Late goals enable Hibs to join Valletta at the top

Hibernians scored three goals in the final thirty minutes to beat St. Andrews 3-0 at the Hibernians Stadium on Friday to join Valletta on top the BOV Premier League table.

Branko Nisevic’s side therefore returned to winning ways after two draws with Birkirkara and Sliema Wanderers. For St. Andrews, on the other hand, this was the eleventh defeat in as many matches.

Hibs held the initiative throughout the ninety minutes and were unlucky not to take the lead late in the first half when Jorge Silva’s low shot hit the foot of the upright and the ball travelled along the goal line before being saved by goalkeeper Kris Calleja.

The Paolites finally managed to break the deadlock on 61 minutes when off a cross by Dias from the right, Jurgen Degabriele served Jorge Santos Silva who anticipated the goalkeeper and a defender with a lob from close range.

Two minutes later, Hibs doubled the score through Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro who gained possession just outside the area and beat Kris Calleja with a low shot in the bottom left corner.

One minute in added time, Jorge Santos Silva sealed the issue with a third goal when he received an assist on the right and beat the St. Andrews custodian with a low shot from the edge of the area.

HIBS Jurgen Borg, Rui da Gracia Gomes, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Marcelo Dias (75′ Joseph Mbong), Andrew Cohen (83′ Zack Scerri), Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Jurgen Degabriele (68′ Denni Rocha dos Santos), Andrei Agius, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, Jorge Santos Silva.
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Diosdado Mbele Mba Mangue, Jonathan Pearson, Dunstan Vella.
Coach: Branko Nisevic

ST. ANDREWS Kris Calleja, Jordan Williams, Dale Camilleri (70′ Jacob Walker), Eloy Edu Nkene, Matthew Guillaumier, Matteo Desira Buttigieg (60′ Chris De Nguidjol), Michael Grima, Kyrian Nwoko, Michael Johnson, Clyde Cumbo, Liam Grech.
Subs not used: Dorian Bugeja, Mariglen Sehitaj, Wade Moodley, Josh Parry, Ryan Sammut.
Coach: Wayne Attard

Referee: Sandro Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow Cards: Johnson, Degabriele, Grech, Kristensen
Scorers: 61′ Jorge Santos Silva, 63′ Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, 90+1′ Jorge Santos Silva
BOV Player of the Match: Jorge Santos Silva
Attendance at Hibernians Stadium: 605

Meanwhile at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Naxxar Lions and Qormi shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. A draw which enabled Naxxar to stay third from bottom, two points clear of Qormi.

David Fenech was named in the starting line-up for Naxxar as Armando Viera dos Santos was ruled out through suspension. On the other hand, Ryan Micallef replaced Emerson Vella for Qormi from the team which lost heavily to Tarxien earlier this week.

Qormi took the lead on the 23rd minute when Alex Nilsson received a pass on the right, rounded a defender before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi.

Naxxar levelled matters three minutes from the end of the first half when Daren Falzon’s powerful freekick, deflected by Angus Buhagiar, was not held by goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella with the ball ending at the back of the net.

Carlo Gordon Monti was unlucky to hit the upright for Qormi on the 69th.

NAXXAR Julian Azzopardi, Blazo Rajovic, Andrew Scicluna, Moise Zady Gnenegbe (75′ Duane Bonnici), Sidoine Oussou (46′ Demba Toure), Daren Falzon, Jurgen Debono, Ishmael Grech, David Fenech, Angus Buhagiar, Emiliano Lattes.
Subs not used: Luke Pecorella, Mattia Del Negro, Arya Koorosh Haghigi, Mark Fenech, Ryan Mercieca.
Coach: Clive Mizzi

QORMI Jean Matthias Vella, Alessio Cassar, Ousmane Sidibe, Noah Olawole Ojuola, Billy Velo Berntsson, Ryan Micallef (70′ Emerson Vella), Clifford Gauci, Kurt Magro, Carlo Monti, Terence Vella (83′ Juan Carlos Vieira Peixoto), Alex Nilsson.
Subs not used: Andreas Vella, Edward Falzon, Karl Sciortino, Sorin Virgil Oproiescu, Steve Agius.
Coach: Johann Scicluna.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Luke Portelli
Fourth Official: Esther Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: Gnenegbe, Monti
Scorers: 23′ Alex Nilsson, 42′ Angus Buhagiar
BOV Player of the Match: Alex Nilsson
Attendance at the Victor Tedesco Stadium: 794