Hibs dazzle in five-star show

Birkirkara 0
Hibernians 5
Dias 23; Herrera 45; Edison 68; Failla 71; Cohen 90;

It was business as usual for Hibs yesterday as they put five past an ailing Birkirkara to register another convincing victory.

The goals came from five different players, a fact which added a touch of class to another confident display by Mark Miller’s men who extended their unbeaten run to 14 games and narrowed the gap on Valletta to three points.

Birkirkara’s initial XI featured five changes from the disappointing draw with Mosta as Paul Zammit was without Paul Fenech, Moises Avila Perez and Shawn Bajada, all suspended, and Dragan Perisic, injured. On a positive note, Rowen Muscat provided a timely fitness boost for the Stripes.

Changes were not only limited to personnel as Zammit switched from 4-3-3 to a more conservative 4-1-4-1.

Miller could call upon Brazilian duo Luis Edison and Marcelo Dias who were back from suspension.

The returning Rodrigo Pereira was having a torrid time trying to tame Edison and co., repeatedly resorting to fouls and conceding a number of free-kicks in key areas.

On one particular occasion, inside the first five minutes, Andrew Cohen’s free-kick was punched away by Jorge Mora.

The first blow was always going to be of huge importance, even more so when Hibs were able to deliver it after 23 minutes. Dias rose above everyone to head home from a free-kick by Clayton Failla.

Yet, Birkirkara missed a glorious opportunity to equalise shortly afterwards when Ryan Camenzuli blasted his effort sky-high after connecting with a free-kick.

Birkirkara were unable to build on that reaction and slowly but surely Hibs began to assert their authority with Edison prominent. In the 39th minute, Joseph Zerafa made a good tackle to thwart the Brazilian.

The Paolites’ supremacy deserved further reward and it duly came before half-time. It was a freak goal in the sense that, when Mora spilled Steve Pisani’s shot into the path of Cohen, the nippy midfielder slipped as he planted his standing foot. The ball flew into the air and landed at the feet of Edward Herrera who poked home.

After half-time, Birkirkara recaptured some confidence following the introduction of Terence Vella in lieu of Camenzuli. Vella struck the bar with a powerful volley from Pereira’s cross after 55 minutes.

Pleased with his team’s reaction, Zammit effected another substitution and brought on Leighton Grech to add pace to his forward line.

Tension was running high and tempers boiled over in the 66th minute as a clumsy tackle by Andrew Decesare on Dias led to an exaggerated ruck just in front of the dug-outs. When the Brazilian picked himself up, Decesare dragged him down and Dias impulsively kicked out at the defender and both were sent off.

There was more drama though as Hibs refused to lie down. They made it 3-0 after 68 minutes. Failla delivered a cross into the box and Edison headed past Mora.

That third goal resulted in Birkirkara going into a defensive shell as Failla showed his goalscoring prowess when he powered in a rising shot after a weaving run on the left flank.

On 78 minutes, the Stripes were given a chance to find a late consolation goal when the Hibs rearguard handled Grech’s cross in the box. But, Hibs keeper Mario Muscat dived to his left to stop Trevor Cilia’s spot-kick.

Pereira then saw red after getting a second caution for tripping Cohen as Birkirkara finished with nine men for the second game in a row.

There was still time for a fifth Hibs goal. Edison turned provider as he swept past the onrushing Mora and waited for Cohen to move upfield in order to get his name on the scoresheet as the Hibs playmaker poked the ball into an unguarded net.

Birkirkara
J. Mora-5, R. Scicluna-5, R. Pereira, G. Sciberras-6, J. Zerafa-6, R. Muscat-6, S. Shodiya Haruna-5.5, A. Buhagiar-5 (60 L. Grech-6), R. Camenzuli-5.5 (46 T. Vella-6), T. Cilia-5 (80 A. Tabone), A. Decesare.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-7, E. Herrera-7, A. Xuereb-6.5, R. Soares-6.5, B. Kristensen-6.5 (84 J. Bezzina), C. Failla-8, T. Caruana-6, A. Cohen-7, L. Edison-7, S. Pisani-6.5 (86 S.Chircop), M. Dias.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow card: Pereira.

Red cards: Decesare (B) 66; Dias (H) 66; Pereira (B) 83.

Missed penalty: Cilia (B) 78.

BOV player of the match: Clayton Failla (Hibs).

Attendance: 1,061.

Standings