BIRKIRKARA 0
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 2
Attard 45
Lopes 70
BIRKIRKARA
G. Volpe, M. Morello, A. Sandona (65 Maicon), S. Dimech, A. Satariano, L. Lacunza, N. Micallef, A. Coppola, N. Cross (46 P. Mbong), M. Maia, O. Siafa (78 A. Zammit).
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, D. Letherby, J. Mbong, R. Prsa (18 K. Scicluna), Elionay, G. Vella (86 M. Ellul), J. Corbalan, Mayron, S. Attard (55 L. Montebello), E. Marcelina, R. Lopes.
Referee: Ishmael Barbara.
Yellow cards: Coppola, Elionay, Montebello, Lopes, Maia, Bonello, Satariano.
The race for top spot in the 360 Sports Malta Premier Opening Round was blown wide open as Ħamrun Spartans scored a goal in each half to overcome leaders Birkirkara 2-0 while Floriana bridged the gap to just two points after a dramatic 1-0 win over Mosta.
For the Stripes this was their second successive defeat after they were beaten by the same Floriana before the international break.
Ħamrun, on the other hand, registered a second win on the trot following the dramatic 2-1 win over Gżira United which enabled them to secure a Top 6 spot and now leapfrogged Mosta into fifth place and boosted their hopes of a top four finish.
For Ħamrun, Joseph Mbong and Juan Corbolan were back in the starting line-up as they replaced the injured Sven Xerri and Ryan Camenzuli.
The only negative for the Spartans in this match is that they cannot escape their injury curse as during the match they lost Roko Prsa and Shaisen Attard who picked up injuries.
Birkirkara had three changes as Pablo Gaitan, Paul Mbong and the suspended Gnamien Yipke made way for Shaun Dimech, Nathan Cross and Oscar Siafa.
The Spartans were a more aggressive side in the early stages, going close with a Raphael Lopes effort from outside the area being deflected into a corner after three minutes and from the resulting corner taken by Attard, Mayron headed just wide.
But the game soon fizzled out with attempts at goal being few and far in between.
One minute before the end of the first half, the Stripes threatened with a Maxuell Maia effort from inside the area but his conclusion ended wide.
However three minutes in added time, Ħamrun managed to take the lead.
Juan Corbalan sent Attard through on the right and the latter beat two defenders on the run, slotting the ball past Volpe.
Twenty two minutes in the second half, Emerson Marcelina had a close-range header saved by Volpe, off a freekick by Luke Montebello.
Three minutes later, the Spartans doubled the score.
Joseph Mbong concluded a good run on the right flank with an assist for the unmarked Raphael Lopes who kept his calm to slot the ball past the Birkirkara custodian.
This was a further setback for Stefano De Angelis’ side as Ħamrun were now brimming with confidence and in the remaining minutes, the Spartans controlled their opponents without particular difficulty to take home three precious points.
Earlier, Jake Grech was Floriana’s hero as the talented midfielder fired home an injury-time winner to enable his team secure a 1-0 win over Mosta.
It was a bitter blow for Mosta who threw away a glorious chance to clinch all three points when they missed a late penalty.
Floriana threatened early on with a Franklin Sasere’s low shot drifting just wide while at the other end Okereke hit his shot just wide.
On 18 minutes, Mosta’s Goncalves saw his shot hit the sidenetting.
Nine minutes later, Akpan came to Mosta’s rescue when Aleksander Kouros shot was pushed away by Akpan while two minutes later Grech was picked inside the area and blasted his shot over.
On the stroke of half-time, Sasha Cachia missed a huge chance when he fired wide from close in.
Floriana came close on 77 minutes when Sasere saw his header tipped over by Akpan.
The Nigerian forward missed another fine opportunity on 83 minutes when he was put clean through by Thiaguinho but failed to conclude.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Mosta were awarded a penalty when El hasni fouled Kone inside the area but from the spot, the Blues forward fired over.
Mosta paid dearly for that miss as in the 95th minute, Grech burst inside the area and slid the ball past Akpan, to the delight of the Floriana fans.
FLORIANA 1
Grech 90
MOSTA 0
Floriana: H. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni, J. Grech, Thiaguinho, D. Vella, M. Garcia, C. Zammit Lonardelli, K. Nwoko (60 M. Veselji), F. Sasere, A. Kouro, C. Yameogo.
Mosta: D. Akpan, P. Afriyie, S. Cachia, L. Coulibaly (87 S. Cipriott), G. Goncalves (82 G. Sciberras), N. Agius, J. Agyemang, S. Okereke, J. Teixeira, J. Vassallo, Z. Brincat (74 S. Kone).
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow cards: Thiaguinho, Veselji, Grech, Mafoumbi, Kouro, Yameogo, Vassallo, Kone.
