St Andrew’s 0
Hibernians 3
Jorge 60, 90; Gilmar 63;
The pressure was on Hibernians to get back to winning ways and capitalise on Valletta’s upset to temporarily join them at the top of the Premier League standings.
On paper, Hibs were expected to encounter little trouble to brush aside a modest St Andrew’s side who were still in search of their first point after 10 matches.
But these are no ordinary circumstances for the Paolites.
Indeed, their defeat against Mosta, followed by two consecutive draws with Birkirkara and Sliema had punctured their invincible aura.
But Brazilian striker Jorge came to their rescue as he marked his return from injury with two goals on either side of Gilmar’s strike that gave the Paolites a hard-fought victory over St Andrew’s.
Clayton Failla was also making a return to the Hibs first team but Rodolfo Soares was injured.
Branko Nisevic opted to field two central defenders – Andre Agius and Rui da Gracia Gomes – and two fast wing-backs in Marcelo Dias and Failla forming a 4-1-4-1 set-up.
St Andrew’s had their skipper Joseph Farrugia ruled out by injury as their other main cog in the Saints engine room, Mariglen Sehita, was dropped to the bench.
In their absence, Liam Grech and Michael Grima played alongside Dale Camilleri and Kyrian Nwoko in a similar configuration to their more-quoted opponents.
Four minutes into the game, Jorge outsprinted the onrushing goalkeeper Kris Calleja before teeing up Jurgen Degabriele, who pulled it back for Andrew Cohen who fired just wide.
Five minutes later, Cohen’s pass caught the Saints’ defence unawares as Gilmar ran unimpeded but his strike was repelled by Calleja.
At the other end, the enterprising Nwoko shrugged off his marker to create space in the box but his acrobatic shot flew wide.
Hibernians created another chance past the half hour mark.
A silky movement by Jackson Lima saw him make headway into the Saints half before he directed the ball to Jorge who hit a low drive that was pushed away by Calleja.
Just before half-time, Jorge made space on the edge of the box and smacked a shot beyond Calleja but the ball ricocheted off the post.
With the Paolites showing no signs of shedding their inertia after the break, St Andrew’s continued to push forward but Nwoko blasted high from few metres out .
But it was Hibernians who struck on the hour mark with an outrageous looping shot by Jorge.
There was little the St Andrews’ defence could do on 63 minutes when Calleja was beaten by Gilmar’s low strike.
Hibs wrapped up their win at death, Jorge hammering a shot past Calleja.
St Andrew’s
K. Calleja-6, J. Williams-6, D. Camilleri-6 (70 J. Walker-5), E. Nkene-5, M. Guillaumier-5.5, M. Buttigieg Desira-5 (60 C. De Nguidjol-4), M. Grima-5, K. Nwoko-6.5, M. Johnson-6, C. Cumbo-5, L. Grech-6.
Hibernians
J. Borg-6, R. Da Gracia Gomes-6, M. Dias-6.5 (74 J. Mbong), Jorge-7, J. Lima-5, A. Cohen-6 (81 Z. Scerri), J. Degabriele-6 (67 Denni), B. Kristensen-7, C. Failla-6, A. Agius-6, Gilmar-6.5.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Yellow cards: Johnson, Degabriele, Grech, Kristensen.
BOV Player of the match: Jorge (Hibernians).
Attendance: 605.