The Malta Independent on Sunday
02
N. Vella T. Ose ( H. Singh 46’) C. Degabriele (S.Pisani 88’) N. Pace Cocks P. Chimezie J. Busuttil G. Mensah J. Artiaga C. Grech I. Jalo (S. Okoh 78’) A. MacedoNeto Darryl Agius
Roberto Vella, Mitchell Scerri J. Mbong 35’, og A. MacedoNeto 36’r Correa, Jalo
Tiago Fonseca (Hibernians)
Referee: Asst Referees: Scorers: Yellow cards: Player of the match:
Simon Farrugia
Hibernians resumed their commitments with a win which keeps them at the top of the standings when in the first match played at the Victor Tedesco Stadium they beat lowly Pieta by two first half goals. This was the tenth consecutive positive result for Hibernians.
For Pieta this was their fourth defeat on the trot after having succumbed to Tarxien, Hamrun and Sliema Wanderers prior to this match.
Thus they are still in the thick of the relegation zone.
Their opponents Hibernians failed to win their last match before the break against Balzan which was preceeded by eight A. Hogg D. Vella N. Radojevic J. Mbong M. Dias J. Degabriele ( A. Vella 90’ ) B. Kristensen ( C. Zammit 90’) I. Ntow T. Marcolino (D. Xuereb 88’) A. Agius A. Fonseca Tiago consecutive wins. In the first round Hibernians prevailed by a 2-1 scoreline.
The Hotspurs made two changes from the team which was defeated by Sliema with Christian Degabriele and Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa being replaced by Travis Bartolo and Dylan Agius.
On the other hand Hibernians fielded the same starting line up which drew their last match against Balzan.
Hibernians were the first to venture forwardand on 19 minutes they protested for a penalt after they alleged that Isaac Ntow was brought down in the area by Jan Busuttil.
Ten minutes later a low drivefrom Fonseca following a good solo run was blocked with ease by Vella.
The Paolites were doing all the early running and it was no surpise when on 36 minutes they forged ahead. Bjorn Kristensen was there to take control of proceedings following some hesitation in the Pieta rearguard and his pass found Joseph Mbong with his shot from the right flank leaving Vella stranded.
And just a minute had elapsed when Hibernians doubled their lead. With Pieta still trying to come to terms Fonseca’s shot was partially blocked by Vella with the ball hitting Pieta’s Macedo Neto head and finishing in his own net.
On resumption Pieta were first to make their way past the opposing defence when in the 49th minute a Mensah shotfrom just outside the area went just wide.
The Hotspurs kept on their insistence to try and reduce the gap and on the hour off a Mensah cross Chimezie’s header brought the best out of Hogg who palmed on to a corner.
But itwas Hibernians who were unlucky nineteen minutes from the end of the match when they hit the woodwork through Taylon Marcolino.
Till the end it was all Hibernians once again and in the 72nd minute Degabriele tested Vella but the latter was alert to block on time.
The final whistle found the Paolites grabbing another three precious points in their quest to win the highest priża in local football. The going seems tough but the Paolites are on the right track.