Ħamrun Spartans held, Balzan lose to Naxxar Lions

Sliema Wanderers clinch narrow win over Santa Lucia

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 1-1 MOSTA
Uros Duranovic (Ħ) 38; Kevin Tulimieri (M) 45.

Ħamrun Spartans failed to maintain their slim lead at the top of the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by an in-form Mosta side at the Centenary Stadium.

The Spartans have now been rejoined by Floriana as league leaders after the Greens defeated Sirens in the late kick-off.

Led by Luciano Zauri, Ħamrun were dealt a heavy blow early in the game when Joseph Mbong was sent off after just 22 minutes.

Nonetheless, the Maltese champions managed to forge ahead through Uros Duranovic.

However, the Blues levelled terms just before half-time through Kevin Tulimieri as they managed to snatch a point against the league holders.

Mosta are now seventh on 10 points, level with Hibernians and Birkirkara.

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello; L. Montebello, R. Prsa, E. Freitas (N. Krstic 73), U. Duranovic, Ederson (Y. Nenov 81), O. Bjelicic, J. Corbalan, E. Marcelina, R. Camenzuli, Jonny (S. Paintsil 46).

MOSTA
D. Akpan; T. Shedrack (62 A. Isah), N. Chukwudi, C. Ndubuisi, C. Failla (G. Adolfo 44), G. Sciberras, W. Dagou, N. Agius, J. Vassallo, Z. Brincat (E. Mensah 62), K. Tulimieri (S. Cachia 81).

Yellow cards Bonello, Zerafa, Adolfo, Duranovic, Ndubuisi, Vassallo, Sciberras, Marcelina.

Red card Joseph Mbong (Ħ) 22, C. Ndubuisi (M) 90.

Referee Darryl Agius.

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BALZAN 1-2 NAXXAR LIONS

Leonardo 45 (B); Marcilio 35, 65 (N).

Naxxar Lions stunned Balzan to secure a much-needed victory to lift themselves off from the red zone.

As a result, Georgia Vella’s side have now joined Balzan and Valletta on nine points after seven outings.

For the Lions, this was their second win of the campaign as they look a much more settled side than in the opening stages of the season.

Marcilio produced a brilliant performance as he grabbed both goals, with the first one coming just past the half-hour mark.

Balzan did manage to equalise when Leonardo Souza beat Matthias Debono just before half-time.

Souza squandered a golden opportunity to put Balzan ahead when on the hour mark, he failed to convert from the penalty spot.

This chance came back to haunt Balzan as Marcilio scored the winning goal for the Lions to claim all three points.

BALZAN
D. Golovic; I. Bozovic, A. Prates, S. Arab (82 B. Hili), P. Fenech (89 M. Grima), J. Grech, R. Michibuchi, A. Katanic, N. Zerjal, M. Raso, L. Souza (O. Awosanya 67).

NAXXAR LIONS
M. Debono; M. Debono, N. Micallef, F. Barbosa, N. Pace Cocks (D. Falzon 83), P. Augusto, Edson, R. Cassar, T. Yamaguchi (Maicon 33), Elizeu, Marcilio (M. Fenech 87), Joao Vitor.

Yellow cards Barbosa, Raso, Marcilio, Bozovic.

Penalty missed L. Souza (B) 61.

Referee Daniel Portelli.

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SANTA LUCIA 0-1 SLIEMA WANDERERS
Samuel Gomes 34

Sliema Wanderers followed up last week’s victory over Gżira United with another narrow win after Samuel Gomes’ strike was enough to sink lowly Santa Lucia.

Paul Zammit’s side has now registered four top-flight victories as they are joint-third with Marsaxlokk on 13 points.

Gomes, who joined the club after his Gudja United spell, netted the all-important goal midway in the first half to hand the Blues three precious points.

Santa Lucia, on their part, remain bottom of the table with just two points to show for their efforts after even outings.

Adding more woes to their game was Sven Xerri’s red card in the final stages of the game which complicated their plans to try and at least salvage a draw against Sliema.

SANTA LUCIA
F. Filho; M. Ellul, S. Pisani, Wagner (V. Valletta 88), T. Nagamatsu (D. Xuereb 61), J. Pisani, G. Virano (L. Sena 68), Hulk, A. Piazza (A. Bradshaw 68), S. Xerri, E. Gomes (J. Tanti 61).  

SLIEMA WANDERERS
R. Al Tumi; J. Borg, J. Minala, V. Plut, M. Beerman, G. Alcino (72 A. Friggieri), E. Agius, D. Kouao (M. D’Alessandro 90), M. Henrique, S. Gomes (K. Abubakar 66), M. Awad (N. Frendo 72).

Yellow cards Xerri, Xuereb.

Red cards Sven Xerri (SL) 76.

Referee Malcolm Spiteri.

Photos: Chris Sant Fournier.