Watch: Ħamrun Spartans fightback to outclass Marsaxlokk

MARSAXLOKK 1

De Aguiar 20

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 6

Lopes 26, 37, 53

Tailson 69; Eder 84

Montebello 89

MARSAXLOKK

M. Drobnjak, K. Micallef, N. Muscat, J. Ghio (90 C. Gatt), Y. Messias, D. Bonnici, (78 S. Cassar), J. Walker, J. Arias, A. De Aguiar (90 I. Borg), E. Pena Beltre, L. Aguirre

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS

H. Bonello, S. Borg (82 M. Ellul), L. Montebello, L. Taison (72 C. Ondong), J. Mbong, E. Freitas (78 D.Letherby), J. Cadenovic, O. Bjelicic, Mayron (82 S. Xerri), R. Camenzuli, R. Lopes (78 Ederson).

Referee: Ishmael Barbara.

Ħamrun Spartans ended Marsalokk’s 11-match unbeaten streak with a spectacular six-goal rout.

In an extraordinary start to the Closing Round, Raphael Lopes scored a hat-trick as Ħamrun came from behind to stun the Southseasiders.

It is quite a turnaround in fortunes for the Malta champions as they maintained their moment of grace with their sixth win in eight games.

The return of Ognjen Bjelicic and the introduction of Jovan Cadenovic necessitated a spate of changes in the Spartans’ ranks.

Setting up in  a 3-4-3 formation, Bjelicic formed a three-man defence alongside Mayron and Steve Borg as Ryan Camenzuli and Joseph Mbong played as wingbacks. Cadenovic formed a central midfield partnership with Elionay Freitas.

On his part, Vincenzo Potenza opted for a 4-1-4-1 module with Alex De Aguiar supported from the flanks by Jose Arias and Yuri Messias.

Marsaxlokk struck first when a long ball from the halfway line to De Aguiar was fully exploited by the Brazilian who used his body to shield the ball from Bjelicic before swiveling to curl a shot past Henry Bonello.

Ironically, this sparked a marked Ħamrun improvement when they drew level with Lopes racing to the far post and heading Talison’s vicious cross past Marko Drobnjak.

Suddenly the Spartans were fully of attacking verve and continued to dominate with Drobnjak tipping over a swerving shot by Tailson. 

Cadenovic went agonsingly close to scoring when his header from Camenzuli’s cross brought the best out of Drobnjak.

And the Spartans got the lead they richly deserved after 37 minutes when some good work from Talison was fully exploited by Lopes with a neat turn and fierce shot.

While De Aguiar tried to make the best use of the scraps of service on offer, the Spartans extended their lead with a devastating attack on 53 minutes.

Camenzuli outmuscled Jacob Walker on the left flank and fed the overlapping Luke Montebello who squared it for Lopes.

The Brazilian striker made light with some fancy footwork, outsmarting Leonardo Aguirre and Nikolai Micallef in the process, before shooting low into the corner.

As Marsaxlokk tried to regroup, Talison took advantage of a fatal communication breakdown between Nikolai and Karl Micallef to strike the late blow that wrapped up victory for the Spartans.

Ħamrun did not take their foot off the pedal as the clock ran down.

There was time for Eder to put his name on the scoresheet with virtually his first touch of the ball, prodding in the fifth goal with a composed finish from Cadenovic’s delivery.

Ħamrun added to Marsaxlokk’s ignominy with a sixth, Montebello getting in on the act with a great free-kick to score his 100th goal in the Premier League.