Duane Bonnici strikes as Hibs secure second successive victory

HIBERNIANS            1         

Bonnici 12

MOSTA                      0         

HIBERNIANS

L. Branescu, C. Attard (90 D. Muscat), S. Hamanjoda (80 L. Caruana), Miullen, D. Xuereb, K. Halabaku, D. Bonnici (77 D. Norenkov), M. Ellul, Cleiton, Pedrao, Charleston.

MOSTA

U. Akpan, A. Agius, M. Bolanos (29 C. Oderinde), C. Diamanka (76 S. Eikwu-Ojo), J. Victor, N. Agius (46 G. Goncalves), P. Cacho, S. Zibo, J. Vassallo, Z. Brincat, L. Fernandes.

Referee: Daniel Casha.

Yellow cards: P. Cacho, S. Hamanjoda, K. Halabaku.

An early goal by Duane Bonnici handed Hibernians a narrow win over Mosta to register a second consecutive win.

The win for the Paolites leaves Mosta empty-handed after three matches from the Closing Round.

Branko Nisevic handed Cain Attard a start along with Matthew Ellul and Silas Alfred Hamanjoda due to the absence of Bjorn Kristensen and Ali Diakite, while Mailson Lima was among the substitutes.

Mosta, on the other hand, lacked Prince Chibuzor Emmanuel, while Giancarlo Goncalves was only included as a substitute. Leo Fernandes and Zachary Brincat were named in the starting line-up.

Hibernians goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu came to the rescue for the Paolites on eight minutes as he turned into a corner a Matthew Bolanos header, but two minutes later, off an inviting cross by Duane Bonnici from the left, Cleiton just failed to connect.

However, the Paolites managed to take the lead on 12 minutes when Duane Bonnici served on the left beat goalkeeper David Udoh Akpan from a close angle.

On 36 minutes, Bonnici went close to scoring another when he advanced on the left and into the area, exchanging the ball with Cleiton, but his angled shot scraped past the post.

In the second half, Mosta went in search of the equaliser, pushing their opponents into their half-pitch for most of the time.

Former Hibernians midfielder Pedro Cacho brought the best out of Branescu, who managed to turn the Brazilian’s fine effort in style into a corner on 74 minutes. On the other side of the pitch, Miullen tried to catch goalkeeper Udoh Akpan out of place, but the ball ended just over the bar a minute later.

Mosta went close again on 82 minutes with a Giancarlo Goncalves effort from outside the area but four minutes from time, Cleiton served substitute Denys Norenkov, whose conclusion was deflected into a corner.