Tarxien Rainbows 0
Hibernians 1
Cohen 24;
A spectacular strike from Andrew Cohen enabled Hibs to overcome the fiery challenge of rivals Tarxien Rainbows and go top of the BOV Premier League.
It was an efficient performance from the champions who held the initiative for much of the match.
Inspired by Cohen and the powerful running of Marcelo Dias and Jorginho, they kept Tarxien at bay after the Hibs captain had scored what proved to be the winning goal in the first half to extend the champions’ unbeaten start to four games.
For their part, Tarxien will surely be disappointed to have left the National Stadium with no points.
The Rainbows tried hard to cause problems to the Paolites but they did not carry enough attacking threat to break down a solid Hibs defence that was again well marshalled by their excellent defensive trio of Andrei Agius, Rodolfo Soares and Rui Da Gracia Gomes.
Hibs coach Branko Nisevic kept faith with young goalkeeper Rudy Briffa ahead of the returning Juergen Borg who was among the substitutes.
Brazilian midfielder Jackson Lima was handed a starting berth to fill the void left by compatriot Denni who began a two-match ban.
Tarxien coach Jacques Scerri awarded a debut to new signing Lucky Omeruo who started on the right side of attack in the absence of Brazilian Anderson who was out with ankle ligament damage.
Alex Alves was deployed at right-back with Ebiabowei Baker drafted into the heart of defence alongside Bruno Oliveira as Daniel Zerafa was out with a shoulder injury.
As expected, the match was keenly-contested in the opening stages with both sides trying to assert control with a series of rough challenges dominating the early exchanges.
Hibs were first to settle and on 12 minutes, Dias sped past his marker before hitting a rasping low drive that just whizzed past the upright.
Two minutes later, Lima powered his way into the area but was blocked by the onrushing Andrea Cassar, the Tarxien goalkeeper.
Tarxien’s attacking threat was almost non-existent and it was no surprise when, on 24 minutes, the Paolites stormed ahead.
Dias again did the damage when he sprinted past Timothy Tabone Desira before sending a low pass into the path of Jorginho whose cheeky dummy put Cohen in ample space. The Hibs skipper let fly a powerful drive that gave goalkeeper Cassar no chance.
On 28 minutes, Tarxien protested for a penalty when Carlos Hevia fell after a challenge by Da Gracia Gomes but referee Esther Azzopardi waved play on amid the protests of the Spaniard who was subsequently booked.
Tarxien tried to step up their game but struggled to make any inroads into the Hibs defence.
Instead, it was Hibs who almost doubled their lead five minutes from the break when Jorginho picked out Jorge inside the area but the Brazilian’s downward header flashed wide.
Tarxien finally threatened on 43 minutes when Hevia raced into the area to pick Triston Caruana’s pass but was thwarted by the onrushing Briffa.
Hibs retained the initiative after the restart.
Scerri was clearly unhappy with his team’s lack of punch and, on the hour, he withdrew Triston Caruana, a midfielder, and roped in Brazilian striker Danilo.
But barely a minute later, Hibs should have killed off the game when Cohen put Jorge clear but the Brazilian striker saw his low drive coming off the bar before Tabone Desira cleared.
Nisevic responded by withdrawing Bjorn Kristensen and Cohen with Jonathan Pearson and Gilmar entering the fray as the Serbian coach looked to ad more solidity to his team.
Tarxien were seeing more of the ball but their constructive play was not reaping dividends as their finishing was poor.
In one instance, Joao Pedro combined well with Alex Alves but the latter fired high and wide from an inviting position.
Nine minutes from time, Hibs had another good opportunity to seal the three points.
Jorge forced his way into the area before pulling the ball back for Gilmar whose stinging drive was somehow kept out by Cassar.
From the ensuing flag-kick, taken by Clayton Failla, Pearson fired over from routine distance.
Tarxien Rainbows
A. Cassar-6, E. Baker-6, M. Caruana-5.5, Oliveira-6, T. Tabone Desira-6.5, T. Caruana-5 (60 Danilo-4), L. Omeruo-5, C. Hevia-6, L. Montebello-5 (75 A. Azzopardi), A. Alves-5, Joao Pedro-5 (76 B. Muscat).
Hibernians
R. Briffa-6.5, R. Da Gracia Gomes-6.5, J. Lima-6, R. Soares-6.5, M. Dias-7, A. Cohen-6.5 (71 Gilmar), B. Kristensen-5 (69 J. Pearson-6), C. Failla-6, A. Agius-7, Jorginho-6, Jorge-6.
Referee: Esther Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Hevia; Baker.
BOV player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians).
Attendance: 1,392.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Hibernians | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 10 |
| Mosta | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 9 |
| Valletta | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| Balzan | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| Birkirkara | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 7 |
| Floriana | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Sliema | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Pembroke | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
| Tarxien | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Qormi | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| St Andrew’s | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 0 |
| Naxxar | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 |