Qormi 1
Avila Perez 90;
Hibernians 3
Edison 53, 67; Lima 90+;
The FA Trophy being the second most coveted honour in Maltese football, Hibernians and Qormi were intent on winning this competition when they faced off in yesterday’s final.
It was a reprise of last season’s showdown which had seen Hibs vindicate their heavyweights’ tag with a commanding performance and a 3-1 victory for their ninth FA Trophy success.
Although on paper Hibs were favourites to retain the honour, Qormi were widely fancied to make a contest of it as they pursued their first KO honour, having lost two finals in the last three years.
Their desire to atone for their defeats to Valletta and Hibs in the previous two title matches ought to have spurred Qormi to greater efforts as they endeavoured to bridge the technical gap with their opponents through sheer determination and hard work but, for the second year running, the Yellow-Blacks were overwhelmed by the more experienced Paolites.
Eager to ease the disappointment of their defeat in the league decider, Hibs imposed themselves on the game from the off, pegging Qormi in their own half for long spells.
The early withdrawal of striker Alfred Effiong, knocked out of the game by a late Marcelo Dias challenge, was a terrible blow for Qormi and their attacking abilities.
Somehow, they managed to keep their opponents at bay in the opening period.
That was until Luis Edison ‘Tarabai’ came to the fore, scoring a quickfire double soon after the break to effectively end the game as a contest.
Tarabai was at his irrepressible best in the second period as his penchant to drift wide and cut into the box with the ball glued to his feet gave a torrid time to Qormi whose difficulties to cope with the Brazilian ace were laid bare when Matthew Gauci was given his marching orders 17 minutes from time for flooring his tormentor as he gunned for goal.
The decisive contribution of Tarabai was the headline act of the evening but he was not the only Hibs player to shine.
Midfielder Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla and Andrew Cohen were other top-notch performers with the latter having the honour of lifting the Trophy amid scenes of jubilation among the Hibs faithful.
The final was preceded by a brief but pleasant ceremony as football nursery children ran on to the pitch waving the flags of the 10 clubs who had won the competition before the 75th final.
The gleaming FA Trophy was driven into the stadium in a vintage Jaguar while a group of youngsters unfurled a U*BET FA Trophy banner in the centre-circle.
The only change in Hibs’ starting XI was enforced upon coach Michael Woods by the suspension of goalkeeper and captain Mario Muscat following his dismissal in the 3-2 semi-final victory over Valletta.
There were no surprises from Woods as far as his tactical approach was concerned as Luis Edison and Jean Paul Farrugia formed a two-pronged attack in a 3-5-2 set-up.
Qormi’s formation also showed one alteration from the semi-final victory over Lija Athletic as Duncan Pisani was preferred to Joseph Chetcuti.
With Hibs likely to pose a significant threat on the wings, the inclusion of Pisani was aimed at strengthening Qormi’s defensive acumen on the right flank.
Jesmond Zerafa, whose presence on the touchline will have heartened the Qormi fans given that the affable coach was unwell in the lead-up to the final, kept faith with 4-2-3-1 with Moises Avila Perez spearheading the forward line in front of the interchanging trio of Alfred Effiong, Leighton Grech and Edison Bilbao Zarate.
It was Hibs who seized the upperhand in the early stages.
Latching on to a fine a pass from Cohen, Edison advanced menacingly towards the box but Qormi managed to partially clear the danger. The loose ball fell to Zoran Levnaic who let fly a powerful drive that was kept out by Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper.
Dias then provoked the wrath of the Qormi fans when tripping Effiong in midfield as the latter set off on a potentially dangerous run. The challenge ended Effiong’s evening with Chetcuti coming on for the Nigerian who was in tears as he walked towards the dug-out while the Qormi fans chanted ‘We love you Fredu’.
Creative football was at a premium for much of the opening 20 minutes with Hibs failing to translate their early superiority into clear-cut openings.
That would have changed but for the intervention of Farrugia who pushed Clayton Failla’s long-range free-kick over the bar midway into the first half. From the ensuing corner, taken by Failla, Edison’s header was saved by Farrugia.
Qormi finally fashioned their first chance when Grech broke free on the right before swinging over a cross that was met by Zarate whose downward header was easily saved by Balzan.
Another Failla incursion down the left wing had the Qormi defence in a spot of bother as the winger’s cross just eluded Farrugia before Gauci headed the ball away for a corner.
A slow-burning game showed signs of life as half-time approached. Avila Perez had an angled drive saved by Balzan after Chetcuti had retrieved possession on the left.
After a difficult start, Qormi settled down nicely but it was Hibs who threatened nine minutes from half-time when Cohen directed a perfect cross to Farrugia who miscued his header.
Minutes later, Cohen hit wide from the distance before keeper Farrugia blocked another long-range effort from Hibs midfielder Kristensen.
Most of the action was taking place in Qormi’s half as Zerafa’s men lacked the fluency and flair to present a sustained attacking threat, often relying on speculative long balls which were easily cleared by the Hibs defenders.
Before half-time, Balzan stopped a drive by Grech.
As the game resumed after the break, Dias embarked on a typically bursting run on the wing but his cross-cum-shot was wayward.
It was an early warning from Hibs who took a deserved lead eight minutes into the second half.
The Qormi keeper did well to beat away Farrugia’s effort from inside the box but Edison peeled away from his markers to stroke the loose ball into the net.
The force was with Hibs who continued to drift forward from all angles, especially from the wide areas. Kristensen released 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 skimmed the crossbar.
A whiff of anticipation coursed through the Qormi fans as Avila Perez raced past the back-tracking Hibs defenders to reach a long ball but Balzan repelled the Spaniard’s effort.
Hibs were quick to respond as Edison ghosted his way 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 let off the hook but not for long. Midway into the second half, Failla angled a teasing cross from a right-wing free-kick and Edison rose high to glance the ball past the stranded Farrugia.
Having struggled to make his mark in the first half, Edison was a rejuvenated man after the break, his confidence indubitably galvanised by his two-goal burst.
His elusive movement was giving Qormi all sorts of problems, particularly Gauci who was dismissed for a second booking for hacking down the Brazilian just outside the box.
Cohen’s ensuing free-kick flashed past the post.
Qormi were all over the place. They surrendered possession in midfield, Lima quickly sweeping the ball to Edison who breezed into the box but his effort was cleared by Pisani.
Another delightful Hibs move prised open the Qormi defence as Cohen flicked the ball to Edison who strode into the box before squaring to Failla who blasted wide.
It was then the turn of defender Rodolfo Soares to venture forward but his shot was wide. Farrugia should have made it 3-0 but hit badly with only Farrugia to beat after receiving from Failla.
The litany of missed chances continued. Hibs looked certain to add a third when Kristensen, all-action in midfield, drove forward as he set 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 lifted the ball past Balzan from inside the box but Hibs quickly restored their two-goal advantage thanks to Lima who sidefooted the ball into the net after another dashing run by Kristensen.
Qormi
M. Farrugia, K. Thackray, R. Sammut, A. Effiong (14 J. Chetcuti), M. Avila Perez, L. Sciberras, M. Gauci, E. Bilbao Zarate, D. Pisani, J. Bondin, L. Grech (80 M. Bartolo).
Hibernians
D. Balzan, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson (63 A. Pulis), R. Soares, M. Dias (58 J. Lima), A. Cohen, C. Failla, B. Kristensen, Z. Levnaic, J.P. Farrugia, Luis Edison (89 O. Obiefule).
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Edison; Avila Perez; Gauci; Thackray; Lima. Red card Gauci (Q) 73.
Attendance: 4,276.
Outcome satisfies Hibs coach
Michael Woods, the Hibernians coach, sported a broad smile on his face at the end of yesterday’s showdown at the National Stadium.
“I’m delighted that we have ended the season on an excellent note. I think this was a good way to wrap up an extraordinary campaign for Hibernians.
“Indeed, the last nine days were a very difficult test for us as we figured in three important matches – the league decider, KO semi-final and this final.
“We were very disappointed to miss out on the Premier League title but the players have risen to the occasion in the FA Trophy. Qormi’s late goal threatened to set a nervy finale but then Jackson Lima settled our nerves.
“Qormi played compact in the first half and we were rushing our conclusions but Hibs played much better in the second half. Had we taken more of our chances in the second half, we would have won more convincingly.”
Previous 10 finals
2012: Hibernians vs Qormi - 3-1
2011: Floriana vs Valletta - 1-0
2010: Valletta vs Qormi - 2-1
2009: Sliema Wanderers vs Valletta - 3-3 (Sliema win 4-3 on penalties)
2008: Birkirkara vs Ħamrun Spartans - 2-1
2007: Hibernians vs Sliema Wanderers - 1-1 (Hibernians win 3-0 on penalties)
2006: Hibernians vs Floriana - 1-0
2005: Birkirkara vs Msida St Joseph - 2-1
2004: Sliema Wanderers vs Marsaxlokk - 2-0
2003: Birkirkara vs Sliema Wanderers - 1-0
FA Trophy winners
20 times: Sliema Wanderers
19 times: Floriana
12 times: Valletta
10 times: Hibernians
6 times: Ħamrun Spartans
4 times: Birkirkara
Once: Melita
Once: Rabat Ajax
Once: Gżira United
Once: Żurrieq