Luis Edison, of Hibs, tries to move past Mathias Muchardi. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Żebbuġ Rangers 0
Hibernians 4
Cohen 7; Failla 51; Dias 68; Edison 71;

Hibernians were at their vintage best yesterday following a comfortable victory over Żebbuġ Rangers to maintain their pristine start to the season with their sixth win in a row.

The game was almost finished before it started. The leaders quickly stamped their authority and once Andrew Cohen put them ahead early on, there was never a doubt about the outcome.

Given the gulf in class between the two sides, the last thing bottom-placed Żebbuġ wanted was a shaky start by their rearguard who seemed at a loss on how to cope with Luis Edison’s movement and Marcelo Dias’s swift passing and powerful forward thrusts.

The Paolites remained in control throughout and they pressed their dominance in the second half when netting three goals in the opening 26 minutes to seal three points that strengthened their top placing in the standings.

Jesmond Zammit, the Żebbuġ coach, responded to his team’s second half comeback against Floriana by reshuffling his formation.

Brazilian Fabricio was back in goal while Jonathan Xerri, Matthew Bartolo and Lee Galea started ahead of Thomas Paris and Matthew Gauci while forward Bojan Mamic was not included in the squad.

Wary of Hibernians’ threat up front, Żebbuġ fielded five defenders with Clifford Gauci detailed to offer further cover to the defence in a 5-4-1 formation.

Branko Nisevic, the Hibs coach, opted to include Marcelo Dias in the starting XI, a move that necessitated other changes in the line-up.

Rui Gracia Gomes was dropped to the bench while Keith Tanti started ahead of Timothy Tabone Desira at centre-half alongside Andrei Agius and Rodolfo Soares.

Dias, positioned on the right flank, and Clayton Failla on the left, were allowed to push high up the wings in a 3-4-3 formation.

Despite Żebbuġ’s ultra-defensive approach, Hibs still managed a breakthrough after seven minutes.

A moment of wizardry from Jorginho proved to be the Rangers’ undoing as the Brazilian striker muscled his way inside the area, hitting a low shot which Yessous Camilleri only managed to repel and Andrew Cohen flashed in to tap home from the rebound.

On 27 minutes, Edison surged forward on a solo run, dodging the luckless Ratko Mandic who was promptly flattened by the on-rushing Gauci to leave both Żebbuġ defenders in a heap.

The Brazilian nodded the ball through for Jorginho who was left completely unmarked only to shoot into Fabricio’s hands.

On 40 minutes, a powerful run from Failla caused anxiety in the Żebbuġ defence as the ball reached Jorginho whose header flew wide.

Any resistance from Żebbuġ was extinguished as Hibs tore out of the blocks at the start of the second half.

Dias played a neat one-two with Edison before Failla connected with hit his pin-point pass and direct the ball into the net.

When Mandic capitalised on a bad clearance by Soares, danger lurked for Hibs on the hour mark, as the winger tried to glide past goalkeeper Henry Bonello but the Serbian dragged his shot wide.

With Dias and Edison dictating matters from midfield, Hibs continued to unsettle their opponents and on 68 minutes Dias got behind the backtracking defence before hitting a low shot that rolled into the net.

Nineteen minutes from time, Edison got on the scoring act when prodding the ball home from close in following Failla’s cross as Hibs cantered to an emphatic victory.

Żebbuġ Rangers
Fabricio-5, L. Galea-5, M. Bartolo-5 (73 J. Borg), R. Mandic-5.5 (69 M. Britto), Y. Camilleri-5.5, J. Diaz-5.5, M. Muchardi-6, J. Nwoba-4.5 (77 T. Paris), C. Monti-6, C. Gauci-6, J. Xerri-5.

Hibernians
H. Bonello-6, K. Tanti-6 (64 J. Pearson-6), R. Soares-5, M. Dias-8, A. Cohen-6.5 (80 J. Degabriele), B. Kristensen-6.5, C. Failla-7, J. Lima-6 (73 J. Bezzina), A. Agius-6, L. Edison-7.5, Jorginho-6.5.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Nwoba, Kristensen, Mandic, Edison.

BOV player of the match: Clayton Failla (Hibernians).