ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 0
BIRKIRKARA 0
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, S. Xerri, J. Mbong, E. Freitas, J. Cadenovic, Eder, O. Bjelicic (45 Mayron), K. Amoustapha (C. Menacho), E. Marcelina, R. Camenzuli, R. Lopes Silva.
BIRKIRKARA
G. Volpe, P. Gaitan, A. Alves (85 B. Esalo), K. Reid (73 P. Mbong), T. Papazov, A. Satariano, L. Lacunza, N. Micallef, A. Coppola, S. Makoma, M. Maia.
Referee Slobodan Petrovic.
Yellow cards: Satariano, Freitas, Gaitan.
Ħamrun Spartans and Birkirkara cancelled each other in a goalless draw after a tense duel at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.
Both teams were desperate for the three points as the Spartans were keen to regain top spot in the standings while desperate for all the spoils after two frustrating draws against Gżira United and Melita.
The match, as expected was hard-fought, with both teams having their moments, with the Spartans holding the edge in the first half albeit both teams had clear-cut chances to take the lead.
After the break, the match lost much of its intensity with chances at a premium but still there were openings for both teams to win it but it was not to be as the match ended in a goalless draw.
With this result, Ħamrun failed to regain top spot as they remain second on eight points, one behind of Marsalokk while Birkirkara move on the six-point mark.
Birkirkara created the first chance after three minutes when from a corner action, Alex Alves’ inswinger kissed the bar before finishing out of play.
At the other end, Kairou Amoustapha intercepted a poor back pass towards Gianluca Volpe and despite being in a close angle he shot at goal with the ball coming off the upright.
On 22 minutes, Lopes Silva released Mbong who sped clear and cut the ball into the path of Eder but Stephen Makoma anticipated the Brazilian as he was about to shoot.
Five minutes later, Reid should have put Birkirkara ahead when Ognjen Bjelicic made a hash of his attempt to clear the ball, and in came the Malta forward who sped through but was denied by the onrushing Bonello.
On 35 minutes, Maxuell Maia tried his luck from a central free-kick but Bonello found little difficulty to save.
Unfortunately, towards the end of the first half, tension increased not only on the pitch but also on the stands with the police forced to intervene to bring calm in the VIP area.
On the stroke of half-time, Zinnari was forced to replace the injured Bjelicic with Brazilian defender Mayron.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Amoustapha was again found in space but miscued his shot.
Ħamrun were struggling to create chances and on the hour, Zinnari withdrew Eder and roped in Talison in a bid to add more flair to his forward line.
Nineteen minutes from time, Talison found Amoustapha but his shot was blocked by Alessandro Coppola.
Fifteen minutes from time, Amoustapha came again close when he controlled a long ball, turned past Papazov but blasted the ball just over.
That turned out to be his last contribution as he was immediately replaced by the debutant Cesar Menacho, the Bolivian forward.
Nine minutes from time, Volpe was almost caught by surprise by Cadenovic’s cross-shot with the Italian goalkeeper tipping the ball over with the aid of the crossbar.
Chances remained at a premium as both sides continued to struggle to create clear-cut chances.
Substitute Paul Mbong almost won it for Birkirkara in the final seconds of the match when the Malta midfielder sped past two defenders but his low shot was pushed away brilliantly by Bonello as the stalemate prevailed.
