Hibernians 4
Scozzese 15og; Cohen 62; Jorge 83; Gilmar 90;
Floriana 2
Piciollo 13; Fontanella 28;

Hibernians’ season is gathering momentum.

This clash with the revitalised Floriana was as much a tactical and technical duel as a test of character for the champions.

Floriana had justified their growing reputation as they headed for the half-time break 2-1 up but that was as good as it got for the Greens as Hibs were a class apart in the second half.

Whatever coach Branko Nisevic said to his players in his half-time talk, it definitely worked.

Hibs had a steely look about them as they strode forward with their renowned panache, exploiting the pace of their players on the wings and probing runs of their strikers to stretch the Floriana defence to breaking point, albeit the Greens had been forced to change tactics after the withdrawal of the injured Jurgen Pisani.

And for the umpteenth time in the last 15 years, captain Andrew Cohen was at the heart of Hibs’ second-half transformation.

His astute runs and ability to flit into dangerous positions added a new dimension to Hibs’ attack as Cohen scored the equaliser before late goals from Brazilians Jorge Santos and Gilmar, a late substitute, added further gloss to the champions’ win that lifted them alongside Valletta on 28 points at the summit of the Premier League.

Floriana once again had given it their best shot but faded badly in the second half as Hibernians turned on the style.

Jonathan Pearson again deputised for the hamstrung Rodolfo Soares at the heart of Hibernians’ three-man defence as coach Branko Nisevic retained a 3-5-2 approach.

Cohen, the BOV player of the month for October, was given roaming duties behind the front duo of Jorginho and Jorge Santos.

With regular keeper Matthew Calleja Cremona out, 18-year-old Tyrone Gauci was handed the task of defending Floriana’s goal.

Coach Luis Oliveira restored Italian defender Andrea Scozzese to the first team at the expense of Steve Bonnici. Floriana lined up in their familiar 4-4-2 formation with Matteo Piciollo and Mario Fontanella leading the line and captain Nicolas Chiesa at the tip of their diamond-shaped midfield.

Eight minutes into the game, Piciollo did well to race clear of Bjorn Kristensen as the Italian surged into the box from the left but his cross was blocked by keeper Jurgen Borg.

Floriana picked up a head of steam as Piciollo’s inclination to drift into central positions and Chiesa’s clever passing from midfield unhinged the Hibs defence.

The Greens drew first blood on 13 minutes. Chiesa’s forward pass found Piciollo in space and the Italian heeded calls to shoot as his drive flashed past Borg who dived the wrong way.

It took Hibernians only two minutes to restore parity though as Cohen’s dipping cross-shot, from a long-range free-kick, arced into the box and, as several players leapt to try and head the ball, Scozzese appeared to deflect the ball past the diving Gauci for an own goal.

Close to the 19th-minute mark, the game was paused briefly after Floriana left-back Pisani appeared to suffer a serious knee injury after his foot got stuck in the turf as he tried to turn.

Mauricio Villa came on for Pisani with Steve Pisani dropping to left-back as Oliveira reshaped his tactical approach to 4-3-3.

If anyone thought that these enforced changes would undermine Floriana, the early indications suggested otherwise as Oliveira’s men regained their lead on 28 minutes.

And it was the incoming Villa who made the goal as he dashed past the stuttering Hibs defenders and his perfect pass from inside the box was met by Fontanella who flicked home at the near post.

Gauci, who looked somewhat edgy in the opening stages, dived to his right to stop Jorge’s drive.

Defender Rui Da Gracia Gomes was high from the distance as Hibs tried to bite back. Jorginho, quiet to the point of anonymity for much of the opening half, headed wide from Clayton Failla’s corner.

The second half was only 22 seconds old when Jorge averted the offside trap as he roared clear but his diagonal strike was high and wide.

The champions pressed forward with renewed zest, using the width of the pitch to try and prise open the Floria defence.

On 50 minutes, Da Gracia Gomes’s smart pass released Jorginho in the box and the latter crossed for Jorge who fired high as Enrico Pepe shackled the Brazilian forward.

Floriana’s threat on the counter was not to be underestimated.

Chiesa floated a pass into the box as Fontanella darted in but out came Borg to quell the danger.

At the other end, Failla was denied by Gauci who pushed his shot away for a corner.

Danger again beckoned for Floriana when Cohen’s free-kick, from near the byline, was partially cleared by Scozzese, with the ball falling kindly to Andrei Agius whose first-time volley screamed wide of the far post.

Chiesa’s low shot was wide but, on 58 minutes, Floriana were lucky to remain with 11 men on the pitch after Emanuel Briffa, who had just been booked, pulled Cohen as the Hibs skipper embarked on a penetrating run into the box.

From the ensuing free-kick, Jackson Lima’s effort was off target.

Hibs’ pressure produced an equaliser on 62 minutes. Failla’s corner had Floriana in a tangle as the ball landed dangerously in the six-yard box with Cohen applying the final touch.

Oliveira hauled off Piciollo in favour of youngster Daniel Agius, a decision that didn’t go down well with the mercurial Italian forward who gestured towards the bench as he marched straight to the dressing room.

With Hibs dominating proceedings, Nisevic moved to reinforce his attack as he sent on Denni and Gilmar for Cohen and Bjorn Kristensen respectively.

The Paolites struck seven minutes from time, Jorge beating Gauci with a low shot from an angled position.

Hibs had a great chance to increase their lead a minute from time as Gilmar freed Jorginho in the box but his rising effort was palmed away by Gauci.

Gilmar saw to that in the dying minutes as the Brazilian powered into the box, again from a wide position, before unleashing a superb shot that beat Gauci hands down.

Gilmar, who has not seen much first-team action since joining Hibs on loan from Naxxar Lions, celebrated by taking off his shirt as the Paola club’s fans roared their approval.

Hibernians
J. Borg-5, R. Da Gracia Gomes-7, J. Pearson-6, J. Lima-6.5, M. Dias-6.5, A. Cohen-7.5 (79 Denni), B. Kristensen-6 (79 Gilmar), C. Failla-6.5, A. Agius-6.5, Jorginho-6, Jorge-6.5.

Floriana
T. Gauci-5, A. Monticelli-5, E. Pepe-5.5, S. Pisani-5, Clyde Borg-6 (65 Conor Borg-5), J. Pisani (23 M. Villa-5), A. Scozzese-6, M. Piciollo-6 (73 D. Agius), E. Briffa-5, N. Chiesa-6.5, M. Fontanella-6.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Agius; Dias; Briffa; Chiesa; Villa; Gilmar; Pearson.

BOV player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians).

Attendance: 1,045.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Valletta	13	9	1	3	27	13	28
Hibernians	13	8	4	1	26	16	28
Birkirkara	13	7	5	1	29	12	26
Balzan	13	8	2	3	23	14	26
Floriana	13	7	2	4	21	15	23
Tarxien	13	6	4	3	21	12	22
Mosta	13	6	3	4	20	14	21
Pembroke	13	5	2	6	22	22	17
Sliema	13	4	2	7	13	21	14
Naxxar Lions	13	2	2	9	13	34	8
Qormi	13	1	3	9	10	21	6
St Andrew’s	13	0	0	13	6	37	0