Naxxar 0
Hibernians 3
Obiefule 79, 90; Degabriele 90+;
Hibernians put a glossy seal on a late show after ending Naxxar Lions’ hopes of taking the last available spot in the Cham-pionship Pool.
Obinna Obiefule was Hibs’ hero, as his brace knocked the stuffing out of a cagey Naxxar team who paid the price for an appalling decline that saw them gain zero points from their last four matches.
The Lions needed to at least avoid defeat to force a decider with Balzan but they failed to rise to the challenge as Hibs stamped their authority to achieve a well-deserved win.
Naxxar coach Winston Muscat was forced into a last-minute change as Victor Bellia pulled up during the warm-up. His void was taken by John Debono while Filip Stojanovic and Daren Falzon deputised for the suspended Gilmar and Andrew Decesare.
Four of the five changes in the Hibs starting Xi were also enforced as Branko Niservic was without suspended duo Zoran Levnaic and Jackson Lima while Brandon Muscat and Ryan Camilleri were unavailable.
Igor Radusinovic made his debut as he partnered Jonathan Pearson in the heart of defence while the returning Bjorn Kristensen, Johann Bezzina, Jurgen Degabriele and Matthew Bartolo were all given the nod to start.
Hibernians attacked straight from the kick-off and Obiefule surged into the box but his shot was kept out by the onrushing Julian Azzopardi, the Naxxar goalkeeper.
Four minutes into the game, Bezzina dispossessed Ryan Cassar on the wing and his cross flew over to the far post where Luis Edison came close with a dipping header that nestled on the roof of the net.
On 15 minutes, the Naxxar defence was caught out again by another swift Hibernians counter-attack. Scott Chircop’s pass from midfield invited Degabriele to run through. Azzopardi dashed out of his goal but the nippy midfielder rounded the goalkeeper only to loose his balance and the chance went abegging.
Naxxar finally threatened on 37 minutes Bakare sped clear through midfield but his long-range strike finished straight into the hands of goalkeeper Jurgen Borg.
Just before half-time, danger loomed for the Paolites when Scerri embarked on a good run down the left but his angled effort was well saved by Borg.
Naxxar started the second half in brisk mode, yet they failed to translate their superiority into clearcut chances.
Shy of the hour mark, Degabriele dispossessed Thiago and picked Edison wide on the left. The Brazilian cut the ball back to avoid the return of the defender but Azzopardi palmed his effort away.
Three minutes later, Naxxar survived another scare when Obiefule unleashed a powerful drive but Azzopardi pawed away his shot.
This was the cue for Nisevic to make his first substitution throwing on Andrew Cohen after a long lay-off.
After 79 minutes, Cohen drove infield from the right channel before sending in a cross which invited Obiefule to dive in and head home.
Four minutes from time, Bezzina sent substitute Milan Vignjevic crashing to the ground to end his first venture towards the Hibs penalty area. The young defender was dismissed after he received his second yellow card.
But despite being a man down it was Hibs who added to their tally when in stoppage time, Tabone Desira released Obiefule who avoided the onrushing Azzopardi before slotting the ball over the line.
A few moments later, Degabriele made it 3-0 when he sped through, rounded Azzopardi and deposited the ball into an empty net.
Naxxar
J. Azzopardi-5, R. Bakare-6.5, J. Debono-6, A. Buhagiar-5.5, R. G. Cassar-5 (83 D. Bonnici), D. Falzon-4.5, Thiago-5, D. A. Reano-6, A. Rocha da Silva-5.5 (75 M. Vignjevic), T. Scerri-5, F. Stojanovic-6.5.
Hibernians
J. Borg-6, I. Radusinovic-6, S. Chircop-6, T. Tabone Desira-6, J. Bezzina, B. Kristensen-6, J. Pearson-6.5, M. Bartolo-5 (67 A. Cohen-6.5), J. Degabriele-7, L. Edison-6 (90 Z. Scerri), O. Obiefule-8.
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Yellow cards: Bakare; Radusinovic; Thiago; Bezzina; Bonnici.
Red card: Bezzina (H) 86.
BOV Player of the match: Obinna Obiefule (Hibernians).