Hibernians 2
Failla 18; Edison 30;
Sliema Wanderers 1
Frendo 84;
Valletta’s 7-2 demolition of Balzan put the pressure on Hibernians who knew they had to win this match to keep the pace with the leaders. The test was passed with flying colours as the Paolites beat the Blues to move within striking distance of Valletta.
The Citizens might be sitting pretty at the summit, but they will be acutely aware of the league challenging pedigree Mark Miller’s side possesses. They dominated, looked solid at the back and always seemed to have an extra gear going forward.
In fact, Hibernians played with width and penetration, flair and imagination, and they counter-attacked with a speed that was devastating.
Edward Herrera stood out for the frequency with which he bewildered the Sliema rearguard while Andrew Cohen and Clayton Failla sprayed passes around as if they were programmed by a computer chip with Luis Edison pulling the strings upfront.
Danilo Doncic selected Emiliano Lattes as a lone striker in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Alex Muscat and Ryan Fenech deployed wide and Danail Mitev behind the striker.
Miller made only one change from the 6-1 thrashing of Mqabba, Jackson di Lima Siquera stepping into the boots of Marcelo Dias who was among the substitutes.
Most of the Paolites’ success this season has come with a sort of 4-1-4-1 formation but yesterday they switched to an orthodox 4-4-2, matching shape-for-shape their opponents rather than offering numerical superiority in the centre.
The Wanderers’ module allowed Muscat to push on extremely high up the pitch and after 11 minutes, he pounced on a short clearance by Rodolfo Soares to unleash a fierce drive that was parried away by Mario Muscat.
On 18 minutes, Clayton Failla took advantage of a distraction by goalkeeper Henry Bonello to curl the ball in off the near post from the corner flag. Luis Edison raced in and headed the ball into the net apparently when it had already crossed the line.
There were no doubts on Hibs’ second goal scorer on the half-hour as Herrera ran clear down the right to whip in a perfect cross for the unmarked Edison to head the ball behind Bonello.
Herrera looked menacing down the flank and Doncic was forced to substitute Steve Bezzina and switch Muscat to the left after just 33 minutes to counter the Hibs’ wing-back’s brisk movement.
Keeper Muscat was rarely troubled. He did, however, make a superb finger-tip save from Mitev’s free-kick.
Just before half-time, Herrera got behind the back-tracking defenders before unleashing a piledriver that required Bonello to produce a smart save to push it out.
Hibs’ sprightly approach at the start of the second period had Sliema on the ropes.
Failla’s run on 51 minutes went unchecked by the Wanderers defenders as he surged into the box before squaring to the unmarked Edison but the Brazilian sent his shot soaring over the bar.
Edison then went on a mazy run, holding off Nikola Bogdanovic and skipping past Rumen Galabov with embarrassing ease but his finish went wide.
Hibs took their foot off the pedal and Cleavon Frendo breached the Paolites’ rearguard six minutes from time when he won possession after Mitev’s free-kick hit the wall, before letting go a powerful volley that lifted the roof of Muscat’s net.
But the Paolites closed out the match without any further alarms to stay within touching distance of pacesetters Valletta.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-6.5, J. Pearson-6, A. Xuereb-6.5, R. Soares-6.5, J. Vandelanoitte-6.5, B. Kristensen-6, A. Cohen-7 (90 R. Camilleri), E. Herrera-8 (70 P. Anizoba), Jackson-7.5, C. Failla-7, L. Edison-7 (86 M. Dias).
Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-5, A. Muscat-5 (56 Gatt Baldacchino-5), N. Bogdanovic-5 (61 Eyenga-5), J. Mifsud-5, R. Grech-5, D. Mitev-7, S. Bezzina-5 (33 C. Frendo-6), B. Muscat-5, R. Galabov-6, R. Fenech-5, E. Lattes-5.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow cards: Muscat, Kristensen, Dias.
BOV player of the match: Luis Edison (Hibs).
Attendance: 971.