Hibernians 4 Qormi 0
After earning two consecutive draws which cost them the top spot, Hibernians finally got their winning act back with a devastating attacking display.
Hibernians' first-touch, pass-and-move football was mesmerising at time and they will again enjoy the view from the top of the premier league, even if Valletta with a game in hand could regain the top spot today in their match against Marsaxlokk.
Giant flags and banners were raised as the two sets of supporters filled every corner of the Hibs Stadium, ready for a duel between this season's surprise package Qormi and Hibernians the team showing the best football so far.
The game was barely two minutes old when the Paolities opened the scoring. Roderick Sammut sent Edison crashing to end Hibernians' first venture towards the Qormi penalty area. But Andrew Cohen's ferocious free-kick was tipped over the bar by Matthew Farrugia. From the ensuing corner, Clayton Failla swung the ball to Marcelo Dias who back-headed it to Luis Edison who converted with a shot on the turn.
Qormi also had to regroup after the early loss of Daniel Nwoke. Joseph Chetcuti came on and Hibernians almost took advantage of the readjustment as Dias's goal-bound shot was blocked by Farrugia.
But Stephen Azzopardi's afternoon was to get much worse as a strangely subdued Qormi, who solely missed the flair and composure of injured Joseph Farrugia, hardly got a glimpse of their opponent's goal in the opening half.
After 37 minutes, Farrugia produced an athletic save to block Edison's close-range shot in two attempts.
Avoiding defeat never looked likely for Qormi from the moment the excellent Paolities made it 2-0 with a stunner.
In the 43rd minute, Rodolfo Soares laid the ball for Clayton Failla who fizzed a brilliant shot past Farrugia and into the corner.
Luis Edison and Marcelo Dias both turned in majestic displays, the former Vittoriosa striker in particular giving Sammut a torrid time. The two combined brilliantly to set up the third goal albeit in a controversial manner. Just before half-time, Edison made it 3-0 with a cute lob. Matthew Bartolo tried to cover the ball for the onrushing Farrugia and hit the ball, on the line but referee Kevin Azzopardi adjudged his shot had crossed the line and awarded the goal when television replays clearly showed otherwise.
The second-half started slowly with Hibernians allowing Qormi to come at them. The outcome was a midfield battle with chances – plentiful for Hibernians in the first half- drying up.
Hibernians limited Qormi to few clear chances, but by far the best of them fell to Joringho in the 59th minute. He controlled the ball and cleverly walked it past the Hibs defenders but then, with the goal at his mercy, he smashed it over the ball when he could have just tapped it in.
But Hibernians joy was marred by a serious injury to goalkeeper Mario Muscat was stretched off after a nasty collision with substitute Stephen Wellman.
There was still time for another Hibernians goal, Edward Herrera, a 90th-minute substitute played an important part in the fourth goal, when he found Edison with virtually his first touch as the Brazilian ran on to the through-ball and cheekily lifted the ball past a bemused Farrugia.