Ħamrun striker Raphael Lopes Silva controls the ball against Naxxar Lions. Photo: Domenic Aquilina
NAXXAR LIONS 0
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 6
Lopes 13
Mbong 24
Montebello 29 pen.
Ondong 45, 54
Attard 78
NAXXAR LIONS
M. Debono, N. Micallef, P. Vitor (46 O. Portelli), T. Yamaguchi (46 G. Barbosa); Matheus, E. Farias (66 M. Fenech), R. Cassar, F. Nunes, Sergio (46 Y. Ito), F. Barbosa, D. Jackson.
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, S. Xerri, L. Montebello (61 W. Barros), C. Ondong, J. Mbong (71 S. Attard), R. Prsa, E. Freitas (46 Eder), J. Corbalan, Mayron, R. Camenzuli, R. Lopes Silva (72 Talison).
Referee: Daniel Casha.
Yellow cards: Mayron, Barbosa.
Ħamrun Spartans broke little sweat to brush aside Naxxar Lions and post a resounding victory at the National Stadium.
After two disappointing results against Mosta and Balzan, the pressure was on the Spartans to reset and get back to winning ways and they certainly attained that in some style with a rampant display.
French forward Chris Ndong stood out with an energetic display that earned him a brace while Joseph Mbong, Luke Montebello and Raphael Lopes Silva also put their name on the scoresheet as the Spartans moved temporarily in third place on 11 points.
The Spartans were soon on the offensive and after 11 minutes Lopes Silva came close when his shot finished just wide.
But Ħamrun found the breakthrough on 13 minutes when Prsa found Freitas at the far post and the Brazilian flick was almost turned into his own net by Nicolai Micallef but Matthias Debono somehow kept the ball out. However, Lopes Silva was on hand to tap home.
Ħamrun struck again on 24 minutes when Mbong latched onto Corbalan’s pass to beat Debono with a low drive.
The Lions were on the ropes and the champions made it 3-0 when Ondong broke through but was upended inside the area by Fernando Barbosa. From the spot Luke Montebello drilled the ball home.
Naxxar finally threatened two minutes from half-time when Yamaguchi’s header was palmed away by Henry Bonello.
Ħamrun added a fourth on 44 minutes when Ondong raced past his marker and beat Debono with a curling drive.
The French forward struck again nine minutes into the second half when he pounced on a poor backpass by Owen Portelli to slide the ball past Debono.
The match was already settled but the Spartans kept pushing and on 76 minutes Barros picked Eder who was denied by Debono.
Ħamrun did add a sixth goal on 78 minutes when Talison found Eder who quickly flicked the ball towards Shaisen Attard who beat Debono witv a firm drive to cap an impressive display by the Spartans.
