Hibernians overcome Mosta to stay in touch wtih Spartans

HIBS                 2           

Kristensen 48; Agius 52

MOSTA            0

HIBS

M. Calleja Cremona-6, F. Apap-6, L. Almeida-6, R. Dos Anjos-6, J. Degabriele-6 (75 I. Iriberri), B. Kristensen-6.5 (88 J.W. Teixeira), D. Vella-6, Z. Grech-6, A. Agius-6, Gilmar-6 (88 A. Attard), T. Fonseca-6 (65 J. Grech).

MOSTA

C. Mafoumbi-5.5, M. Mifsud-6, J. Bezzina-6.5, C. Failla-6, G. Sciberras-6 (79 L. Vella), T. Farrugia-5.5, D. Naah-5.5, R. Morisco-6, K. Romero-5.5 (84 D. Debono), B. Kaljevic-5.5 (55 W. Donkin), J. Ekani-6.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic.

Yellow card: Raphael.

BOV Player of the Match: Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians).

Two goals early in the second half handed Hibernians a 2-0 win over Mosta to keep the pace with leaders Ħamrun Spartans.

The two teams shared the exchanges throughout the first half but Mosta created the better chances.

However the Paolites struck twice on the restart and controlled without particular difficulty to take home another three points. This was, in fact, the fourth consecutive win for Stefano Sanderra’s side as they extend their unbeaten run to eight matches.

Mosta, on the other hand, suffered another cold shower as they were hoping the FA Trophy Round of 32 win over Balzan earlier this week would enable them to halt their losing streak in their Premier League campaign.

They lost their last five league matches to lose further ground in their bid to stay in the hunt for a European berth.

Mosta created the better chances during the first half. On 21 minutes, Bojan Kaljevic, served by Michael Mifsud, hit just wide and three minutes later, a Johann Bezzina effort was neutralised by Calleja Cremona.

Kaljevic concluded high off a Bezzina corner on 27 minutes and four minutes later, Gianluca Sciberras hit just wide from outside the area.

Six minutes from half-time, a free-kick by Gilmar was parried by Christoffer Mafoumbi.

Hibernians took the lead three minutes in the second half. Mafoumbi’s erratic clearancefell at the feet of Bjorn Kristensen who placed the ball in the bottom right.

Four minutes later, Hibs delivered the killer blow as they doubled the score. Jurgen Degabriele’s cross from the left found Andrei Agius in an ideal position to slam the ball home past the Mosta goalkeeper.

The Paolites were now comfortably in control and could have added a third on 64 minutes with a Tiago Fonseca first-time effort which hit the crossbar when served by Kristensen.  

In the dying minutes, Hibs threatened again but Iriberri hit just wide following a good move between Kristensen and Gilmar. Minutes later an angled shot by Ayrton Attard from the left was saved by Mafoumbi.