Second-half goals boost Hibs

Qormi 0
Hibernians 2
Cohen 47; Anizoba 85;

Hibernians stepped up their title charge with a hard-fought victory over Qormi at the Tedesco Stadium yesterday.

Although the result never seemed in doubt, there were times in the second period when one sensed that if Qormi could be more effective upfront one could witness a more balanced encounter.

However, Peter Anizoba’s late strike all but ended any hopes of a Qormi comeback to put the Paolites just a point behind leaders Valletta, albeit the latter have a game in hand.

Qormi’s defeat means they remain in seventh place and facing a huge task to force their way back among the top six teams at the end of the first phase.

Hibernians coach Mark Miller made one change from side that crushed Ħamrun last week as Andrew Cohen came on for the injured Aaron Xuereb... perhaps a signal of his intent to encourage his team to play attacking football.

However Miller’s decision to include Cohen to fill the void left by Xuereb necessitated some positional switches, with Rodolfo Soares dropping back to centre-half alongside Jonathan Pearson. On the right flank, Edward Herrera was detailed to fill in at the back for the nippy striker who was allowed to push forward from midfield in a 4-1-3-2 formation.

His counterpart Stephen Azzopardi made two changes from the Mosta defeat, striker Abubaker Bello-Osagie taking the place of Caio Suguino who was among the substitutes.

In absence of Kenneth Scicluna, Qormi’s defence featured the somewhat statuesque central pairing of newcomer Vincent Kouadio and Kris Thackray, who must have feared they were in for a long evening from the ease with which Hibernians strikers passed their way around them in the opening stages.

Thackray sent Cohen crashing to end Hibs’ first serious venture towards the Qormi penalty area. However, Cohen, who picked himself to take the ensuing free-kick, shot poorly into the hands of Steve Sultana.

In the ninth minute, Jason Vandelannoite swooped at the far post to head Clayton Failla’s inswinger but Kouadio was in the right place to head his effort off the line.

On the half hour mark, Vandelannoite headed again the ball into the path of Bjorn Kristensen who pushed it goalwards but Sultana punched the ball to safety.

The Paolities kept pressing for the rest of the half, without ever looking as incisive as they had been in the first few minutes.

In the 40th minute, Luke Sciberras blazed wide from a good position after Bello-Osagie picked up the overlapping midfielder on the left flank.

Two minutes after the break, a defensive blunder by Kouadio let in Cohen for the opener.

Failla had switched wings to make inroads on the left as he drove the ball low across goal, the defender was unable to get a decisive touch and the nippy midfielder showed lightning speed to touch the ball away from the defender and steer a composed finish beyond Sultana.

Azzopardi went for broke with 30 minutes left, sending on Joseph Chetcuti for Kouadio.

On 63 minutes, Chetcuti delivered the ball inside the area and a goalmouth scramble followed with Soares clearing the ball off the line.

Four minutes later, Anizoba put the ball on the wrong side of the post from an excellent run and cross from the left by Failla.

While there was a goal between the two sides, it was far from comfortable for Hibernians but their nerves were eased when substitute Marcelo Dias’s cross from the right flew across the face of goal with Anizoba applying the finishing touch to seal the victory.

Qormi: S. Sultana-6, R. Sammut-6, M. Bartolo-5, J. Farrugia-7, L. Sciberras-5.5 (75 C. Suguino), F. Mirarchi-5 (69 S. Wellman), J. Bondin-6, K. Thackray-5.5, T, Caruana-6, A. Bello-Osagie-6, V. Kouadio-4.5 (59 J. Chetcuti-5).

Hibernians: M. Muscat-6, E. Herrera-6 (72 S. Pisani), J. Pearson-6, J. Vandelannoite-7, R. Soares-6.5 B. Kristensen-6.5, J. Lima-5, A. Cohen-8, C. Failla-7.5, P. Anizoba -6, L. Edison-6 (84 M. Dias-5).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Failla; Kouadio; Vandelannoite; Thackray; Bello-Osagie; Bondin.

BOV player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians).

Attendance: 813.