First-half goals see Hibernians overcome Melita

HIBERNIANS 2

Shaw 2, Degabriele 39

MELITA 0

HIBERNIANS

P. Sanchez, Kleiton (72 D. Xuereb) , G. Bastianos (82 N. Carvalho), A. Silas (90 I. Chetcuti), K. Shaw, J. Degabriele (72 I. Chukunyere), A. Attard (82 J. Portelli), A. Bruno, H. Nunes, Higor.

MELITA

G. Mizzi, Aldair, K. Mohnani (74 P. Galea Testaferrata), G. Barone,  J. Attard, C. Penha, M. Debattista (46 A. Attard), M. van de Font Bovenkamp, J. Yepez (65 M. Cachia) , N. Cutajar (46 D. Xuereb), K. Bondin (85 J. Micallef).

Referee: Daniel Casha

Yellow card: Attard, Aldair, Caruana.

Red card: Aldair (Melita) 60

Jurgen Degabriele scored his 100th Premier league goal for Hibernians as the Paolites returned to winning ways with a deserved victory over 10-man Melita.

Despite the warm welcome afforded to their visitors, Hibs showed no mercy as they immediately exposed Melita’s defensive frailties.

Branko Nisevic has turned the Tony Bezzina Stadium into a veritable fortress this season, with his team winning all the four ‘home’ fixtures this season and moving up to second behind runaway leaders Birkirkara.

Hibernians took the ground running as in the second minute, Degabriele floated a long free-kick into the Melita box and Kurt Shaw rose above friend and foe to head from close in.

Hibs looked to build on their early advantage and proceeded to dominate the opening exchanges. Alex Bruno’s proved a constant threat and Degabriele looked capable of capitalising on the slightest error.

Despite Hibs’ superiority, Melita did have chances to restore parity. They came closest to drawing level on the half-hour mark when Aldair’s header from Matthew Debattista’s freekick was pushed over the bar by Pablo Sanchez.

Melita’s miss was a let-off for the Paolities, who then went on to double their lead courtesy of Degabriele.

Alex Bruno provided the ball for Giannis Bastianos whose telling cross was pushed behind Gosef Mizzi by Degabriele on 39 minutes.

Hibs were just as dominant after th break.

Shy the hour mark, Bruno ran half the length of the field on the right flank before supplying a weighted pass to Alfred Silas but the striker hit the ball wide.

Melita’s task was made considerably harder when Aldair went off for two yellow cards in quick succession.

The game’s tempo dipped slightly as Hibs took complete control and their passing seemed the most assured of the two sides.

Sanchez was a virtual spectator in the second half.

Yet, 10 minutes from time, Andrè Penha da Costa threatened to re-open the match with a close-range shot which was saved by the goalkeeper.

Substitute Carvalho was particularly profligate for Hibs after he miskicked the ball in front of the goalkeeper after good work from Bruno.