Ħamrun Spartans, Floriana cancel each other out

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 1-1 FLORIANA
Luke Montebello 25 pen.; Dunstan Vella 3

Referee Alex Johnson.

Yellow cards El Hasni, Mafoumbi, Fernandiho, Veselji, Talison, Mbong.

Red card Mattia Veselji (Floriana) 53.

This weekend’s highly-anticipated encounter produced only two goals in a drab encounter as Ħamrun Spartans and Floriana take a point each.

The Spartans, who had to come from behind and cancel Dunstan Vella’s early goal, move to four points after last weekend’s victory over Żabbar SP.

On the other hand, Floriana registered their second straight draw after their 3-3 stalemate against newly-promoted Melita on opening day.

For this match, Ħamrun coach Alessandro Zinnari had to make an important change in the backline with young player Sven Xerri replacing captain Steve Borg who is nursing an injury.

On the other hand, Floriana welcomed former Spartans forward Franklin Sasere, who joined the club during this summer transfer window, who was making his club debut in this game.

Floriana had a brilliant start after breaking the duck inside the opening three minutes.

Mattia Veselji played a neat pass towards Jake Grech with the former Ħamrun midfielder laying off the ball to Dunstan Vella and the Greens’ captain curled the ball past Henry Bonello to the delight of Floriana fans.

Moments later, Ħamrun thought they had levelled terms just for the match official to disallow the goal after a foul on Floriana’s goalkeeper Chris Mafoumbi.

A low drive by Mayron was cleared by Thiaguinho on goal line as the Spartans were looking to peg back Floriana.

The Spartans managed to beat Mafoumbi from the spot, through Luke Montebello after Mbong won a penalty having been tripped by the Floriana goalkeeper.

Bonello was forced into action on the half-hour mark, when Thiaguinho managed to find time and space to fire a strike just to see the Malta international send into corner.

At half-time, Zinnari made one substitution with Ederson replacing Freitas in the middle of the field.

Ten minutes after the restart, Floriana were dealt a blow when forward Veselji was given the marching orders after a second yellow card, leaving the Greens with a man down for over 35 minutes.

The numerical disadvantage forced Floriana to drop back and concede Ħamrun more possession.

However, the Spartans never really profited from their extra man with the Greens managing to keep Zinnardi’s side at bay.

Croatian midfield Roko Prsa squandered a promising chance when he let fly a strike from inside the area but misguided his shot wide from Mafoumbi’s goal.