HIBERNIANS 5 NAXXAR LIONS 1
Hibernians turned on the style to thump Naxxar Lions 5-1.
Somehow, Naxxar managed to keep their opponents at arms’ length in the opening period. That was until Luis Edison ‘Tarabai’ came to fore, scoring a quickfire double soon after the break to effectively end the game as a contest and launch the Paolites’ successful bid for their seventh consecutive league win.
Latching on to a fine a pass from Cohen, Jorginho advanced menacingly in the box before letting fly a powerful low drive that was kept out by Julian Azzopardi, the Naxxar goalkeeper, after six minutes.
It was an early warning from Hibs who took a deserved lead in the ninth minute. Cohen’s goalbound effort was kept out by Azzopardi but the rebounded landed at the feet of the nippy midfielder who buried his second attempt behind the Naxxar goalkeeper.
The force was with Hibs who continued to drift forward from all angles. Edison released Jorginho in the 13th minute but the latter’s attempt was deflected away for a corner.
Gilmar broke Hibernians dominance with a dangerous shot that was blocked by Henry Bonello, the Hibs goalkeeper shy the half hour mark.
Hibernians were quick to respond as Failla angled a teasing cross from the left-wing and Edison rose high to glance the ball goalwards but Azzopardi tipped the effort over the bar.
Having struggled to make his mark in the first half, Edison was a rejuvenated man after the break, his confidence indubitably galvanised by his two-goal burst. Ten minutes into the second half, Cassar appeared to have the ball covered but Jorginho went to unsettle the defender, to seize possession of the ball before squaring for Edison who was on hand to blast home.
Few moments later, Failla flicked the ball to Edison who headed the ball into the net. Three minutes past the hour mark, Hibs made it 4-0 when they were awarded a penalty after Edafe tripped the advancing Jorginho. Failla sent Azzopardi the wrong way from the penalty spot.
There was no reprieve for the confused Naxxar. In the 70th minute, fastening on to an accurate pass from Bjorn Kristensen, Failla dispatched a low shot beyond Azzopardi.
Nine minutes from time, Gilmar had the consolation of getting his name on the scoresheet as his shot from the distance stunned Jurgen Borg, who had replaced Bonello.