Match Review: Hibernians FC vs FC Nippon

15-Feb-2025 14:00

League // Dulwich College

Hibernians FC

D W W W L

2 - 2

FC Nippon

D D L L L

Referee - Alex // Assistans - N/A & N/A

Hibernians FC

Line-Up

Substitutes

Report

Close-fought encounter with Nippon FC

A strong Hibs side twice took the lead against Nippon in a match that ended 10 minutes early due to lightning. With a great blend of youth and experience on the field for Hibs, including a debut from Felix in central midfield that ended in a MoM display, Hibs started with the intensity and focus that had been so lacking in their last outing. Their shape out of possession was disciplined and caused Nippon problems in building from the back, with Liam and Will pressing well from the front, and a back four made up of Pat, Jack, Jaison and Sam all commanding their individual battles. Within the opening minutes, Hibs took the lead, Will pouncing on a mistake and running through on goal, before checking back and slotting Pedro in for a tidy finish inside the post. Hibs play was slick, and they were a constant threat throughout down the left, with Liam and Rafa dovetailing nicely and their powerful running causing plenty of issues to Nippon's defense. Liam - wearing a no. 9 shirt that seemed to fit him rather well - made a decent go at being Filippo Inzaghi in the opening half an hour, getting caught offside numerous times as he looked to run off the last defender. Nippon struggled to cope with his physicality and link up play, and the same could be said in the centre of the park, with Tiago and Felix snapping into challenges and refusing to allow the opposition to settle. However, Nippon did conjure up an equaliser against the run of play, through Kike, who twisted and turned on the edge of the box before curling one past Bill to level things. Hibs refused to be cowed, and a merited second goal wasn't long in coming. A delicious through ball out of the back played in Liam, who'd peeled off with a run into the left channel, and his cross was delicately cushioned (ahem) by Rafa into Will's path at the back post. Concentrating with every inch of his being at not fluffing it on his weaker foot, he side-volleyed it near post and past the helpless Nippon keeper to restore Hibs' lead going into the break. In the second half, Hibs and Nippon were well-matched. Nippon hit the bar from a set piece scramble, Tiago hit a long-ranger that had their GK worried, and Will had a free kick smartly saved. Jaison was a monster at the back, sweeping up everything and crunching into challenges; with his, Patrick's and Felix's intensity setting the tone across the team. Both teams had half-chances without anything clearcut, until 75th, when Hibs gifted possession to Nippon and were made to pay with a lovely curled effort in the bottom-right hand corner. Neither team was really given the chance to go and get the winner, and things ended with the spoils shared at 2 a-piece. Brilliant displays across the Hibs squad, and a good result overall, but given the way the match went, Hibs were left wanting more. Good luck to Nippon for the rest of the season!