Hibernians 5
Failla 14, 61 pen; Cohen 52; Edison 77, 85;
Vittoriosa Stars 1
Pereira 65;
Hibernians broke little sweat in overcoming the weak challenge of Vittoriosa Stars as the Paolites were back to winning ways in a one-sided encounter, yesterday.
After the shock upset to Tarxien Rainbows, coach Branko Nisevic demanded a strong response from his players against the struggling Stars as they looked to recharge their challenge at the top placings of the standings.
Despite not playing to their maximum, Hibs still proved a class ahead of the Stars as they ran riot after the interval with Clayton Failla and Luis Edison helping themselves to two goals each and Andrew Cohen also putting his name on the scoresheet.
Jonathan Pearson was back for Hibs. The lateral defender was preferred to Matthew Bartolo who was on the bench. Nisevic also had to deal with the absence of midfielder Bjorn Kristensen, who was serving a one-match ban. He was replaced by Zoran Levnaic.
Vittoriosa coach Oliver Spiteri effected three changes to the team that lost 2-1 to Balzan in their last league outing.
Samir Arab and Adam Spiteri were handed a starting berth to fill the void left by Marcio Teruel and Ramon, both released. Michael Camilleri started at the expense of Mark Barbara.
Hibs quickly seized control and on 14 minutes Sean Cini charged out of his goal and brought down Levnaic on the edge of the area.
The goalkeeper was shown the yellow card but he could do nothing to stop Failla’s free-kick that flew into the net.
The Paolites remained on top and on 21 minutes they were awarded another central free-kick on the edge of the Stars’ area but this time Cohen’s effort was easily blocked by Cini.
The match was devoid of any scoring opportunities after that and we had to wait until the 33rd minute for another decent goalmouth action.
It was Hibs, again, who threatened when from a Jackson Lima corner Pearson nodded the ball into the path of Rodolfo Soares who incredibly headed over from routine distance.
Vittoriosa were struggling to get their game going and they looked short of any ideas in attack with the result that strikers Oscar Guerrero and Marcelo Pereira were rarely called into action.
A minute from the break, Hibs produced another opening when Cohen picked Luis Edison whose stinging volley was dealt with by the well-positioned Cini.
Hibs continued where they left off after the break as Cini produced another fine save to keep out Failla’s fierce volley from the edge of the area.
The Paolites doubled their lead on 52 minutes when from a Lima free-kick, Cohen anticipated his marker to head the ball beyond Cini’s reach.
Things could have gone worse for the Stars when Marcelo Dias broke free on the right and cut the ball back towards the un-marked Edison who fired over.
Hibs’ third goal duly arrived just past the hour when Failla was brought down in the area by Samir Arab and referee Glen Tonna immediately pointed to the spot.
The Hibs winger stepped up for the kick and he beat Cini with a low drive.
Vittoriosa then pulled one back when substitute Gilbert Martin burst into the area and squared the ball into the path of Pereira who buried the ball home.
Aguiar gave added impetus to the Stars who started to venture more often inside the Hibs half and on one occasion goalkeeper Mario Muscat showed fine reflexes to keep out Martin’s effort from an angle.
However, it was Hibernians who struck again.
From a quick break, substitute Matthew Bartolo released Edison who slid the ball past Cini.
Hibs rounded up the score four minutes from time with another Edison goal.
The Brazilian forward showed some great footwork to sidestep the keeper before hitting home with ease.
Failla had a chance to complete his hat-trick a minute from time when the Paolites were awarded a penalty after Clive Spiteri tripped Edison inside the box.
Failla, however, saw his grounder blocked by Cini in two attempts.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-6, R. Camilleri-6, J. Pearson-5.5 (70 M. Bartolo), R. Soares-6.5 (81 O. Obiefule), J. Lima-6.5, M. Dias-6 (70 B. Muscat), C. Failla-6.5, Z. Levnaic-6, A. Cohen-6, L. Edison-7, J.P. Farrugia-5.
Vittoriosa Stars
S. Cini-4, A. Spiteri-6 (72 O. Ebiesuwa), M. Buttigieg-5.5 (82 L. Gauci), C. Spiteri-5, Siraj Arab-5 (62 G. Martin-5), C. Brincat-5, O. Guerrero-5, M. Pereira-6, Samir Arab-5, J. Aguiar-5, M. Camilleri-5.5.
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Yellow cards: Cini, Brincat, Levnaic, Pearson.
Missed penalty: Failla (H) 89.
BOV Player of the match: Clayton Failla (Hibernians).