FLORIANA 0
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 0
FLORIANA
C. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni, J. Grech (75 E. Mashike), D. Vella, J. Becerra (61 Z. Scerri), M. Garcia, C. Zammit Lonardelli, G. Gamarra, F. Sastre, A. Kouros, G. Yameogo.
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, S. Borg, L. Montebello (47 Eder), Talison, J. Mbong, Elionay (75 A Kairou), J. Cadenovic, O. Bjelicic, E. Marcelina, R. Camenzuli, R. Lopes.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow cards: Becerra, Elionay, Mafoumbi, Eder, Garcia, Sasere, Marcelina, Zammit Lonardelli.
Floriana and Ħamrun Spartans shared the spoils in a goalless draw in the big match from MatchDay 19 of the 360Sports Malta Premier.
Ħamrun, therefore, dropped their first points in the Closing Round following back-to-back wins over Marsaxlokk and Hibernians while Floriana earned a positive result after losing the previous game.
It was a balanced encounter between the winners of the Opening Round and the front runners of the Closing Round.
Two teams who were among the ones to be strengthened the most in the January transfer window and had their fair share of scoring opportunities but in the end the stalemate prevailed as the Spartans remain top on seven points while Floriana move on the four-point mark.
The Greens, eager to bounce back after the shock 0-2 defeat to Melita, had three changes as Christoffer Mafoumbi was back in goal while Jork Becerra and Guy Serge Yameogo were preferred to Owen Spiteri and Fernandinho.
Former Ħamrun Spartans forward Elvis Mashike and Zachary Scerri, who joined the club earlier this week from Gżira United, were both handed their debut after being included as substitutes in the second half.
On the other hand, Ħamrun coach Alessandro Zinnari named an unchanged line-up with Raphael Lopes Silva leading the forward line with Luke Montebello and Talison in support.
Floriana could have taken the lead as early as after two minutes.
Jake Grech concluded a good run on the right flank with an angled shot which was blocked by Bonello.
But as the minutes past the Spartans grew in stature as it was them who created more chances.
In fact, the Spartans replied with a fierce first-time effort by Ryan Camenzuli which was tipped into a corner by Mafoumbi on 17 minutes and from the resulting corner by Talison, Steve Borg headed just wide.
On 33 minutes, Joseph Mbong released Elionay on the right and the latter’s fine effort was deflected into a corner by the Floriana goalkeeper.
Four minutes later, a freekick by Talison was parried by the Floriana goalkeeper.
Three minutes in the second half, Jake Grech, received a through ball and advanced upfield before testing Bonello from the edge of the area with the Ħamrun custodian deflecting the ball into a corner.
Mafoumbi performed a good save on a cross shot from the left by Ryan Camenzuli on 63 minutes.
Four minutes later, Mafoumbi came to the rescue again for Floriana, turning into a corner a well-taken freekick by Talison.
From the resulting corner, the Floriana goalkeeper performed another good save on the same Brazilian midfielder.
In the final stages of the match, Floriana tried to step up the pressure on the Spartans’ goal. Seven minutes from time, Ħamrun goalkeeper Henry Bonello performed a good save on a cross-shot from the left by Alexandros Kouros.
Three minutes later, Gonzalo Gamarra tried to surprise Bonello with a long-distance freekick that was neutralised by the Ħamrun goalkeeper.
