Paolites cruise after early flurry

Hibernians 5
Rabat Ajax 0

A four-goal flurry in the opening 23 minutes paved the way for Hibernians who cruised past Rabat Ajax and booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy, yesterday.

As the scoreline clearly illustrates, this was a mismatch with the Paolites in a class of their own against their Division One opponents.

Once Andrew Cohen put the Premier League high-flyers ahead after only three minutes, there was no way back for the Magpies who struggled to contend with the pace of the Hibs forwards.

Hibs coach Mark Miller sent out a strong formation with new signing Jackson Lima handed a place in midfield. Marcelo Dias had to settle for a place on the bench yesterday as young Scott Chircop was given a rare start at left-back.

Aaron Xuereb was also among the substitutes as Jason Vandelannoite moved to partner Rodolfo Soares in the heart of defence.

Silvio Vella, the Rabat coach who was facing his former club, was without midfielder Clifford Gauci, injured. Surprisingly, Albanian Wilson Caushi was left out of the starting XI.

The Paolites were soon on the offensive and Edison ‘Tarabai’ let fly a fierce drive that was fisted away by Rabat goalkeeper Sean Mintoff.

That was just a temporary reprieve for the Magpies though as two minutes later Hibs were awarded a free-kick from a central position and Cohen curled the ball into the top corner of the net.

That goal settled any nerves Hibs may have had as they continued to call the tune. On 11 minutes, Hibs went close when Cohen’s stinging drive flashed just wide.

Then, on 14 minutes, Jackson Lima delivered an inviting ball into the Rabat box and in came Clayton Failla who dived to head the ball home and make it 2-0.

The Paolites were in rampant mood in those early stages.

On 17 minutes, Bjorn Kristensen released Peter Anizoba whose first attempt was blocked by Mintoff but the ball ricocheted off the Nigerian-born striker to finish into the back of the net.

Vella was clearly unhappy with his team’s showing. He withdrew full-back Neil Caruana and roped in Caushi as he looked to give more solidity to his midfield.

But that failed to thwart Hibs from adding a fourth goal on 23 minutes.

From a Cohen corner, Anizoba headed the ball into the path of Tarabai who stabbed home from routine distance.

Soares almost put his name on the scoresheet a minute later but he was denied by Mintoff who blocked the shot with his feet.

Hibs took their foot off the pedal, much to the relief of the Rabat players who were now sharing the exchanges with their opponents even though they rarely ventured inside Mario Muscat’s box.

After the break, Anizoba came close to a second goal but his shot was blocked by Mintoff. With the tie settled, entertaining football proved hard to come by.

In fact, those present at the Hibs Stadium had to wait till the 74th minute for the next scoring opportunity when Dias, who replaced Tarabai, raced past two defenders before pulling the ball into the path of Lima whose firm drive was stopped by Mintoff.

The Rabat keeper did well to keep out Cohen’s dipper but 11 minutes from time Jackson Lima scored his first goal for Hibs when he let fly a powerful shot that left Mintoff stranded.

Rabat were denied a consolation goal late on when substitute Justin Felice broke into the area and lobbed the ball over Muscat but in came Soares to clear the danger.

Hibernians: M. Muscat, J. Pearson, R. Soares, J. Vandelannoite, B. Kristensen, C. Failla (82 S. Pisani), A. Cohen, J. Lima, S. Chircop, P. Anizoba (66 J. Bezzina), L. Edison (46 M. Dias).

Rabat: S. Mintoff, N. Caruana (19 W. Caushi), C. Schembri, J. Cornforth, J. Caruana, A. Smeir, A. Rustemi (46 D. Azzopardi), D. Falzon, C. Muscat, T. Cauchi, R. Micallef (64 J. Felice).

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.