FLORIANA       0

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS   5

Paintsil 7, 18, 41, 71

Elionay 45

Ħamrun Spartans gave a real statement that they are the team to beat in Maltese football when they demolished title rivals Floriana 5-0 to secure the Premier League title for a second successive season.

Ghana forward Seth Paintsil was the architect behind Ħamrun Spartans’ victory after scoring no less than four goals to lead his team to an emphatic victory that earned his team their tenth league title success.

A lot has been said about the Spartans’ struggles in recent weeks, but on Saturday, Luciano Zauri’s men were at their absolute best as they completely tore apart a Floriana side who were never in the match and their hopes of silverware now rest fully on the FA Trophy where they have reached the semi-finals.

At the final whistle, the Spartans kicked off their title party in front of their numerous fans who completely filled every spot of the Millennium Stand before heading to the main streets of their locality to continue their celebrations

Ħamrun Spartans coach Luciano Zauri brought back in the starting formation Brazilian defender Emerson Marcelina and Croatian midfielder Roko Prsa after they missed out on the 4-1 win over Sta Lucia due to suspension.

On the other hand, Federico Marchetti retained his place in goal despite the return to the squad of Henry Bonello. Forward Uros Duranovic had to settle for a place on the bench as Zauri kept faith with the three-pronged attack of Jonny, Paintsil and Luke Montebello.

Floriana coach Mauro Camoranesi made several changes to his starting formation as he went for the three points.

Serbian goalkeeper Nemanja Andrijanic started in goal in the absence of Georgi Kitanov.

Ivory Coast defender Guy Yameogo comes in at the heart of the defence while Carlo Zammit Lonardelli will start on the right flank.

Greek forward Christos Rovas formed part of a three-pronged attack alongside Kemar Reid and Willis Furtado. 

After a tense start to the match, it was the Spartans who settled nicely and took just seven minutes to establish their lead.

Ryan Camenzuli sent a cross into the path of Seth Paintsil who headed the ball past Andrejanic.

Floriana looked rattled and two minutes later Steve Borg connected to a Prsa corner kick but headed wide.

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Then it was Paintsil who could have grabbed his second on the match when he was played in space inside the Floriana area but was denied by the onrushing Greens goalkeeper.

Paintsil put his name on the scoresheet again on 18 minutes when Jonny released Montebello on the right. The Malta striker’s shot was pushed away by Andrejanic but Paintsil was on hand to fire home.

Camoranesi was not happy and on 33 minutes he withdrew Owen Spiteri and roped in Brazilian forward Matheus as he switched to a three-man defence and added more firepower upfront.

Floriana came close to pulling a goal back on 42 minutes when Rovas latched onto a cross at the far post but was denied by Ħamrun goalkeeper Federico Marchetti before the Reds cleared the danger.

Live: Ħamrun Spartans beat Floriana 5-0 to be crowned champions

Ħamrun added a fourth goal just before the half-time interval when from a Prsa corner kick, the ball fell to Joseph Mbong who hit a low shot that was blocked by the Floriana defence. However, Elionay was quick to react and fire the ball home.

Four goals to the good, the game was as good as over with Ħamrun easily administering their lead for much of the second half.

But Paintsil was still proving a threat and bagged his fourth on the day when Jonny played him in space and the Ghana forward turned around the Floriana goalkeeper and deposited the ball into an empty net.

Luke Montebello came close to putting his name on the scoresheet when he avoided his marker and hit a low drive that was pushed away by Andrijanic.

But that little mattered as the Spartans were long home and dry when referee Petrovic blew the final whistle to kickstart their title celebrations.

Earlier, Sliema Wanderers all but wrapped their third place in the standings with a 6-0 demolition of already-relegated Gudja United.

Samuel Da Mata Gomes put them ahead from a penalty after 13 minutes before Mohammed Awad doubled their lead a minute later.

Joseph Minala added a third on 18 minutes before Vito Plut added a fourth just before half-time.

The second half was purely academic as Sliema added gloss to the win with another two goals scored by James Arthur and Geoffrey Acheampong.

OTHER SCORES

GUDJA UNITED             0

SLIEMA WANDERERS  6

Gomes 13 pen; Awad 14

Minala 18; Plut 45

Arthur 52, Acheampong 56

GUDJA UNITED J. Spiteri, L. Gatt (80 E. Gentile) , Z. Grech, R. Nanitelamio, J. Cutajar (64 G. Lorenzoni) , J. Quintero, S. Attard (84 I. Salis), G. Ime, M. Conti, A. Friggieri, G. Zammit (80 S. Nwafor).

SLIEMA WANDERERS R. Al-Tumi, G. Alcino, J. Borg (76 M. D’Alessandro), D. Kouao (69 L. Micallef), M. Beerman, J. Minala (60 J. Engerer), J. Arthur, G. Acheampong, M. Awad (60 E. Agius), V. Plut (69 N. Strickland), S. Gomes.

Referee Darryl Agius.