Hibs beat Sirens to make it three in a row and maintain perfect start

SIRENS               1           

Gavrila 82

HIBERNIANS    3           

Degabriele 14; Grech 18 pen

Domoraud 85

SIRENS
J. Debono-5.5, J. Blanco-5.5, I. Borg-5 (46 D. Jackson-6), R. Tachikawa-5.5 (66 B. Gavrila-6), V. Vieira-6, A. Borg-6, J. Walker-5.5, F. Brandan-6.5, C. Zammit Lonardelli-6 (79 A. Effong), C. Riascos-5.5, K. Reid-6.

HIBS

I. Kone-6, F. Apap-6.5 (90 M. Ellul), L. Almeida-6 (88 Z. Grech), Raphael-6, J. Grech-6 (90 F. Mensah), J. Degabriele-6.5 (78 A. Attard), D. Vella-6.5, Thaylor-7 (88 T. Tabone Desira), A. Agius-6, G. Artiles-6.5, W. Domoraud.

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Yellow cards: Jackson, Artiles, Raphael, Agius.

BOV Player of the Match: Thaylor (Hibs)

Hibernians made it three wins in a row as they defeated Sirens 3-1 at the National Stadium.

Two goals within the first 18 minutes paved the way for Stefano Sanderra’s side as they controlled the proceedings for the rest of the game and although Sirens pulled one back late in the game, Hibs scored another to seal the issue.

The result enabled the Paolites to preserve their perfect record and maintain their perfect start to the campaign.

Sirens had four changes from the team which drew with Mosta as coach Winston Muscat handed goalkeeper Jonathan Debono, Jair Antonio Blanco Pardo and Vitor Vieira their debut while Ismael Borg was back in the starting line-up.

Sean Mintoff, Alfred Effiong and Kemmu Degran Jackson were among the substitutes while Diego Albanese was missing from the match day squad.

On the other hand, Hibernians, who were coming from a 2-1 win over Gudja, welcomed back Jurgen Degabriele as he replaced Erjon Beu.

The Paolites made their intentions clear right from the start, taking the lead on 14 minutes. Thaylor concluded a good run on the right flank and delivered a cross for Jurgen Degabriele who slammed the ball home.

Four minutes later, Hibernians doubled the score.

Another fast run by Thaylor on the right flank ended up with the Spanish winger being brought down inside the area by Ismael Borg. Referee Stefan Pace ordered a penalty and Jake Grech calmly converted.

Hibs maintained the pressure and a Degabriele effort was blocked by a defender on 20 minutes.

Two minutes later, off a freekick from the right, an Andrei Agius header was turned into a corner by Debono.

In the second half, Sirens tried to get back in contention and after going close with a Kemar Reid free-kick on 59 minutes, a cross-shot by Carlo Zammit Lonardelli was parried by Ibrahium Kone.

Four minutes later, a freekick from the right by Bogdan Gavrila was cleared into a corner by Domoraud.

The St Paul’s Bay side pulled one back on 82 minutes. A conclusion by Effiong was cleared off the goal line by Ferdinando Apap but Gavrila hit home off the rebound.

However, three minutes later, Hibs restored the two-goal lead.

Gabi Izquier delivered a freekick from the right, the ball was deflected into the direction of Wilfried Domoraud who headed home from a close angle.