Ħamrun Spartans’ Juan Corbolan tries to hit a ball past Ayrton Attard. Photo: Domenic Borg
MARSAXLOKK 0
ĦAMRUN S. 1
Guillaumier 90
MARSAXLOKK M. Drobnjak-6, E. Uzeh-6.5, A. Attard-6, K. Keqi-6.5, S. Ferraris-6.5 (90 S. Moracci), J. Aguilar-6, O. Carniello-6, L. Aguirre-6, D. Vukovic-6, D. Agius-6 (71 A. Effiong), T. Fonseca-6 (84 W. De Sousa).
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS H. Bonello-6, M. Guillaumier-6.5, E. Mashike-6.5, Dodo-6 (85 S. Attard), R. Prsa-6.5, R. Callegari-6.5 (60 S. Borg), E. Domingos-6 (60 Jonny), O. Bjelicic-6, J. Corbalan-6.5 (90 V. Freitas), E. Marcelina-6.5, R. Camenzuli-6.5.
BOV Player of the Match Roko Prsa (Ħamrun Spartans).
Leaders Ħamrun Spartans left it till late to beat Marsaxlokk as a goal three minutes into added time handed them another three points to add more to the gap at the top of the table.
The dramatic win puts them nine points clear of Gżira United and ten ahead of Hibernians but the Paolites have a game in hand against Valletta.
Although Ħamrun enjoyed more possession, and also created more chances, Marsaxlokk had their fair share of scoring opportunities and definitely deserved something more from this game.
They remain fourth from bottom but this performance should fill the Southseasiders with confidence.
Ħamrun coach Branko Nisevic named an unchanged side following the narrow win over Gudja United last week. Marsaxlokk, on the other hand, welcomed back Oscar Carniello, Juan Cruz Aguilar, and Kristian Keqi after serving a one-match ban. Pablo Doffo also opted to hand Ayrton Attard and Daniel Agius a start.
In the opening minutes, Elvis Mashike had a close-range header cleared into safety by Santiago Ferraris.
Rodrigo Callegari then headed the ball just wide off a freekick by Dodo on 24 minutes.
Three minutes later, Ryan Camenzuli delivered a cross from the right and Elvis Mashike controlled the ball well but concluded wide.
On 37 minutes, Roko Prsa, served by Juan Corbalan, had a powerful shot from outside the area ending off target.
But the first half was not over yet as two minutes in added time, Marsaxlokk went close to taking the lead.
Keqi concluded a great run on the right with a diagonal shot that scraped past the post.
On the restart, the but on 64 minutes, Henry Bonello came to the rescue for Ħamrun turning into a corner a fine header by Edafe Uzeh off a Santiago Ferraris freekick.
From the resulting corner taken by Agius, Tiago Fonseca headed just wide.
Ħamrun replied with a powerful drive by Elvis which was blocked by Marsaxlokk custodian Marko Drobnjak.
Two minutes from time, Marsaxlokk had another attempt at goal with Leandro Aguirre testing Bonello with a low shot from outside the area which was parried by the Ħamrun goalkeeper.
However, three minutes in added time, the Spartans notched the winner.
Goalkeeper Drobnjak tried to intercept without success a long-distance through pass by Steve Borg for Emerson Marcelina, Jonny delivered a cross from the left for Guillaumier to head the ball home inside the empty net.
