Qormi 1
Farrugia 90;
Hibernians 3
Failla 36 pen.; Lima 44, 48;
This was as much an end-of-season triumph for Hibs as an imperious declaration of intent.
Eyebrows were raised when Hibs announced that they had parted ways with their highly-respected coach Mark Miller after the end of their league campaign but this comprehensive dismissal of Qormi went a long way towards banishing any lingering doubts about the Paolites’ determination to keep their status as one of the top teams in Maltese football, regardless of who is in charge.
This was in abundant evidence yesterday as Hibs, rising to their reputation as one of the most formidable and organised units in the Premier League, overwhelmed a Qormi side who had come into this final on a wave of enthusiasm after their stunning elimination of champions Valletta in the semi-finals.
Jorginho’s fireworks in Qormi’s stirring victory last weekend sparked suggestions that they had what it takes to upset Hibs and capture their first major trophy but their fans’ optimism was brusquely shattered by the sprightly Hibs.
Richard Mercieca, the Hibs stand-in coach, had called on his team to make their experience count and his players didn’t let him down.
Pouring forward with intent from the off, Hibs outclassed the edgy Qormi in every department, their supremacy rendering this final arguably one of the most lop-sided in the competition’s recent history.
Their dominant showing meant that Hibs were home and dry by the 48th minute as Clayton Failla’s penalty opener and Jackson Lima’s brace gave them a 3-0 cushion and all but secured their ninth KO triumph, sending their partying fans into ecstasy.
Mercieca was lifted shoulder-high after the final whistle, triggering shouts of ‘London, London’ (Mercieca’s nickname) from the Hibs faithful.
Their celebrations reached a climax when captain Mario Muscat hoisted the FA Trophy.
The encouraging turn-out was in keeping with the high expectations surrounding this match. Still euphoric after their team’s knock-out of Valletta, the Qormi fans not only thronged their side of the enclosure but also filled half the Millennium Stand.
Not to be outdone, the Hibs fans also came in their thousands with the final also luring a good number of neutral fans. Even the VIP zone was packed to its rafters.
A symbolic ceremony preceded the match as children waving the flags of the clubs that have won the FA Trophy lined up along the touchline after Leli Fabri and Ġużi Xuereb, former players of Qormi and Hibs respectively, carried the trophy into the stadium.
As was to be expected, Failla and Brazilian striker Luis Edison ‘Tarabai’ were named in Hibs’ formation after suspension kept them out of the 2-1 semi-final victory over Ħamrun.
Making way for the returning duo were Adrian Pulis and Steve Pisani, scorer of the Paolites’ second goal against the Spartans.
Qormi received a pre-match tonic as Abubakar Bello-Osagie and Triston Caruana shrugged off minor injuries to keep their place in the starting XI as coach Stephen Azzopardi made no changes from the 4-3 victory over Valletta.
Azzopardi started in 4-4-2 fashion with Bello-Osagie floating behind Jorginho in attack and Matthew Bartolo and Joseph Chetcuti on the wings.
Malta U-21 midfielder Bjorn Kristensen returned to his familiar anchoring station in front of Hibs’ four-man defence as Jason Vandelannoite, yesterday facing his former club, reverted to centre-half. Their tactical module was 4-1-4-1 with Tarabai leading the line in front of the creative quartet of Failla, Andrew Cohen, Jackson Lima and Edward Herrera.
Hibs threatened to break the deadlock after six minutes. Edward Herrera dragged in a teasing cross from the right and Kris Thackray headed towards his own goal in an attempt to clear but Qormi goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia was alert to fist the ball away. The loose ball fell to Jackson Lima but his shot was charged down by Jonathan Bondin.
The initial exchanges belonged to Hibs. They came close again when Lima’s long-range free-kick drifted over a blanket of players and towards Rodolfo Soares who nodded goalwards but Farrugia somehow managed to turn the ball around his near post.
The brisk movement of the Hibs forwards had Qormi in a tangle. On one occasion, Cohen charged clear on the left before picking out Tarabai who slipped past Thackray but Farrugia flung himself at the feet of the Brazilian to deflect the ball away for a corner.
From another set-piece, taken by the usual Lima, the ball came to Soares who laid it back for Failla but his grounder was blocked by Farrugia.
Qormi survived another scare midway through the opening half when Cohen’s pass rolled past Vincent Kouadio and into the path of Tarabai who muscled his way past Farrugia but Roderick Sammut made a timely challenge to dispossess the Hibs striker.
Lima’s curling drive ended inches over the crossbar as the Paolites’ siege continued. Some of their football was delightful to watch. Cohen’s delicate flick sent Herrera roaring forward on the right but his angled effort was wide.
With Hibs bossing midfield and the likes of Herrera and Failla flying on the wings, Qormi dropped deeper and deeper while their service to the front duo of Jorginho and Bello-Osagie was scant.
Eleven minutes from half-time, Hibs deservedly opened the scoring. Making headway on the left, Failla turned towards the box before releasing Tarabai who was clipped by the back-tracking Chetcuti.
Referee Marco Borg instantly pointed to the spot and Failla guided his shot past Farrugia.
Qormi were teetering as the dominant Hibs won a spate of corners. From one of them, Kristensen’s backheader from Lima’s cross was deflected over the bar.
Hibs’ second goal was not long in coming, Jackson Lima illuminating the proceedings with a fulminating thunderbolt from the distance that gave Farrugia no chance.
Outplayed in the opening half, Qormi had to get their act together if they were to have any chance of clawing their way back into contention. But, their comeback hopes all but vanished when, barely three minutes into the second half, Hibs went 3-0 up courtesy of Lima whose ferocious drive from the distance flashed into the top corner of the net.
It said all about Hibs’ attacking brilliance that Azzopardi introduced Kenneth Scicluna for Chetcuti and moved Thackray into midfield.
Qormi had the ball in the net just past the hour but Jorginho had been flagged offside before he prodded past the erstwhile untested Mario Muscat.
Midway into the second half, Failla’s menacing drive from an acute angle almost surprised Farrugia who managed to get a hand to the ball before Tarabai miscued his attempt at the far post.
Needing a goal to resuscitate their fading hopes, Qormi tried to gain ground but in so doing left themselves susceptible to Hibs’ breakaways. With 20 minutes remaining, Cohen advanced through the middle before serving Tarabai whose low strike was blocked by Farrugia.
Jorginho was high with a rising effort 14 minutes from time before Joseph Farrugia, who had a quiet game, bent his free-kick past the Hibs wall but the ball sailed wide.
With Hibs content to sit back, knowing that victory was in the bag, Qormi mounted a spell of pressure in the dying stages. Muscat saved Caruana’s free-kick and Bello-Osagie blasted over from the edge of the box.
On the cusp of time, Tarabai rattled the upright after connecting with substitute Steve Pisani’s perfect service from the left.
In stoppage time, Qormi scored a consolation goal when Farrugia drove a first-time volley past Muscat after being teed up by substitute Luke Sciberras.
Hibs almost restored their three-goal cushion when Marcelo Dias pulled the ball back for Cohen but his drive was deflected away for a corner.
We deserve honour says Muscat
Hibs captain Mario Muscat said his side’s FA Trophy triumph was the fitting finale to a successful season.
“We certainly deserved to win the Trophy after the season we’ve had,” Muscat said after Hibernians’ 3-1 victory over Qormi in yesterday’s final.
“I told my team-mates before the game that it would be a pity if we failed to end the season with a win in the cup final.
“We have been the best team this year and the most consistent.
“We narrowly missed out on the league title but this Trophy success crowns an excellent season for Hibs.”
Qormi
M. Farrugia, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, J. Chetcuti (55 K. Scicluna), J. Farrugia, J. Bondin (80 L. Sciberras), Jorginho, K. Thackray, T. Caruana, A. Bello-Osagie, V. Kouadio (65 S. Wellman).
Hibernians
M. Muscat, J. Pearson (76 S. Pisani) R. Soares, R. Camilleri, J. Vandelannoite, B. Kristensen, A. Cohen, J. Lima (84 M. Dias) E. Herrera, C. Failla, L. Edison (90 J. Bezzina).
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Caruana; Edison; Pearson.
Attendance: 6,996.
Last 10 finals
2012: Hibs vs Qormi - 3-1
2011: Floriana vs Valletta - 1-0
2010: Valletta vs Qormi - 2-1
2009: Sliema vs Valletta - 3-3 (Sliema win 4-3 on penalties)
2008: Birkirkara vs Ħamrun Spartans - 2-1
2007: Hibernians vs Sliema Wanderers - 1-1 (Hibernians win 3-0 on penalties)
2006: Hibernians vs Floriana - 1-0
2005: Birkirkara vs Msida SJ - 2-1
2004: Sliema Wanderers vs Marsaxlokk - 2-0
2003: Birkirkara vs Sliema Wanderers - 1-0