Jurgen Degabriele double floors Ħamrun Spartans

HAMRUN SPARTANS 0

HIBERNIANS 2

Degabriele 17, 49

HAMRUN SPARTANS

H. Bonello, S Xerri, L. Montebello, C. Mba, J. Mbong, R. Prsa, E. Freitas (77 Ederson), JC. Corbalan (70 M. Ellul), Mayron, R. Camenzuli (59 W. Barros), R. Lopes

HIBERNIANS

P. Sanchez, Kleiton, S. Silas, K. Shaw, R. Fraga, J. Degabriele (63 I. Chukunyere), B. Kristensen (78 A. Attard), F. Falcone (63 M. Carvalho), A. Bruno (88 G. Bastianos), P. Nunes, Higor.

Referee Slobodan Petrovic

Yellow card: Higor, Kleiton, Bruno, Ederson

Jurgen Degabriele netted a goal in each half as the Paolites kept on their winning trek with an impressive victory over champions Ħamrun Spartans.

Degabriele produced a sublime strike to put Hibs ahead and got a second soon after the break when he finished off a fine move involving Alfred Silas.

Ħamrun had no answer and could have been beaten more convincingly, with substitute Isaiah Chukunyere going close in the second half.

Alessandro Zinnari confirmed the line-up that defeated Naxxar Lions 6-0. His counterpart Branko Nisevic made two changes as Federico Falcone and Alex Bruno were drafted back into the starting formation after their huge influence in their 2-1 win over Żabbar SP.

Degabriele’s opener had given Hibernians the perfect start and set up an enthralling affair. The Malta striker pounced on a short clearance by Juan Corbalan. And with his back to goal, he finished with an aplomb when he touched the ball first time, turned away from Roko Prsa and struck an angled strike past the despairing dive of keeper Henry Bonello.

To their credit, Zinnari’s side started brightly and showed an impressive workrate for much of the first half but never looked like scoring. Ryan Camenzuli hit the side-netting after being set up by Luke Montebello.

Just before half-time, Camenzuli showed his customary trickery to burst on the left flank and delivered a dangerous ball, which found no takers.

Shortly after the restart, Silas’s long ball bisected the Ħamrun defence and the backtracking Corbalan collided with Joseph Mbong, knocking him out of the way, leaving Degabriele plenty time to pick his spot and neatly slot the ball past the helpless Bonello.

Past the hour mark, Alex Bruno, darted on the left wing, looked up and set substitute Isaiah Chukunyere and the youngster headed for goal before Sven Xerri blocked his effort on goal.

Hibernians were making the most of the gaps the Spartans were leaving in midfield, in particular with Alex Bruno, who was superb throughout, piercing the Ħamrun’s defence and midfield time and again with his direct runs.

The nearest the Spartans came to score was when Mbong fired a powerful low shot that Pablo Sanchez blocked in two attempts.

But it was a rare glimpse on the Hibs goal, and they were unable to come any closer as the Paolites moved up to second in the standings, just two points behind leaders Birkirkara who will be in action against Sliema Wanderers today.