Marsaxlokk 0
Hibernians 2
Pisani 17, 41;
Two first-half goals from Steve Pisani were enough for Hibernians to return to winning ways as they saw off Marsaxlokk in a clash between two depleted sides yesterday.
It was far from an entertaining encounter though with both teams struggling for most of the match but in the end Hibernians’ superior technical qualities came through with Pisani showing his predatory instincts to grab the all-important goals.
Apart from three priceless points, victory also gave coach Mark Miller renewed optimism that his fringe players can do the job when called into action.
Hibs had strikers Marcelo Dias and Luis Edison banned while Adrian Pulis (hamstring), Diego Balbinot (quad), Ryan Camilleri (knee), Jonathan Pearson (knee) and Matthew Tabone (knee) were all sidelined by injury.
Youth team players Johann Bezzina and Dylan Sammut were given the nod by Miller to make their first start in the top flight this season.
Anton Cremona, the Marsaxlokk coach, had limited resources available as Clive Brincat and Sunday Eboh were serving suspension and Emiliano Lattes was out with knee trouble. That left the southseasiders with only 14 players available.
Cremona had no other option but to switch wingbacks Carlo Mamo and Malcolm Licari to a central midfield position just behind lone striker Jean Paul Farrugia.
The clock marked 17 minutes when Bjorn Kristensen picked Andrew Cohen on the edge of the box and he did well to turn past Patrick Borg and fire a firm drive that was half-parried by goalkeeper Christian Cassar.
From the rebound Pisani was on hand to blast the ball home.
Hibs kept the upperhand and a Clayton Failla cross-shot was well blocked by Cassar.
Two minutes later, Cassar charged out of his goal to clear upfield but hit badly with the ball falling into the path of Failla who, however, failed to find the target much to the relief of the Marsa-xlokk goalkeeper.
Just past the half-hour, Failla fed Cohen who created space for himself before firing a rising shot that finished just over.
Marsaxlokk’s first attempt at goal arrived on 37 minutes. Farrugia won possession just outside the area and let fly a fierce shot that was ably stopped by Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper.
However, it was the Paolites who struck again four minutes from the half-time break and the goal was a carbon copy of their opener.
Triston Caruana’s shot was not held by Cassar and Pisani was again the first to react and hit home from the rebound.
That was the last opportunity of the first period that was brought to an end prematurely by referee Andre Arciola who whistled the end of the half 30 seconds before the 45th-minute mark.
The match maintained the same pattern after the restart with the Paolites dominating possession and Marsaxlokk trying to soak up the pressure and hit on the counter-break.
Cohen could have further stretched Hibs’ lead but shot wide after being set up by Failla.
He was again close on 55 minutes from a central free-kick but the inswinger was turned to a corner by Cassar.
With two goals to the good the Paolites looked happy to administer their lead at this stage of the match.
On 67 minutes, the woodwork denied them a third goal when Pisani picked Failla who unleashed a powerful drive that smacked against the bar with Cassar beaten.
With the game all but settled Miller seized the opportunity to give more experience to his untested players and eight minutes from time he withdrew Bezzina and roped in Scott Chircop for his first taste of Premier League football.
Three minutes from time, Failla again tried to put his name among the scorers but was denied by keeper Cassar who turned his shot to a corner.
Pisani then almost completed his hat-trick but was denied by a fine tackle from Sacha Borg as he was about to shoot at goal.
Marsaxlokk
C. Cassar-6.5, K. Polidano-5, P. Borg-6, J. Xerri-6 (58 S. Cutajar-5), S. Borg-6, C. Mamo-6.5, M. Valeriani-6, M. Licari-6.5, G. Caruana-6, J.P. Farrugia-6 (86 J.C. Vella), D. Grech-5.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-6, E. Herrera-6.5 (90 A. Azzopardi), A. Xuereb-6, R. Soares-6.5, B. Kristensen-6, D. Sammut-6, C. Failla-7, T. Caruana-6.5, A. Cohen-6, S. Pisani-7.5, J. Bezzina-6 (82 S. Chircop).
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Yellow card: Valeriani.
BOV Player of the match: Steve Pisani (Hibernians).