Hibs midfielder Andrew Cohen moves clear of Nikola Tasic. Photo: Chris Sant FournierHibs midfielder Andrew Cohen moves clear of Nikola Tasic. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Hibernians 3
Jorginho 44, 56; Failla 63;
Pietà Hotspurs 1
Xavier 80;

Hibernians maintained their perfect start to the 2014-15 BOV Premier League as the Paolites easily despatched of newly-promoted Pietà Hotspurs to clinch their fifth successive victory.

The Paolites were simply too strong for the Hotspurs, who, bar a handful of sporadic breakaways in the opening half, were non-existent as an attacking force.

After surging ahead in the first half, Hibs relied on their technical skills to break down a resolute but limited Hotspurs team.

Noel Coleiro’s side had coped well in the first 45 minutes but the gulf in class between the two teams grew more and more evident as the game wore on.

The Hotspurs were reduced to chasing shadows in all areas as the likes of Jorginho, Luis Edison, Jackson Lima and Andrew Cohen ran the Pietà defence ragged.

The only blemish in Branko Nisevic’s team’s performance yesterday was some casual defending which could have cost them dearly.

Serbian newcomer Nikola Tasic and Rafael Rodrigues were named in Pietà’s starting formation as coach Coleiro made two changes from the 3-1 defeat to Floriana.

Brazilian midfielder Gabriel and Kyle Cesare had to settle for a place on the bench.

It was back to basics for Hibs mentor Nisevic, who handed a starting role to Lima and Timothy Tabone Desira as he opted for 4-4-2 with Jorginho and Edison up front.

The first chance came Hibernians’ way after 15 minutes when Jorginho drifted infield but his effort was too central to unnerve David Cassar, the Pietà goalkeeper.

Shortly afterwards, Jorginho threatened again when the Brazilian profited from some hesitant defending in the Pietà box to retrieve possession but was denied by a smart save from Hotspurs goalkeeper Cassar.

The leaders’ early ascendancy was spoilt past the half hour.

Claudio Frances capitalised on the glaring gaps in the Hibernians midfield as he had time to pick up the advancing Rafael Xavier whose shot did not trouble Henry Bonello.

Hibernians staged an immediate reaction, mustering a barrage of crosses that were warded off by the Pietà defence.

A prolonged Hibs raid saw Edison’s thunderbolt crashing against the crossbar.

The Paolites’ improvement yielded the lead moments later when Edison dinked the ball towards the centre and Jorginho was on hand to head home.

The elusive moment of Hibernians’ Brazilian forwards were giving the Hotspurs defence all sorts of problems after the break.

Three minutes into the second half the Hotspurs breathed a sigh of relief when Jorginho’s pile-driver flew just wide.

But shy the hour mark, Jorginho played a brilliant one-two with Edison before finishing the move with a crisply right-footed effort over Cassar.

Six minutes later, Clayton Failla made it 3-0, finding the net with an eye-of-the-needle finish following a mazy run on the left flank.

Ten minutes from time, Rafael Xavier scored a consolation goal for the Hotspurs, pouncing on a misplaced backpass by Andrei Agius before beating Hibs goalkeeper Bonello.

Hibernians
H. Bonello-6.5, R. Gomes-5.5 (80 J. Pearson), R. Soares-6, T. Tabone Desira-6, A. Cohen-6.5, B. Kristensen-5.5 (76 J. Bezzina), C. Failla-6.5, Jackson-6.5, A. Agius-5, L. Edison-7 (68 J. Degabiele-5), Jorginho-7.5.

Pietà Hotspurs
D. Cassar-6, C. Attard-5 (70 O. Anonam-3), C. Grech-5, L. Fortunato-6, J. Pisani-5, C. Cassar-5.5 (46 K. Cesare-5), N. Tasic-5.5 (59 Gabriel-), T. Agius-5, C. Frances-6, R. Xavier-6, R. Rodrigues-5

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Yellow card: Tasic.

BOV player of the match: Jorginho (Hibernians).

Attendance: 727.

Standings

  P W D L F A Pts
Hibernians 5 5 0 0 13 4 15
Birkirkara 5 4 0 1 11 4 12
Balzan 4 3 1 0 10 6 10
Mosta 4 3 1 0 5 1 10
Tarxien R. 5 1 4 0 6 5 7
Floriana 5 1 2 2 7 10 5
Valletta 4 1 1 2 3 3 4
Qormi 5 1 1 3 3 6 4
Sliema W.  4 0 3 1 3 5 3
Naxxar L. 5 0 2 3 3 6 2
Żebbuġ R.  5 0 2 3 8 16 2
Pietà H. 5 0 1 4 3 9 1

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