threaten as Joseph Farrugia headed a clearance by the Hibs rearguard back into the penalty area where Alfred Effiong squeezed a low shot that was well saved by Muscat.

Hibs took the lead soon after. They were awarded a free-kick just outside the area and Failla unleashed a powerful shot that rolled past the diving Farrugia.

Qormi almost drew level midway through the half when Josevan Da Silva's shot skimmed past the upright.

Effiong and Da Silva were proving a hatful for the Hibs defence and the Nigerian forward drifted inside the area before cutting a low cross towards the unmarked Da Silva but his attempt missed the target.

Eight minutes from the break Massimo Grima was not lucky from a free-kick when his powerful shot came off the upright with Muscat beaten.

Shy of the hour, Hibernians doubled their lead. Adrian Pulis's cross was perfectly met by the alert Scerri who rifled a powerful drive past Farrugia.

Trailing by two goals, Qormi suffered further anguish on 66 minutes when Chetcuti was shown a straight red for stamping on Caruana.

Three minutes later, Hibernians cashed in on their numerical superiority as Failla notched his second goal of the match with a long range shot that was fumbled by Farrugia with the ball finishing into the net.

Scerri also came close to a second a minute later but his header bounced off the bar.

Qormi pulled a goal back as Effiong was first to a Debono cross to bury the ball home.

Four minutes from time Effiong put the ball into the net again but this time the 'goal' was annulled as he was judged to have controlled the ball with his arm.

Qormi kept pushing forward and on the stroke of time Da Silva set up Effiong who miscued his shot.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-5.5, R. Forace-5.5, R. Dos Santos-6 ('67 P. Camilleri-5), M. Grima-6, K. Fenech-6 ('77 C. Nwoko), A. Effiong-6, J. Chetcuti, J. Farrugia-6.5 ('70 A. Debono), S. Tellus-5.5, R. Sammut-5.5, J. Da Silva-6.5.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-6.5, J. Caruana-6.5, E. Herrera-5.5, A. Pulis-6.5, A Xuereb-7, T. Fleri Soler-6 ('49 T. Caruana-6), R. Galabov-6, C. Callejas-6, T. Scerri-7 (73 J. Xerri), A. T. Mbongo-6.5, C. Failla-7.5.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Forace, Xuereb, Effiong.

Red card: Chetcuti (Q) 66.

BoV player of the match: Clayton Failla (Hibernians).