Hibernians strike late to down Tarxien Rainbows

HIBERNIANS 2           

Apap 74; Iriberri 90

TARXIEN RAINBOWS           0

HIBERNIANS

M. Calleja Cremona-6, F. Apap-6.5, Raphael-6, J. Grech-6 (62 T. Fonseca), J. Degabriele-6.5 (85 J.W. Teixeira), B. Kristensen-6.5, D. Vella-6, Z. Grech-6 (78 A. Attard), G. Artiles-6.5, A. Agius-6, I. Iriberri-6.

TARXIEN RAINBOWS

J. Borg-6.5, C. Conceicao-6, V. Plut-6, J. Debono-5.5 (75 L. Sciberras), E. Rosado-5.5, E. Ssekisambu-5.5, I. Paz-5.5, K. Gatt-5.5, M. Tabone-6, R. Kooh Sohna-5.5, C. Escobar-5.5.

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Yellow cards: Raphael, Tabone, Fonseca.

BOV Player of the Match: Not assigned.

Hibernians scored twice in the second half to beat neighbours Tarxien Rainbows and extend their positive run to six matches.

Despite holding the upper hand, the Paolites were unable to penetrate the Tarxien rear-guard during the first half. It was only after the Rainbows missed a good opportunity to draw first blood, that Hibs took the lead mid-way through the second half, adding another in stoppage time.

The Paolites held the initiative right from the start but the Rainbows defended well.

On 20 minutes, Jurgen Degabriele delivered a cross from the left, Bjorn Kristensen nodded the ball into the path of Ferdinando Apap who headed just wide.

Tarxien replied with a Vito Plut effort from the edge of the area but Matthew Calleja Cremona neutralised his attempt on 28 minutes.

Eight minutes later, Gabi Izquier’s free-kick was blocked by Jurgen Borg and a minute later, Andrei Agius served Dunstan Vella whose goal-bound effort was blocked by Jake Grech.

Hibs maintained the pressure and Grech had a diagonal shot ending wide on 39 minutes. Three minutes later, Agius headed just wide off an Izquier freekick and just before half-time, a free-kick by Degabriele ended just over the bar.

One minute in the second half, Tarxien missed a golden opportunity when Plut pounced on a back pass by Apap, beating Andrei Agius on the run and rounding the goalkeeper who had rushed out of the area but the Slovenian striker concluded wide.

On 48 minutes, Borg came to Tarxien’s rescue as he turned into a corner a Jake Grech effort.

Just past the hour mark, Degabriele’s low effort was partially saved by the goalkeeper with a defender anticipating Grech before he could conclude.

Hibernians, however, managed to break the deadlock on 74 minutes.

Degabriele delivered a corner from the right and Apap hit past goalkeeper Borg.

Six minutes later, substitute Tiago Fonseca had a low shot partially saved by Borg.

One minute in added time, Hibs sealed the issue with a second goal when Jose Wilkson Texeira released Izquier on the right and the latter squared low for Imanol Iriberri who tapped home from close in.