Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/475084
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 MARCH 2015 33 Sport PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES GALEA FOOTBALL SPORTTODAY Hibernians register unconvincing win over stubborn Pieta Hibernians ....................3 Pieta Hotspurs ..............1 EDWARD FALZON HIBERNIANS registered yet an- other victory in the BOV Premier League to make it 22 wins out of 25 matches as they beat Pieta Hot- spurs 3-1 at the Hibs stadium. Coming up against the leader's firepower was always going to be a difficult task for Pieta who surely were not expecting to leave the sta- dium with three points. This defeat further complicates the situation at the lower levels of the table, particu- larly after Qormi prevailed in their clash against Mosta. Following this defeat Pieta are now on 12 points, just one point above the drop zone; while leaders Hibernians further cemented their grip at the top with 39 points. It was far from a straight forward win for the leaders and as the result suggests, they had to work harder than expected; at times even finding themselves under immense pressure against their opponents. Hibs started the match immedi- ately on the offensive and went close to opening the score after just four minutes when Jackson Lima chipped the ball over Jorginho who failed to put any direction into his shot, with the ball going straight into the keep- er's hands. However the leaders forged ahead on 10 minutes when Clayton Failla stormed with speed into the Pieta area and hit an unforgiving drive which ended in the net. Pieta almost gifted their opponents the opportunity to score a second af- ter a moment of confusion between Frances and Fortunato handed the possession to Jorginho who sent a low cross towards the direction of Tarabai, who was fortunately antici- pated in time by defender Grech. Hibs doubled the score on 29 min- utes when from a free kick taken by Failla, Agius headed the ball into the net. The Hotspurs started the second half on a more positive note and went close to reducing the gap through Luke Micallef who after a powerful run down the flank shot into the side netting. Shortly after Pieta reduced the mar- gin when the Argentinian Frances picked out Pisani towards the edge of the area, who released a fierce strike which ended in the bottom corner of the far post. Not expecting to find them- selves under pressure, Hibs looked stunned and Pieta almost scored the equalising goal when after a low Pisani cross, Frances failed to hit the ball properly, with this effort ending wide. With the Blues pushing for an equaliser and their opponents hap- py to sit back and control their op- ponents' attacks; it was Hibernians who managed to find the net for a third time and seal the issue. From a quick counter attack, a low cross from Dias found substitute Jean Paul Farrugia who hit the ball home to kill any hopes Pieta might have had. Hibernians; Borg, Pearson, Jack- son Lima, Soares, Cohen (Bezzina 83'), Kristensen, Failla, Agius, Dos Santos, Mbong (Dias 65'), Da Silva Pereira (Farrugia 83') Pieta; Montfort, Micallef, Grech, Fortunato, Pisani, Rodrigues da Silva, Gabriel Da Silva (Costa 66'), Attard, Cesare (Agius 46'), Frances, L.Micallef (Newuche 66') Referee: Adrian Azzopardi Yellow Cards: Fortunato, Mbong, Borg, Attard Scorers: Failla (H) 9', Agius (H) 30', Pisani (P) 56', Farrugia (H) 93' BOV Man of the Match: Jurgen Pisani