SENGLEA ATHLETIC     0

HIBERNIANS   2

Taylon 30

Grech 43

Hibernians kept alive their hopes of dethroning Valletta as Malta champions when they eased past Senglea Athletic by two clear goals at the National Stadium.

With the win, Hibernians bridged the gap on Valletta to two points and will hope they can overcome Balzan on the final day of the season and the Citizens lose to Ħamrun Spartans to become the new Malta champions.

Senglea threatened on 14 minutes, Diego Venancio threatened with one of his typical set-piece play when he took charge of a lateral free-kick but his thumping drive was pushed away by Jovicic.

Hibs finally responded on 23 minutes when Jake Grech fed Taylon who attempted an audacious back-heel that looked destined to roll into the net but Gonzalo Leyton quickly backtracked to clear the ball off the line.

On 27 minutes Marco Sahanek again found Taylon who, however, fired over.

But the Brazilian made amends two minutes later when Tiago darted forward and fed Taylon who sent a low drive past Matthew Farrugia.

Senglea’s response came in the form of a Venancio long-range shot that flashed past the upright.

The match remained lively, albeit scoring chances were few and far between.

The next shot on target was recorded three minutes from the break when Sahanek opted to shoot from the distance instead of passing to the unmarked Isaac Ntow with the ball finishing wide.

But the Paolites still added a second goal two minutes from the break when Grech sped towards the area and sent a fine curling drive into the far corner of the net.

Senglea tried to get themselves back into the match and on 47 minutes Romulo moved past two defenders but his low shot was blocked by Marko Jovicic.

Eleven minutes later, it was Venancio again who tried his luck from the distance but once more Jovicic was alert to block.

On the hour, Venancio picked El-Mehdi Sidqy inside the area but the Moroccan saw his header tipped over by Jovicic.

Hibs threatened on 66 minutes when Andrei Agius’s long pass freed Taylon but the Brazilian fired wide.

Taisei Marukawa should have reopened the match 15 minutes from time but with only Jovicic to beat he miscued his shot from close in.

Four minutes from time, Jovicic was again alert to tip over another Venancio free-kick.

Hibs midfielder Jake Grech was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.