Hibernians take sole leadership in the BOV Premier League as goals by Brazilians Taylon Correa Marcolino and Tiago Adan Fonseca handed them a 2-0 win over bottom-placed Senglea Athletic at the National Stadium on Sunday.
Senglea, on the other hand, suffer their tenth defeat this season to stay at the bottom of the table together with Qormi.
Hibs coach Stefano Sanderra was forced to make one change from their last league game as Bjorn Kristensen replaced the suspended Nemanja Radojevic.
On the other hand, making his debut for Senglea was Hungarian goalkeeper Geza Bence Perger. Perger replaced Matthew Farrugia in goal while Matthew Bartolo, Dylan Micallef and Ferdinando Salvati replaced Brandon Muscat, Zachary Cassar and the suspended Imanol Gonzalez.
Hibernians took the lead on the 43rd minute when a powerful shot from outside the area by Johann Bezzina was partially saved by the Hungarian goalkeeper and off the rebound, Taylon Correa Marcolino placed the ball at the back of the net.
Two minutes later, Hibs doubled the score when Jurgen Degabriele served Taylon Correa whose shot was blocked by goalkeeper Genza Bence Perger onto the bar and off the rebound, Tiago Adan Fonseca placed the ball at the back of the net.
Senglea were awarded a penalty seven minutes from time after Augusto Rene Caseres was brought down inside the area by Andrew Hogg. However Braian Volpini’s effort from the penalty spot ended sky-high.
HIBS Andrew Hogg, Dunstan Vella, Joseph Mbong, Marcelo Dias, Jurgen Degabriele (90+1′ Daneel Abela), Bjorn Kristensen, Isaac Ntow, Taylon Correa Marcolino (88′ David Xuereb), Johann Bezzina, Andrei Agius, Tiago Adan Fonseca (84′ Connor Zammit).
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Andreas Vella, Michael Gatt, Carlos Grech.
Coach: Stefano Sanderra
Assistant Coach: David XuerebSENGLEA Geza Bence Perger, Matthew Bartolo (85′ Cezar Rocha Robortella), Dylan Micallef, Ferdinando Salvati, Leighton Grech, Braian Alexis Volpini, Matias Nicolas Garcia, Augusto Rene Caseres, Karl Cutajar (72′ Fabrizio Massimo Bramati), Larson Mallia (61’ Zachary Cassar), Andre White.
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Brandon Muscat, Brandon Mangion, Carsten Dimech.
Coach: Vincenzo Potenza
Asst. Coach: Darren Anton VellaReferee: Darryl Agius
Assistant Referees: Duncan Spencer, Duncan Sultana
Fourth Official: Alex Johnson
Yellow Cards: White, Grech, Correa
BOV Player of the Match: Taylon Correa Marcolino
Attendance: 508