FLORIANA-1, HIBERNIANS-3
Hibernians are the new Malta football champions.
Dominant all season, Hibernians secured their 11th title with three games to spare after a 3-1 victory over Floriana gave them an unassailable lead at the top.
Urged on by their jubilant fans, Hibs produced another fine performance as they came from a goal down to beat Floriana who finished the match with nine men.
Jorginho was the star player as the Brazilian struck a brace to put the seal on Hibs' title quest.
Hibernians had fallen behind after 10 minute but they hit back emphatically.
Steven Bonnici had put Floriana ahead with a powerful header from Steve Pisani's corner but, on 15 minutes Hibs equalised.
Making headway on the left, Clayton Failla sent in a cross that was half-cleared by Douglas but Jorginho leapt into the air to send his header past Matthew Calleja Cremona.
Hibernians took command. They were unlucky not to take the lead after 18 minutes as Jorginho charged clear in the inside-left channel and squared to the unmarked Lima whose grounder came off the foot of the post. The Brazilian was first to the loose ball but his follow-up attempt was cleared by a defender.
The game was effectively settled as a contest on 25 minutes. Floriana suffered a double blow as they conceded a penalty after goalkeeper Calleja Cremona was brought down by Calleja Cremona inside the box. The Floriana goalkeeper was sent off by referee Marco Borg and Failla drove his penalty past the incoming Valerio Senatore.
There was another chance for Hibs as Jean Paul Farrugia ran into the box from the right but his diagonal effort grazed the side-netting.
Johann Bezzina also threatened as his piledriver, from the distance, sailed over the bar.
Hibs continue to press forward. Late in the first half, Senatore denied Hibs when pushing away Jorginho's effort. But, in first-half stoppage time, the Brazilian was not to be denied as his stunning drive, from an angle, sailed past the diving Senatore to the delight of the buoyant Hibs fans.
Five minutes into the second half, Marcelina's long ball from defence dropped to Plut but the Slovenian blasted wide and high.
The Paolites came close to a fourth goal but Senatore blocked Jorginho's header from Rajic's cross.
It was one-way traffic as Hibs dominated proceedings.
Senatore thwarted them again when pushing away Lima's thunderbolt.
Kristensen set off on another surging run into the box before crossing for Jorginho whose header was deflected away for a corner.
Floriana were hit by another blow as Pisani was dismissed after earning two quickfire cautions for taking his protests too far.
Igor Coronado, who had come on for Douglas, was wide from a free-kick.
Nine minutes from time, Kristensen, who had a good game, drove forward before hitting a powerful drive that was beaten away by Senatore.
The Italian goalkeeper, back after a long injury lay-off, produced a great save to block Lima's close-range header from Marcelo Dias's cross.
At the other end, Bonello also made a good intervention as he beat away Coronado's rising shot.
Hibs striker Jorginho was named BOV player of the match.