FLORIANA-0, HIBERNIANS-3
Hibernians got their 2014/15 Premier League campaign off to a strong start after easing past Floriana in a one-sided match.
The Paolites were all over their tame opponents, taking a 2-0 half-time before sealing their win with a third midway into the second half.
The Paolites were first to threaten. The game was six minutes old when Marcelo Dias's forceful run took him into the box and his low cross was met by new Brazilian signing Jorginho who looked odds-on to score but his grounder was repelled by Sean Mintoff.
The Greens produced a chance of their own two minutes later. Gary Muir's corner sailed towards the six-yard box but Marcelina's central header was stopped by Henry Bonello.
Dias continued to trouble the Floriana defenders with his strong runs down the wing.
Close to the 20th minute mark, Vito Plut, Floriana's Slovenian striker, miscued his effort from an angled position.
Italian striker Matteo Piciollo then sprinted on to a lofted pass from midfield, controlled the ball and darted past Rodolfo Soares only to drift too wide of goal with the result that his effort ended wide.
Hibs went up at the other end and scored. Edison's excellent pass invited Jorginho to run across the penalty box before slotting the ball past Sean Mintoff.
A swift Hibs counter-attack opened up Floriana on 29 minutes as the unstoppable Dias ran towards the byline before sending a low cross towards Edison but the latter missed the ball in front of goal.
Barely a minute later, Hibs increased their advantage courtesy of Failla whose stunning free-kick had the better of the diving Mintoff.
Seven minutes from half-time, Piciollo did well to drift into a shooting position but his grounder lacked the power to trouble Bonello.
Another powerful run by Dias unhinged Floriana as the Brazilian crossed for Failla who blasted high at the far post.
Floriana had a good chance to pull one back when Muir's set-piece cross soared towards Marcelina but the Brazilian made a hash of his header.
Hibs had the ball in the net two minutes into the second half after Jorginho hit past Mintoff from Edison's through-ball but the goal was ruled out by Adrian Azzopardi who ruled that the ball had gone out of play when Edison delivered the pass.
The nippy Brazilian almost scored Hibs' third but headed inches wide from Kristensen's cross after his run into the box.
Bonello then effected a fine save, tipping away a looping shot from Piciollo from outside the penalty box.
On 64 minutes, veteran goalkeeper Mario Muscat came on for Bonello to move within one game of his 500th appearance in the Premier League.
To add to the delight of the Hibs fans, Johann Bezzina made the points safe after his drive from outside the box, following Failla's lay-up, had the better of the hesitant Mintoff in the Floriana goal.
The Floriana goalkeeper did better 11 minutes from time, leapinfg to his left to turn Cohen's low free-kick around the post. Jorginho then had a diagonal shot ending wide after taking a deflection.
Hibs nearly made it 4-0 but substitute Jackson Lima's fierce grounder hit the base of the post.
Failla was voted BOV player of the match.