Jorge Pereira da Silva scored twice as Hibernians registered the fifth consecutive win, beating Pietà Hotspurs 3-1.
For the Hotspurs, this was the fourth defeat in five matches, remaining at the bottom of the table with just one point.
Hibernians had two changes from the team which beat Valletta as Timothy Tabone Desira and Jackson di Lima Siqueira replaced Johann Bezzina and Marcelo Dias. For Pietà Cleaven Cassar and new signing Nikola Tasic were awarded a place in the starting line-up with Kyle Cesare and Gabriel da Silva starting on the bench.
The Hotspurs missed an excellent opportunity to take the lead on 32 minutes when Claudio Frances served Rafael Xavier whose low shot was parried by Henry Bonello. On the other side of the pitch, David Cassar tipped into a corner a rising shot by Jackson Lima. One minute from half-time, Edison Luis dos Santos was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a good shot from the right for Hibernians.
Just before the end of the first half, Hibs forged ahead when off a cross from the right by Tarabai, Jorge Pereira da Silva controlled the ball with his feet and then with a header, anticipated David Cassar before placing the ball at the back of the net with another header.
Jorge Pereira da Silva doubled the score on 57 minutes when he exchanged the ball with Tarabai before beating the Pietà custodian in style.
Seven minutes later, Clayton Failla scored the third goal with a powerful drive which gave David Cassar no chance, concluding a fine solo effort.
Ten minutes from time, Pietà scored a consolation goal as a defensive error allowed Rafael Xavier to anticipate the goalkeeper before placing the ball inside the empty net.
HIBS Henry Bonello, Rui da Gracia Gomez (81′ Jonathan Pearson), Rodolfo Soares, Timothy Tabone Desira, Andrew Cohen, Bjorn Kristensen (77′ Johann Bezzina), Clayton Failla, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Andrei Agius, Edison Luis dos Santos (69′ Jurgen Degabriele), Jorge Pereira da Silva.
Subs not used: Jurgen Borg, Dunstan Vella, Keith Tanti, Marcelo Dias.
Coach: Branko NisevicPIETÀ David Cassar, Cain Attard (71′ Orosco Anonam), Christian Grech, Leonardo Fortunato dos Santos, Jurgen Pisani, Cleaven Cassar (46′ Kyle Cesare), Nikola Tasic (59′ Joao Gabriel da Silva), Terence Agius, Claudio Frances, Rafael Xavier Zacarias, Rafael Rodrigues da Silva.
Subs not used: Miguel Montfort, Luke Micallef, Karl Micallef, Neil Pace Cocks.
Coach: Noel Coleiro
Referee: Sandro Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Duncan Sultana
Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: Tasic
Scorers: 45′ Jorge Pereira da Silva, 57′ Jorge Pereira da Silva, 64′ Clayton Failla, 80′ Rafael Xavier Zacarias
BOV Player of the Match: Jorge Pereira da Silva
Attendance at the Victor Tedesco Stadium: 727
At the National Stadium, Birkirkara returned to winning ways as two late goals enabled them to beat Qormi 2-0. The Stripes move temporarily in second place, two points ahead of Mosta and Balzan who however have a game in hand.
For Qormi, this was the third defeat in five matches.
From the defeat to Balzan, Paul Zammit made a number of changes leaving Rafael Ledesma on the bench while Edward Herrera and Eliandro were not even part of the squad. Antoine Borg, Alejandro Mendoza and Ukrainian striker Vyacheslav Shevchenko were all named in the starting line-up. Qormi, on the other hand, had four changes as Roderick Sammut, Joseph Chetcuti, Steve Agius and Pietro Viggiani replaced Jonathan Bondin, Emerson Vella, Ryan Micallef and Alfred Effiong.
During a quiet first half, Liliu went close with a good shot which was parried by Matthew Farrugia on the 4th minute, when served by Antoine Borg, and then on the 38th minute, Farrugia performed a good save on a header by Matheus Bissi following a corner by Liliu.
Birkirkara finally managed to break the deadlock seven minutes from time when off a counter-attack, Rafael Ledesma served Ryan Camenzuli whose low shot from just outside the area beat the Qormi goalkeeper.
Two minutes in added time, substitute Rafael Ledesma sealed the issue with the second goal when he received a good pass by Liliu before slotting the ball past Matthew Farrugia.
B’KARA Justin Haber, Matheus Bissi da Silva, Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais, Nikola Vukanac, Vyacheslav Shevchenko (75′ Kurt Zammit), Alejandro Mendoza Corujo, Paul Fenech, Zach Muscat, Ryan Scicluna (75′ Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledesma), Antoine Borg (55′ Leighton Grech), Ryan Camenzuli.
Subs not used: Ini Etim Akpan, Jonathan Licari, Edmond Agius, Dylan Aquilina.
Coach: Paul ZammitQORMI Matthew Farrugia, Bjorn Bondin, Anderson Michele Quatrochi Santos, Joseph Chetcuti (62′ Ryan Micallef), Duncan Pisani, Roderick Sammut, Steve Agius, Zoran Levnaic, Albert Bruce, Pietro Viggiani (46′ Alfred Effiong), Frank Temile.
Subs not used: Jurgen Cilia, Alessio Cassar, Gilmore Azzopardi.
Coach: Josef MansuetoReferee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Chris Francalanza
Additional Assistant Referees: Fydor Zammit, Malcolm Spiteri
Fourth Official: Sammy Attard
Yellow Cards: Bruce, Bondin, Vukanac, Mateus Bissi
Scorers: 83′ Ryan Camenzuli, 90+2′ Rafael Ledesma
BOV Player of the Match: Matheus Bissi da Silva
Attendance at the National Stadium: 943