Updated 9.35 p.m.

Brazilian striker Luis Edison 'Tarabai' hit a brace as Hibs easily beat Qormi to win the U*Bet FA Trophy for the second year running.

The final of the 75th FA Trophy, the second most prestigious honour in Maltese football, was a repeat of last year's clash. After Hibs won a one-sided final 3-1 last year, hopes were high that Qormi would provide a sterner challenge this time around but that failed to materialise as the Paolites again proved too strong for their opponents, beating them with an identical scoreline.

Qormi played second fiddle throughout the game with the early injury of striker Alfred Effiong hampering their attacking hopes. They did well to keep a clean sheet in the first half but there was no stopping Hibs in the second half with Edison, Bjorn Kristensen and Clayton Failla playing a prominent role in their club's 10 Trophy victory.

Daniel Balzan replaced regular goalkeeper Mario Muscat in the only change in the Hibs' line-up from the 3-2 semi-final win over Valletta. Qormi coach Jesmond Zerafa recalled Duncan Pisani to his starting formation with Joseph Chetcuti making way.

It was Hibs who made the better start. Zoran Levnaic went close with a well-hit strike from outside the box but Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper, was alert to block the Hibs midfielder's shot. Marcelo Dias then angered the Qormi fans when bringing down Effiong in midfield as the latter set off on a potentially run.

The challenge ended Effiong's game with Chetcuti replacing the Nigerian on 14 minutes. Creative football was conspicuous by its absence for much of the opening 20 minutes with Hibs failing to convert their early superiority into clear chances. Midway into the first half, Farrugia tipped Clayton Failla's free-kick over the bar.

Qormi finally created their first chance when Leighton Grech advanced on the right before hitting a cross that was met by Edison Bilbao Zarate whose header was easily saved by Balzan.

Another Failla run down the left had the Qormi defence on the back foot as the winger's cross just eluded Jean Paul Farrugia before Matthew Gauci headed the ball away for a corner. Moises Avila Perez, the Qormi striker, had an angled drive saved by Balzan after Chetcuti had won possession on the left flank. Hibs ended the first half on the attack.

Farrugia miscued his header from Andrew Cohen's cross and the latter was wide with a low strike. As the game resumed after half-time, Dias produced on a typically bursting run on the wing but his cross-cum-shot was wayward. It was an early warning from Hibs who deservedly forged ahead seven minutes into the second half.

Farrugia did well to push away Farrugia's effort from inside the box but Edison surged clear of his markers to stroke the loose ball into the net. Hibs continued to push forward, stretching Hibs with their incursions down the wings. Kristensen freed Farrugia but the Malta U-21 striker's attempt was deflected away for a corner.

Grech broke Hibs' dominance with a dangerous cross-shot that ended just over the crossbar. Qormi's optimism rose when Avila Perezsped past the back-tracking Hibs defenders to reach a long ball but Balzan beat away the Spaniard's effort. Hibs were quick to respond as Edison sprinted into the box and his pass was deflected into the path of Jackson Lima, who had just come on for Dias, but the Brazilian's effort was blocked by a defender. Qormi were reprieved but not for long.

Midway into the second half, Failla sent in a teasing cross from a right-wing free-kick and Edison leapt to head the ball past the stranded Farrugia. Edison's slick movement was giving Qormi a nightmare, particularly Matthew Gauci who was sent off 17 minutes from time after earning a second caution for bringing down the Brazilian just outside the box. Cohen's free-kick flashed past the post. Qormi crumbled.

They gave away possession in midfield, Lima quickly directing the ball to Edison who breezed into the box but his effort was cleared by Pisani. Another brilliant Hibs move opened up the Qormi defence as Cohen flicked the ball to Edison who ran into the box before squaring to Failla who blasted wide with only Farrugia to beat. It was then the turn of defender Rodolfo Soares to gio forward but his shot was wide.

Farrugia should have made it 3-0 but flicked wide after receiving from Failla. The catalogue of missed chances continued. Hibs looked certain to score a third when Kristensen drove forward before setting up Edison who closed in on goal before laying the ball to the unmarked Lima who hit over in front of a gaping goal. In stoppage time, Qormi pulled one back when the unmarked Avila Perez hit past Balzan from inside the box but Hibs quickly regained their two-goal advantage thanks to Lima who slotted the ball into the net after another intelligent run by Kristensen.

The final, the last football game of this season, attracted a large crowd to the National Stadium. The score at half time was 0-0.

Mark Zamit Cordina captured the mood in the video above.

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