Ferdinando Apap and Jake Grech scored two goals each as Hibernians defeated Floriana 5-2 at the Gozo Stadium on Friday. A win which ensured Hibernians ended their commitments in joint-fourth place with Balzan and Mosta which could possibly mean a place in the UEFA Europa League this summer.
In case, either Birkirkara and Gzira United win the Izibet FA Trophy, a decider for fourth place would therefore be necessary. The direct encounters between Balzan, Hibs and Mosta would be taken into account but Mosta would be eliminated due to an inferior record and a decider between Balzan and Hibernians would determine the team to qualify for European football.
Hibs took the lead on the 9th minute when off a Gabriel Izquier freekick, Yunusa Muritala addressed the ball in the direction of Ferdinando Apap who headed home from close range.
On the 31st minute, the Paolites doubled the score thanks to Ferdinando Apap who had a first header blocked by goalkeeper Duncan Formosa, off a freekick by Izquier, but the Floriana goalkeeper coud do nothing to stop Apap’s second header which ended at the back of the net.
Two minutes from the end of the first half, Floriana reduced the gap thanks to a direct freekick by Jan Busuttil which gave Ibrahim Kone no chance.
Five minutes in the second half, Jake Grech made it 3-1 with an angled shot from the right.
Six minutes later, Hibs extended the lead thanks to a diagonal shot from the right by Jake Grech which beat Formosa.
Substitute Carlo Zammit Lonardelli scored a second goal for Floriana, heading home off a corner from the left five minutes from time.
However, Hibernians made it 5-2 two minutes later courtesy of substitute Matthew Ellul whose header beat Formosa.