Qormi 0
Hibernians 2
Agius 11; Jorginho 65;

With Hibernians in the driving seat after storming into a two-goal lead early in the second half, their vocal fans turned their attention to Birkirkara, their opponents in the FA Trophy showdown on Saturday.

Branko Nisevic, the Hibernians coach, could also afford to take off his captain, Andrew Cohen, two minutes from time as the champions had long snuffed out Qormi’s hopes of pulling off an upset.

Qormi, chasing their third final appearance in four years, produced a bold challenge but this proved a bridge too far as Mark Miller’s battling troops clearly lacked that extra touch of class needed to upstage the leading team in Maltese football.

A daunting task for the Yellow-Blacks had been further compounded after just 11 minutes, the time it took Hibernians to break the stalemate.

For long stretches in the opening half, Hibs struggled for fluency after switching to cruise control but, even when Qormi stirred mainly thanks to the incursions of Alfred Effiong and Leighton Grech, the overriding feeling was that the Paolites retained the ability to strike when least expected.

And so it proved as, 20 minutes into the second half, Jorginho all but settled the contest with a clinical finish after Hibernians raised their tempo.

The Paolites maintained a stronghold in the game thereafter, easily repelling Qormi’s efforts to drag themselves back into contention, albeit the champions also enjoyed the rub of the green when a thunderous free-kick by Marcelo cannoned off the crossbar.

By the time the final whistle echoed around the stadium, the Hibernians faithful were already in full voice, saluting the players who duly reciprocated by joining in the celebrations.

Defender Andrei Agius, who had given Hibs the lead, thrilled the cheering fans as he climbed the glass railing to take over drumming duties from the ultras leader as his amused team-mates looked on.

Another win this Saturday would make this a momentous season for Hibs and their show of unity yesterday left no-one in doubt as to their determination to achieve the double.

Rodolfo Soares recovered from a hamstring strain to take his usual place in the heart of Hibernians’ defence. There were no changes in the champions’ line-up from the 3-1 victory over Valletta in their final league match.

Nisevic stuck with Bjorn Kristensen at the tip of his five-man midfield with Cohen floating behind striker Jorginho.

Cohen tested Matthew Farrugia with a free-kick but the Qormi goalkeeper managed to save in two attempts.

Billy Berntsson was the most notable absentee for Qormi as the Swedish defender was serving a one-match ban. Miller went with 4-2-3-1 with the attacking midfield trio of Effiong, Gustavo Villalobos and Grech pushing up in support of Alex Nilsson.

Hibernians threatened again when Jorginho profited from a half-clearance to surge clear but out came Farrugia to subdue the danger.

There was to be no reprieve for Qormi on 11 minutes. Cohen’s free-kick sparked a goalmouth melee and Agius was on the right spot to flick past Farrugia. Agius, who has had a brilliant first season with his hometown club, was mobbed by his team-mates before saluting his parents in the VIP zone.

Midway into the first half, Dias produced a powerful run on the right but his long-range drive skimmed the crossbar.

The erstwhile low-key Qormi began to beam signs of life in attack as the first half gathered pace. Effiong started on the left wing but he was proving more effective embarking on runs through the centre.

Six minutes from half-time, the Qormi supporters screamed “penalty” after Nilsson went down under Jackson Lima’s challenge but the referee was unimpressed.

After taking an early lead, Hibs struggled to impose themselves on the game, the champions looking increasingly casual and bereft of inspiration.

Grech was keeping Rui de Gracia Gomes busy with his runs down the right but Qormi lacked a cutting edge.

On the brink of half-time, Kristensen threatened to punish Qormi on the counter as the towering midfielder charged clear after receiving from Cohen but his ferocious drive was beaten away by the alert Farrugia.

Miller brought on Marcelo for Uzeh Edafe.

Early in the second half, Villalobos’s quick progression left a host of Hibs defenders trailing before he crossed into the box but goalkeeper Henry Bonello was quick off his line to anticipate Grech.

Close to the hour, Lima capitalised on the open space in the Qormi half to summon a stinging drive that Farrugia tipped over the bar.

The game was as good as over on 65 minutes when Hibernians extended their lead.

Soares initiated the move as his intelligent pass from midfield was picked up by Jorginho who accelerated past Zoran Levnaic before drilling the ball past the diving Farrugia.

Johann Bezzina then blasted over from the distance and, at the other end, Villalobos dragged the ball back for Nilsson but his grounder brought a routine save from Bonello.

With 14 minutes remaining, Qormi were unlucky not to pull one back as Marcelo’s perfectly-struck free-kick soared past the leaping Bonello but the shot rattled the crossbar.

A delightful move by Hibernians should have yielded a third goal.

Joseph Mbong, who had just entered the fray after replacing Dias, controlled a raking ball from De Gracia Gomes before squaring to Kristensen who swiftly freed Cohen but the Hibs captain hit wide from close range.

With four minutes left, Bonello thwarted Qormi when blocking Grech’s low shot after the winger had swept past De Gracia Gomes.

In the dying stages, Hibs came close to a third goal.

From Clayton Failla’s cross, Jorginho aimed a dipping header towards the far post but the ball came off the woodwork.

Qormi
M. Farrugia, U. Edafe (46 Marcelo), A. Mendoza, S. Agius, A. Effiong, C. Gauci (86 B. Bondin), Z. Levnaic, J. Bondin (73 D. Pisani), G. Villalobos, L. Grech. A. Nilsson.

Hibernians
H. Bonello, J. Lima, R. Soares, M. Dias (80 J. Mbong), A. Cohen (88 J. Degabriele), J. Bezzina (90 D. Vella), R. De Gracia Gomes, A. Agius, C. Failla, B. Kristensen, Jorginho.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Edafe; De Gracia Gomes; Dias; Villa-lobos; Soares; Jorginho.

Attendance: 2,044.