Ħamrun Spartans 0
Hibernians 5
Edison 22; Lima 45; Failla 72 pen, 86; Pisani 90;

Two goals inside the opening 45 minutes propelled Hibernians to a crushing 5-0 victory over struggling Ħamrun Spartans in a one-sided encounter at Corradino.

The Paolites fully deserved the points yesterday as they were a cut above their opponents who struggled to cope with the pace of the Hibs forwards.

The likes of Luis Edison ‘Tarabai’, Peter Anizoba and Clayton Failla ran the static Spartans defence ragged.

Jackson Lima was the catalyst behind Hibs’ victory as the Brazilian midfielder ran the show with his exquisite distribution of the ball.

The playmaker, signed earlier this month after leaving Sliema Wanderers, also found time to put his name on the scoresheet with a fine strike on the stroke of half-time.

This win lifted Hibs back into the runners-up spot, now four points adrift of leaders Valletta, whereas the sluggish Spartans remained just outside the relegation places and in dire need of points.

Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, recalled Aaron Xuereb to his starting formation in lieu of youngster Scott Chircop who started the FA Trophy win over Rabat Ajax the previous weekend.

Anizoba kept his place up front as Brazilian Marcelo Dias was again among the substitutes. Ryan Camilleri and Adrian Pulis were still sidelined by injury while midfielder Andrew Cohen was serving a one-match ban.

Ħamrun coach Jesmond Zammit effected one change from the team that beat Birkirkara in the Trophy as new signing Ronnie Hartvig was handed his debut.

He was flanked by Massimo Grima in the heart of defence as Steve Bonnici switched to right-back to fill the void left by the suspended Gianluca Calabretta.

Hibs should have taken the lead on nine minutes when Failla dispossessed Lee James Agius and released Anizoba who dashed inside the area and squared the ball towards Luis Edison.

The Brazilian striker opted to pass to Jackson Lima who incredibly fired wide with only Omar Borg to beat.

The Reds responded on 20 minutes when they won a free-kick outside the Hibs box.

Kevin Sammut sent a ball into the area where Dene Shields managed to nod the ball into the path of Gaetan Spiteri whose shot on the turn finished just over.

Hibs struck two minutes later.

From a Lima corner, Anizoba headed into the six-yard box where Edison had little difficulty stabbing the ball past Borg.

Eight minutes later, the Reds threatened when, from a Grima free-kick, Shields anticipated his marker but his dipping header was saved by goalkeeper Mario Muscat.

Hibs were forced to make their first change 10 minutes from the break when Xuereb suffered an injury. He was replaced by Steve Pisani.

Jonathan Pearson dropped back to partner Rodolfo Soares in central defence as Pisani picked up a midfield role.

Two minutes later, Hibs almost grabbed a second when, in a swift raid, Edison stormed into the area but his low shot was neutralised by Borg.

The Paolites thought they had doubled their lead on 40 minutes when Pisani drifted the ball into the path of the unmarked Anizoba who headed home but the ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.

Hibs made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time when Lima unleashed a powerful drive that left Borg stranded.

Three minutes into the second half, Zammit withdrew Bonnici and roped in Dylan Azzopardi.

The youngster had a crude introduction as, only seconds after coming on, he was booked for a rash challenge on Edison.

The Spartans were being exposed on the left and on 53 minutes Lima sent a dangerous ball towards Edison who dived full stretch but the fall hit the side-netting.

Ten minutes later, the Spartans came close when, in a rare attack, Ribeiro sent a throughball towards Spiteri who was anticipated by the onrushing Muscat.

At the other end, Borg did well to parry Anizoba’s angled drive.

Hibs added a third on 72 minutes when Agius upended Luis Edison inside the area and from the penalty spot, Failla rammed the ball past Borg.

Two minutes later, Edison unleashed a powerful volley from a tight angle with the ball crashing against the post.

Failla increased Hibs’ lead four minutes from time when he moved past his marker and curled the ball into the roof of the net.

Hibs had time to get a fifth goal in stoppage time. After Pisani’s piledriver hit the bar, Dias was thwarted by Borg but the ball dropped back to Pisani who made no mistake.

Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg-4, S. Bonnici-5 (48 D. Azzopardi-5), M. Gauci-6, R. Hartvig-6, M. Grima-6.5, D. Camilleri-5.5 (76 D. Zerafa), D. Shields-5, L.J. Agius-5, A. Ribeiro-6, K. Sammut-6, G. Spiteri-5.5 (81 A. Micallef).

Hibernians
M. Muscat-6, E. Herrera-6, R. Soares-6.5, A. Xuereb (35 S. Pisani-6), J. Vandelannoite-6.5, J. Pearson-6, C. Failla-7.5, B. Kristensen-6.5, J. Lima-8 (78 M. Dias), P. Anizoba-6 (84 J. Bezzina), L. Edison-7.5.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Bonnici; Azzopardi; Agius; Borg.

BOV player of the match: Luis Edison (Hibernians).

Attendance: 1,053.


P W D L F A Pts
Valletta 18 14 3 1 40 13 45
Hibernians 18 12 5 1 45 14 41
Floriana 18 12 3 3 30 14 39
Sliema 18 6 9 3 27 21 27
Balzan Youths 18 8 3 7 25 26 27
Birkirkara 18 8 2 8 23 23 26
Qormi 18 7 2 9 29 30 23
Mqabba 18 4 5 9 21 30 17
Mosta 18 4 5 9 17 30 17
Ħamrun 18 4 3 11 23 44 15
Tarxien 18 4 2 12 22 39 14
Marsaxlokk 18 3 2 13 20 38 11

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