HIBS 6 QORMI 0
Hibernians maintained their imperious run at the top of the Premier League standings when they crushed Qormi 6-0 and second placed Valletta crushed Tarxien by the same margin.
Despite the scoreline, the Hibs-Qormi match was evenly balanced in the first half.
Frank Temile could have put Qormi ahead after seven minutes when he fired wide with only Henry Bonello to beat.
Hibs hit back strongly and Luis Edison tapped the ball just wide from routine distance while Bjorn Kristensen had a goal annulled for offside.
The Paolites took the lead on 35 minutes when Jorginho retrieved the ball on the edge of the area before slidding the ball past Qormi goalkeeper Joseph Farrugia.
On the stroke of half-time, Failla’s low cross sailed across the face of goal into the path of Edison who stabbed the ball onto the upright.
Jorginho struck again four minutes into the second half when he was released by Joseph Mbong and the Brazilian striker hit past Farrugia.
The Paolites were clearly on top now and on 55 minutes Edison released Jorginho who immediately returned the ball to his team-mate whose low shot came off the post.
Hibs made it 3-0 two minutes later when from a Cohen corner-kick Jorginho anticipated his marker to head past Farrugia.
Qormi were nowhere to be seen and on 63 minutes Failla sprinted into the area and let fly a fierce drive that cannoned off the crossbar.
Hibs added a fourth goal on 73 minutes when Mbong broke free on the right before sending a low cross towards Edison who stabbed the ball into an empty net.
Edison struck again a minute later when he moved past his marker before chipping the ball over the onrushing Farrugia.
Hibs had time to add a sixth goal when three minutes from time when Failla beat Farrugia with an angled drive.
Hibs striker Jorginho was voted as the BOV Player of the match.
Vintage City hit Tarxien for six
TARXIEN RAINBOWS-0, VALLETTA-6
Valletta served up further evidence of their intent to get back into the title race as they hammered Tarxien Rainbows to the tune of 6-0.
The champions' fifth consecutive win was never in doubt from the moment Abdelkarim Nafti fired them ahead after just 12 minutes.
What followed was a brilliant performance from Valletta who outclassed the poor Tarxien, adding five more goals to consolidate second place, 12 points behind leaders Hibernians.
Shaun Bajada, advancing on the left, produced a delifghtful chip that skimmed the far post in the opening minutes.
Valletta's bright start produced an opener after 14 minutes. Roderick Briffa, pushing forward on the right, sped into the box before crossing the ball to Nafti who prodded past Jonathan Debono.
The Tarxien goalkeeper then fisted away Barry's cross-cum-shot.
It was not before the 26th minute that Tarxien created their first chance. Clebinho's run unhinged the City defence as the Brazilian released Wesley whose effort was blocked by Ryan Camilleri.
Nafti then blasted his shot over the bar as the champions stayed in control.
With Tarxien down to 10 men as Jorge was being seen by medics after sustaining an injury, the Whites increased their lead eight minutes from half-time. They were awarded a penalty after Ryan Sammut brought down Barry in the box. Barry made no mistake from the spot.
Late in the first half, a flowing City move saw Barry direct the ball to Briffa whose back-heeled pass set up Elford-Alliyu but the English forward's fierce shot was palmed away by Debono.
Valletta started the second half on the attack.
Another fine move saw Briffa supply an excellent through-ball to Nafti whose close-range effort was pushed away for a corner by Debono. From the ensuing corner, taken by Bajada, Elford-Alliyu nodded home.
Barry played in Elford-Alliyu who pulled the ball back for Nafti but the Tunisian hammered wide.
Briffa then headed just wide from Nafti's set-piece cross as the Citizens pressed for more goals.
The Malta midfielder was unlucky as his grounder, after good work by Barry and Elford-Alliyu, hit the post.
The score became 4-0 on 76 minutes. Barry dashing through to lift the ball past Debono after a peach of a pass from Bajada.
Ten minutes from time, Briffa's backheader, from Nafti's service, grazed the crossbar.
The excellent Briffa tried to surprise Debono with a long-range lob but the ball sailed over the crossbar before Debono denied substitute Raphael Kooh-Sohna.
Three minutes from time, Elford-Alliyu got his second and Valletta's fifth goal when turning in Nafti's cross. Kooh Sohna also put his name among the scorers, finishing with panache after darting past Debono.
Briffa was named BOV player of the match.