Hibernians 2
Sliema Wanderers 0
Two Obinna Obiefule goals and a string of saves by keeper Mario Muscat defined this Euro Cup match as Hibs chalked up their first win under new coach Branko Nisevic yesterday.
On a hot evening, Hibs and Sliema put in a generous shift but it was the Paolites, who had drawn their first match against Valletta, who claimed the spoils.
Goalkeeper Henry Bonello, who missed the second half of last season with a leg fracture, was handed a starting role by Sliema coach Alfonso Greco.
Muscat was back in Hibs’ goal but Andrew Cohen, Ryan Camilleri and Clayton Failla were left out.
Hibs opened the scoring after five minutes. Steve Pisani’s cross was deflected into the path of Obiefule who drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.
Sliema, who beat Birkirkara 3-1 in their opening game, should have equalised when Matias Muchardi swerved his way into the box but the Argentine’s flick was blocked by the on-rushing Muscat.
The Hibs goalkeeper again denied Muchardi when pushing away his curling effort after good work by Sliema captain Alex Muscat.
Navarra then blasted over after Stanley Ohawuchi’s header from Ciantar’s free-kick appeared to be going wide.
Although lacking in intensity, the early proceedings were balanced with Sliema shading possession as they searched for an equaliser. They came close near the half-hour but Navarra’s attempt brought another save from Muscat.
Edison was wide with a low shot from outside the box. Sliema spurned a great opportunity when Ohawuchi raced clear and crossed for Ciantar who hit wide from point blank distance.
Four minutes from half-time, Ohawuchi fired wide from a free-kick.
The referee then issued a verbal caution to Bonello and Edison after the two had been involved in a bout of showing.
After rifling wide from Edison’s pass, Obiefule doubled Hibs lead on the stroke of half-time, heading the ball into an unguarded net after another darting run by Pisani.
Dylan Kokavessis, one of five Sliema players who came on at the start of the second half, hit the bar with an angled drive.
Muscat then thwarted the Blues with quickfire saves from Kokavessis and Navarra. Midway into the second half, Edison should have put the game to bed but fired over after being put through by Bjorn Kristensen.
Low-key in the first half, Navarra was more effective after the break. With 11 minutes left, the Italian headed wide from Kokavessis’s cross.
In stoppage time, Hibs substitute Neil Chetcuti drove wide after receiving from Kristensen.
Hibernians: M. Muscat, M. Tabone, T. Tabone Desira (64 I. Briffa), S. Chircop (64 M. Gauci), A. Pulis (21 K. Tanti), Z. Levnaic (56 N. Chetcuti), S. Pisani, B. Muscat, B. Kristensen, Luis Edison (78 J.P. Farrugia), O. Obiefule.
Sliema: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, I. Grech, J. Mintoff (57 D. Borg), S. Ohawuchi (46 D. Kokavessis), A. Laudisi, C. Gatt Baldacchino (46 J. Mifsud), A. Navarra, M. Muchardi (46 D. Micallef), M. Ciantar (46 A. Xuereb), B. Muscat (46 P. Barbetti).
Referee: Marco Borg.
Remaining Fixtures
Today: Birkirkara vs Valletta.
Tuesday: Sliema vs Valletta.
Wednesday: Birkirkara vs Hibs.
Note: All matches to be played at the Centenary Stadium at 8pm.