ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 2
Bohrer og. 7
Dodo 52
GŻIRA UNITED 0
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS H. Bonello-7.5; D. Gojkovic-6.5, J. Mbong-6.5, Dodo-6.5 (84 C. Mercieca), A. Oyama-6.5, S. Borg-7, M. Fedele-6, L. Gambin-6.5 (80 S. Attard), J. Corbalan-6, P. Djordjevic-6 (70 I. Ntow), Emerson-6.5.
GŻIRA UNITED D. Zarkov-6; G. Bohrer-5, M. Cosic-6 (72 R. Correa), L. Tabone-6, N. Muscat-6.5, Z. Scerri-6, T. Kolega-6, Y. Messias-6, C. Gauci-6 (54 Maxuell), N. Portelli-6 (72 J. Paul Attard), Jefferson-6.
Referee Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow cards Djordjevic, Correa, Ntow, Oyama.
BOV Player of the Match Dodo (Ħamrun Spartans).
Ħamrun Spartans have joined Birkirkara in third place after dispatching of Gżira United with a 2-0 victory.
Branko Nisevic’s side are now on 41 points and with two games left, the race for the third and final European spot is wide open.
The Spartans face Floriana next before they take on direct rivals Birkirkara on the final day of the season.
Ħamrun were in the driving seat early in the game when a Gżira United’s own goal send them ahead. They made sure of the win through Dodo even though the Maroons tried to stage up a reaction in an attempt to salvage the result.
Gżira’s chances of clinching a European berth are now hanging by a thread as they slipped to four points behind Birkirkara and the Spartans.
On a more positive note, Darren Abdilla’s side welcomed back Ricardo Correa and Maxuell into the fold who made their return to the field after being sidelined due to long-term injuries.
Ħamrun Spartans forged ahead in the 7th minute when Gżira United Gabriel Bohrer tried to clear the danger away but unfortunately for him, he directed the ball towards the net.
Moments later, the Spartans came close to double their lead when Juan Corbolan’s low-drive was blocked by Darijan Zarkov.
Zarkov came to Gżira’s rescue when he denied a Matteo Fedele curling effort before Djordjevic sent the rebound wide from goal.
Ħamrun continued to pile the pressure for a second with Fedele testing Zarkov from the edge of the area.
Gżira’s first chance was three minutes from half-time when Luke Tabone struck a first timer just to be inches wide.
After the interval, Ħamrun doubled their lead when Dodo capitalised from point-blank range.
Toni Kolega tried to pull one back for the Maroons but Henry Bonello was alert to avert the danger.
Yuri Messias followed with a long-range shot which glanced past Bonello’goal as the Maroons were looking to find the net.
Dodo could have extended Ħamrun’s lead to three goals but saw his shot sailing over the bar.
