Watch: Ħamrun Spartans see off Hibernians to go three points clear

Sliema edge past Sirens, Valletta overcome Gudja United as Naxxar, Mosta fire blanks.

HIBERNIANS 1

Degabriele 90 pen.

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 2

Borg 21; Camenzuli 84

HIBERNANS

H. Sacco, K. Shaw, R. Bairam, S. Zuzul, J. Degabriele, B. Kristensen, Z. Grech (67 A. Radchenko), S. Okoh (67 Bruno), C. Bonanni, G. Bastianos, E. De Souza.

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS

H. Bonello, S. Borg, L. Montebello (77 C. Rutjens), J. Mbong, R. Prsa, Elionay, U. Duranovic, Eder ((78 J. Corbalan), E. Marcelina (47 O. Bjelicic), R. Camenzuli, Jonny.

Referee Glen Tonna.

Yellow cards Bonanni, Degabriele, Bairam, Duranovic, Borg.

Ħamrun Spartans moved three points clear at the top of the BOV Premier League standings as they scored a goal in each half to overcome Hibernians at the National Stadium.

It was a convincing performance for the Malta champions who held the edge for much of the encounter and deservedly took the lead through their inspirational captain Steve Borg.

Hibs did improve after the break  but the Spartans remained the more dangerous and went on to seal the points through Ryan Camenzuli.

The Paolites did pull a goal back at the death but that was a little too late to deny the Spartans from moving three points clear of rivals Floriana who face Gżira United on Sunday.

Ħamrun Spartans enjoyed the upper hand during the first half with Hibernians happy to soak up the pressure and try and hit their opponents with quick transitions, but they struggled to be effective.

It was the Spartans who came close to take the lead on 13 minutes when they were awarded a central free-kick and Uros Duranovic’s curling drive hit the bar with the ball bouncing to safety with Hugo Sacco beaten.

Ħamrun continued to boss proceedings and their efforts were rewarded on 21 minutes when they deservedly took the lead.

Roko Prsa’s delivery from a corner was deflected into the path of Steve Borg who showed great composure to turn past Bjorn Kristensen and Claudio Bonanni before firing a rasping drive into the roof of the net.

The Spartans almost doubled their lead on 35 minutes when from a Montebello corner kick the ball fell into the path of the unmarked Elionay who fired over.

Two minutes from the break, Jonny caught Sacco out of his goal and tried an audacious lob from mid-pitch but the ball finished just wide much to the relief of the Hibs goalkeeper.

On the restart, Ħamrun lost Marcelina to injury and was replaced by Ognjen Bjelicic.

Hibs finally came close on 57 minutes when from a central free-kick Giannis Bastianos’s shot was turned over by Bonello.

At the other end, Jonny sped clear on the left and found Montebello who stabbed wide from close in.

Nine minutes from time Jonny picked Duranovic inside the area but the Montenegrin fired over.

Ħamrun finally sealed the points six minutes from time when Christian Rutjens, who had come on for Montebello to make his debut, picked Jonny in the middle of the park and the Brazilian raced forward before finding the sprinting Camenzuli who blasted past Sacco.

Hibs did pull a goal back when Borg was harshly judged to have pulled down Suzul inside the area and from the spot, Degabriele made no mistake.

But that little mattered as Ħamrun held on for the win.

SIRENS           0

SLIEMA W.     1

Awad 64

SIRENS

An. Cassar, H. Gomda, N. Pulis, C. Agyemang (79 D. Opoku), H. Akadom (69 F. Boateng), A. Cini, B. Asare, S. Borg, K. Donsu, G. Carrara, D. Agius.

SLIEMA WANDERERS

R. Al Tumi, J. Borg, J. Minala, V. Plut (39 L. Micallef), M. Beerman, G. Alcino, E. Agius (83 M. Scerri), D. Kouao, Murilo, G. Acheampong (83 S. Gomes), M. Awad (74 J. Arthur).

Referee Darryl Agius.

Yellow cards Asare, S. Borg, J. Borg, Carrara, Alcino, Kouao, Murilo.

Missed penalty Donsu (SI) 7.

Sliema Wanderers survived a scare before overcoming the challenge of Sirens 1-0 to strengthen their grip on third place in the standings.

However, it was Sirens who should have taken the lead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Murilo on Akadom. But Kwasi Donsu’s shot from the spot was saved by Sliema goalkeeper Rashid Al Tumi.

From then on, the match was evenly matched but in the end, it was Sliema who struck the winner on 64 minutes when Denis Kouao teed up Mohammed Awad who fired the ball home.

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GUDJA UNITED 0-3 VALLETTA
Ricardo Fernandes 3 og., Federico Falcone 43, Diego Nogueira 83.

Valletta secured a much-needed victory over Gudja United to keep away from the relegation red zone.

Following this win, the Citizens have now moved to 14 points.

Vincenzo Potenza’s side opened a two-goal lead in the first half through a Ricardo Fernandes’ own goal and Federico Falcone.

Late in the game, Diego Nogueira wrapped up with the win with Valletta’s third.

Italian goalkeeper Alessandro Guarnone played between the sticks for Valletta as he launched his second spell at the club after a brief stint in Bulgaria.

On the other hand, Gudja United remain second bottom with six points.

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NAXXAR LIONS 0-0 MOSTA

Neighbours Naxxar Lions and Mosta fired blanks in Saturday’s late kick-off at the National Stadium.

A draw which will make the Lions slightly happier as it lifts them to 20 points, keeping them in the top five ahead of sixth-placed Birkirkara’s clash against Marsaxlokk on Sunday.

On the other hand, Mosta just move one point distant from the red zone as they are now on 12 points while Gżira United – who face Floriana on Sunday, trail them by just one.

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