Maltese football experienced another memorable night on Thursday when Ħamrun Spartans became the first team from our country to have ever reached the Play Off round of a UEFA club competition.
Branko Nisevic’s men have defied the odds as they knocked out Bulgarian giants Levski Sofia following a dramatic penalty shoot-out after the Reds had won the match 2-1 to tie up the aggregate score at 2-2.
Matthew Guillaumier had put Ħamrun ahead on 74 minutes before Ryan Camenzuli notched a dramatic winner in stoppage time, seconds after Tsunami seemed to have sent Levski through with an injury-time equaliser.
But goalkeeper Henry Bonello turned out to be the Ħamrun Spartans hero as the Malta shot-stopper saved two penalties in the shoot-out with Matteo Fedele blasting home the winning spot kick to the delight of the Spartans fans, present in Sofia, and around the streets of Ħamrun on Thursday night.
The Spartans’ reward for their heroics in Sofia is a tie against Serbian giants Partizan Belgrade, with the first leg scheduled in Belgrade on Thursday.
World Cup News
-
FIFA World Cup
/ 7 days agoSaudi oil giant Aramco agrees major FIFA sponsorship deal
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Aramco and world football governing body FIFA on Thursday...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 month agoSon scores but Thailand hold South Korea in World Cup qualifier
Son Heung-min scored but South Korea were held 1-1 at home by Thailand in...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 months agoJapan-N. Korea World Cup game to stay in Pyongyang, JFA says
Japan’s World Cup qualifier against North Korea will be played in Pyongyang as planned...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 months agoGerman ex-FA bosses on trial over World Cup tax evasion
Three German ex-top football officials went on trial on Monday in a 13.7-million-euro ($14.8...
By AFP