BIRKIRKARA-0, HIBERNIANS-2
Hibernians kept their title defence bid on track after ending their second-round commitments with a 2-0 victory over Birkirkara.
The champions were worth their win as they played the better football while Birkirkara produced another below-par performance, failing to find the net for the third game in a row.
Goalkeeper Justin Haber made his debut for Hibernains ironically against Birkirkara, the club he left last month to join the champions.
Hibernians were the stronger team in the initial stages.
Marcelo Dias's cross-shot from the right deceived Miroslav Kopric, the Birkirkara goalkeeper, but the ball came off the crossbar. The loose ball landed at the feet of Gilmar who rifled wide.
Defender Christian Bubalovic nodded wide from Mislav Andelkovic's corner on 18 minutes but Birkirkara were offering little going forward.
Hibs opened the scoring close to the half-hour mark thanks to Gilmar whose superb free-kick had the better of Kopric.
The first notable chance for Birkirkara fell to Ryan Scicluna who was first to a loose ball in the box but the midfielder skewed his shot.
Birkirkara's efforts to get back on level terms produced little of note as they were too disjointed in the attacking phase.
On the other hand, Hibs came close to a second goal when Kopric charged out of goal to intercept a long ball only to be anticipated by Tarabai who fired wide from an angle.
Early in the second half, Haber was alert as he dived to his left to beat away Smrekar's free-kick from the distance.
Minutes later, Edison Bilbao Zarate sent his shot against the side-netting from Mislav Andelkovic's assist as the Stripes tried to speed up their attacking approach.
Hibs also created a good chance when Dias, bursting forward on the right, picked out Tarabai but the latter's diving header was wide.
As Birkirkara drove forward, the Paolites were finding more space on the counter.
Twenty minutes into the second half, Dias hammered high and wide from a central position.
Scicluna had the best chance to equalise for Birkirkara as he dashed into the box to reach Gareth Sciberras's through-ball but the utility man lifted his shot high.
Kopric, the Birkirkara goalkeeper, then beat away Tarabai's looping shot but, from the resultant corner, Hibs extended their lead.
Gilmar's set-piece cross sailed into the box and Bjorn Kristensen guided the ball home to the delight of the Hibs fans.
Birkirkara would have reduced the deficit but for a good save from Haber who stopped Smrekar's shot after the latter had been released by Camenzuli. Zarate picked up the rebound but his effort was also blocked before Andrei Agius booted the ball upfield.
Gilmar, the Hibs playmaker, was named BOV player of the match.