Ħamrun's Steve Borg (right) clears the ball away from Oliveira Sousa. Photo: Domenic Borg
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 3
Lopes Silva 36; Mbong 78
Montebello 88 pen.
ŻABBAR SP 1
Oliveira Sousa 73
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, S. Borg (12 S. Xerri), L. Montebello, Talison (80 D. Letherby), J. Mbong, R. Prsa, Elionay (74 Eder), W. Barros, Mayron, R. Camenzuli (60 M. Ellul), R. Lopes Silva.
ŻABBAR SP
M. Grech, J. Micallef, M. Ferreira (71 S. Ilic), Wallace, Z. Grech, Tavares (71 B. Gambarte), L. Agius (46 J. Mendonca), Vinicius, D. Jovicic (83 D. Fava), M. Barros Santos, (57 S. Gatt) D. Souza.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow cards Vinicius, Ferreira, Agius.
Ħamrun Spartans kicked off their title defence in style when they overcame the challenge of Żabbar St Patrick.
It was a positive performance from the Spartans who dominated the first half and deservedly led at the break.
Żabbar improved after the break and managed to pull level with only 17 minutes to play.
But the Spartans kept their composure to go on and score twice in the latter stages of the match and grab their first win of the league campaign.
Ħamrun Spartans created the first chance after four minutes when Joseph Mbong picked Wendell Barros inside the area but the Brazilian fired wide.
The Spartans suffered a blow after 12 minutes when Steve Borg suffered an ankle injury and was replaced by Sven Xerri.
Ħamrun continued to dominate the match and on 18 minutes Ryan Camenzuli’s shot from the distance finished wide.
Ħamrun’s best chance came on 21 minutes when Prsa picked Mayron at the far post and his header was pushed by Matthew Grech into the path of Talison who fired over.
The Spartans hit the woodwork on the half hour mark when Camenzuli’s crss was met by Talison with the ball bouncing on the bar before Żabbar cleared.
Ħamrun finally took the lead on 36 minutes when Prsa picked Raphael Lopes Silva on the edge of the area and the Brazilian hit a low drive that gave no chance to Grech.
Żabbar hit back and straight from kick-off Martim Ferreira was denied by Bonello.
Lopes Silva came close to double his team’s lead on the stroke of half-time when he was played through by Elionay and his lob was somewhat cleared off the line by the back-tracking Jovicic.
Just before the half-time whistle, Grech pushed away Barros’ shot.
Żabbar improved after the break when Zachary Grech burst inside the area and his angled shot hit a team-mate and the Spartans cleared.
Ħamrun responded on 61 minutes when Talison found Camenzuli in space but the wing back hit into the side nettingh
The Saints were unlucky on 64 minutes when substitute Sean Gatt saw his header hitting the bar with Bonello beaten.
Zabbar’s efforts were rewarded on 73 minutes when from a corner action David Oliveira Sousa’s thumping header beat Bonello via the crossbar.
Ħamrun took just five minutes to restore their lead when Camenzuli’s cross found Mbong who headed home.
The Spartans sealed the points in stoppage time when Eder was upended inside the area by Gatt and from the spot Montebello made no mistake.
