Hibs striker Luis Edison (left) tries to run past Qormi defender Owen Bugeja. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Qormi 1
Jorginho 85;
Hibernians 4
Cohen 1; Edison 27; Failla 4; Soares 67;

Hibernians’ flawless start to the 2013/14 BOV Premier League continued yesterday as the Paolites breezed their way past a disappointing Qormi side.

There were never any doubts as to who would take the points yesterday as Hibernians all but sewed up their win inside the opening half-hour when taking a commanding three-goal lead courtesy of some breathtaking attacking play inspired by their usual quartet of Jackson Lima, Clayton Failla, Andrew Cohen and Luis Edison ‘Tarabai’.

The only sour note for the Paolites was the dismissal of striker Jean Paul Farrugia for dissent late on but that failed to spoil Hibs’ satisfaction as they are now six points clear of nearest rivals Valletta, who face Birkirkara today, and Mosta.

Hibs coach Branko Nisevic confirmed the same eleven that started the 1-0 win over Birkirkara.

Tommaso Volpi, the Qormi coach, effected four changes from the team that lost to Vittoriosa as Italians Francesco D’Aniello, Gianluca Nucera and Luigi Del Giudice replaced Federico Santaguida, who started on the bench, Alfred Effiong and Roderick Sammut.

Effiong and Sammut were not included in the 18-man squad while Jonathan Bondin started ahead of Roderick Bajada.

Hibernians could not have hoped for a better start as, inside the opening four minutes, they were already two goals ahead.

The first goal came after barely 35 seconds when Jackson Lima served Edison ‘Tarabai’ inside the area and the nippy striker saw his dipping header come off the upright. From the rebound Cohen was on hand to stab the ball home.

Qormi barely had time to react when they conceded again. Lima was again provider when he picked out Clayton Failla on the edge of the area and the Hibs winger produced a sizzling drive that gave Matthew Farrugia no chance.

Two minutes later, Edison almost struck again when he sped into the area and rounded goalkeeper Farrugia but his shot was cleared off the line by Emerson Vella.

That turned out to be Vella’s last contribution as the young defender suffered an injury and was replaced by Bajada on 17 minutes.

The woodwork denied Hibs a third goal on 26 minutes when, from a Lima free-kick, Pearson’s firm header came off the bar.

But that was just a temporary reprieve for Qormi as Hibs struck again a minute later. Bjorn Kristensen passed to Cohen and the Hibs striker quickly sent a teasing cross towards Edison who wrong-footed Farrugia with a firm header.

After that three-goal burst, Hibs opted to administer their lead.

The Yellow-Blacks finally threatened four minutes from the break when Bondin sent a dipping ball towards Ricardo Innocenti whose header flashed wide.

Volpi tried to infuse more speed and flair to his team’s attack when he withdrew Del Giudice and roped in the returning Leighton Grech.

The Qormi substitute could have made an instant impact on 54 minutes when he found himself in ample space inside the Hibs area but lost his balance when about to shoot and his effort lacked power to trouble Mario Muscat.

With the points in his team’s bags, Nisevic looked to give a breather to his striker Edison and defender Pearson when he replaced them with Obinna Obiefule and Farrugia.

Farrugia soon got into action as on 61 minutes he connected to a Cohen delivery but his first-time effort flashed wide.

It was Hibs who added a fourth on 67 minutes when Cohen’s short corner found Failla who directed the ball into the path of Rodolfo Soares who headed past Farrugia.

Obiefule almost hit goal number five on 73 minutes when the Nigerian was on the end of Marcelo Dias’s cross but his header came off the upright.

Fourteen minutes from time, Hibs protested for a penalty when Farrugia rounded the Qormi goalkeeper and fell to the ground under the challenge of Tristan Caruana but the referee saw nothing untoward.

Farrugia kept protesting and referee Fyodor Zammit dismissed the Hibs striker.

With a player more, Qormi managed to pull a goal back five minutes from time. In a quick break, Jorginho beat Muscat with a low drive.

In time added-on the Brazilian almost netted again when he met Grech’s cross but his header was somehow kept out by Muscat.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-5, T. Caruana-5, G.Nucera-5 (57 F. Santaguida-5), L. Del Giudice-5 (46 L. Grech-6), Jorginho-6, E. Vella (17 R. Bajada-5), O. Bugeja-5, D. Pisani-5.5, J. Bondin-6, R. Innocenti-4.5, F. D’Aniello-4.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-6.5, R. Camilleri-6, J. Pearson-6.5 (60 J.P. Farrugia), J. Lima-7.5, R. Soares-6 (80 M. Tabone), M. Dias-6.5, A. Cohen-7, B. Kristensen-6.5, C. Failla-6.5, Z. Levnaic-6, L. Edison-7 (61 O. Obiefule-6).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Soares; Grech.

Red card: J.P. Farrugia (H) 78.

BOV player of the match: Luis Edison (Hibernians).

Attendance: 1,916.