Ten-man Hibernians cruise past Mosta

Champions Hibernians found no difficulty in beating Mosta 4-0 despite playing for over seventy minutes in ten men to revenge their first round defeat. This win puts the Paolites just one point behind leaders Valletta.

For Mosta, this was the third consecutive defeat after losing to Balzan and Birkirkara in their last two outings.

Hibs coach Branko Nisevic could not count on the suspended Bjorn Kristensen and the injured Rui da Gracia Gomes and Jorge Pereira da Silva. Mosta, on the other hand, had Nigerian striker Godwin Mensha making his debut after joining the club from Balzan.

Hibernians had a perfect start taking the lead on the 7th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Andrew Cohen was brought down inside the area by Dyson Falzon; from the penalty spot, Clayton Failla made no mistake.

Two minutes later, Hibs doubled the score when off an Andrew Cohen freekick from the left, Jorge Santos Silva flicked the ball past goalkeeper Omar Borg.

On the 17th minute, Hibernians were reduced ten men as Andrei Agius was sent off by referee Clayton Pisani for a foul on Saviour Fidelis just outside the area.

Six minutes in the second half, Hibs increased the lead when Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro received an assist by Jorge Santos Silva from the left and slotted the ball past Omar Borg from just inside the area.

Four minutes later, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro made it 4-0 as he concluded a solo effort with a shot from the edge of the area which ended in the bottom left corner.

MOSTA Omar Borg, Tyrone Farrugia, Edile Michelletti, Osa Guobadia, Godwin Mensha, James Brincat, Lyden Micallef (67′ Carlos Montes Zuniga), Onyekachi Okonkwo, Dyson Falzon, Kyle Frendo (46′ Gustavo Silva de Paulo) Saviour Fidelis (61′ Dexter Xuereb).
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Zachary Brincat, Maximilian Borg Bartolo, Aaron Sammut.
Coach: Anton Cremona

HIBS Rudy Briffa, Marcelo Dias, Andrei Agius, Jonathan Pearson, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Clayton Failla, Jurgen Degabriele (70′ Jean Paul Farrugia), Andrew Cohen (78′ Diosdado Mbele Mba Mangue), Rodolfo Soares, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, Jorge Santos Silva (86′ Joseph Mbong).
Subs not used: Jurgen Borg, Zach Scerri, Dunstan Vella, Denni Rocha dos Santos.
Coach: Branko Nisevic

Referee: Clayton Pisani
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, David Castillo
Additional Assistant Referees: Mario Apap, Matthew Degabriele
Fourth Official: Thomas Debono
Yellow Cards: Okonkwo, Zuniga
Red Cards: 17′ Andrei Agius
Scorers: 7′ Clayton Failla, 9′ Jorge Santos Silva, 51′ Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, 55′ Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro
BOV Player oif the Match: Jorge Santos Silva