Lethal Hibs thrash meek Stripes

Birkirkara 0
Hibernians 6
Scerri 22, 47, 72; Mbongo 40; Cohen 57; Failla 90

Hibernians gave Birkirkara a lesson in finishing yesterday as they put away most of the scoring chances that came their way to humiliate their stuttering opponents to the tune of 6-0.

This fixture was rightly billed as a top-of-the-table clash, given that the team claiming the three points would seize sole leadership, but expectations of a balanced encounter failed to materialise.

If truth be told, the result was somewhat harsh on Birkirkara who enjoyed the upperhand for most of the first half but their efforts were undone by poor finishing, with striker Jean Pierre Pierre Mifsud Triganza the most culpable, and some horrendous defending.

Hibs were ruthlessly efficient as they surged into a 2-0 lead and another goal soon after the break set the tone for a one-sided second half in which Birkirkara's predicament was further compounded by the sending-off of Joseph Zerafa.

Terrence Scerri had a field day, scoring a hat-trick and being voted best player.

John Buttigieg, the Birkirkara coach, was conspicuous by his absence from the bench as he was serving the first of a two-match ban. Midfielder Shawn Bajada was also serving suspension.

The game was less than three minutes old when Birkirkara's Martin Anastasi released Mifsud Triganza but the latter's grounder was stopped by Mario Muscat in two attempts.

Miller set his team out in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Scerri leading the attack and Andrew Cohen and Alexis Tekumu Mbongo given instructions to support the lanky Malta forward from wide.

Birkirkara's tactical configuration was 4-4-2 with Mifsud Triganza flanking Michael Galea up front.

After 11 minutes, William Sander Landim failed to locate the target after getting on the end of a long pass. Scerri, toiling to make headway in the Birkirkara box, then saw his flick come off the advancing Thomas Hartvig. Hibs' claims for a penalty were turned down by the referee.

At the other end, Mifsud Triganza weaved his way past Aaron Xuereb and into the Hibs box but his wayward near-post effort failed to do justice to his sleek move.

Hibs had to wait until the 22nd minute to fashion their first notable chance from which they managed to open the scoring.

Cohen wrong-footed a Birkirkara defender on the left of the box before teeing up Scerri who poked the ball home from routine distance.

Birkirkara might have equalised immediately but Mifsud Triganza's header from Sander Landim's cross, flashed just wide of the far post.

Galea then laid the ball on for Mifsud Triganza inside the box but once again, the latter skewed his shot out of range.

Birkirkara were now playing some fluid football and a fine move featuring a string of accurate passes culminated in Mifsud Triganza letting fly a rising shot that brought a fine save from Muscat.

From the possibility of levelling the score, Birkirkara found themselves 2-0 down.

With just over five minutes remaining for half-time, Mbongo punished more soft defending by Birkirkara after jinking his way through before dispatching a low shot that had the better of Omar Borg. The Birkirkara keeper dived the right way but failed to hold the ball, perhaps rendered slippery by the soggy pitch.

The game was as good as over within two minutes of the start of the second half as Hibs made it 3-0.

Birkirkara were again exposed at the back as Scerri was granted time and space to control a floated pass from left-back Adrian Pulis before lifting the ball past the helpless Borg.

The Stripes' misery deepened 12 minutes into the second half as Cohen punished more abject defending by Birkirkara when pouncing on a misunderstanding between Patrick Borg and his goalkeeper to squeeze between the two and chip the ball into the net.

Four goals down, Birkirkara were now in a state of complete disarray. Seventeen minutes into the second half, things became more complicated for them when Zerafa was dismissed for bringing down the goalbound Scerri.

After hitting a low shot just wide of the far post, Scerri completed his hat-trick 18 minutes from time when finishing off a solo move by rifling a strong shot past Borg.

Ten minutes from time, Scerri would have made it a poker were it not for a goal-line clearance by substitute Holland.

In the dying moments, Clayton Failla put his name on the scoresheet when beating Borg with a perfectly-hit diagonal shot.

Hibs are now one point clear of Sliema at the top of the standings.

Birkirkara
O. Borg-3, T. Paris-4, P. Borg-3, P. Fenech-5, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-5.5 ('68 J. Holland-5.5), M. Galea-4, W. Sander Landim-4 ('76 T.Cilia), M. Anastasi-4 ('56 A. Buhagiar-4), R. Hartvig-4, J. Zerafa-4, G. Mallia-5.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-7, J. Caruana-6, E. Herrera-6 ('75 J. Xerri), A. Pulis-6.5, A. Xuereb-6, A.T. Mbongo-6, C. Failla-6, C. Callejas-4 ('61 J. Pearson-5.5), T. Scerri-7.5, A. Cohen-7, R. Galabov-6.5 ('70 L. Grech-5).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Mallia; Fenech; Muscat.

Red card: Zerafa (B) 62.

BoV player of the match: Terrence Scerri (Hibs).