Watch: Coach Muscat hails team’s spirit as Ħamrun Spartans keep title hopes alive

Ħamrun Spartans coach Winston Muscat hailed his team’s character as the Malta champions survived Marsaxlokk’s late pressure to grind out a 1-0 win that put them into the Final Four play-offs.

A Raphael Lopes Silva goal midway through the first half proved decisive for the Spartans, who claimed the three points, which enabled them to finish level on points with Closing Round winners Sliema Wanderers and set up a semi-final clash with Opening Round winners Floriana.

“I am proud of my players,” Muscat told the Times of Malta.

“We knew that we had to rely on the outcome of the match between Floriana and Birkirkara to keep alive our hopes of defending our league title. But the players took the field focused on winning the match against Marsaxlokk and then see what happens in the clash between Floriana and Birkirkara.

“It was a real test of character in a very difficult match. I felt that in the first half, we were slightly the better side and scored a very good goal.

“In the second half, I always expected Marsaxlokk to come with all guns blazing to turn the match around. Although they had more possession, they didn’t create much apart from two chances in the end.

“But we remained very disciplined and defended very well our advantage till the very end to manage to reach our primary objective of qualifying for the Final Four.”

Up next for the Spartans is a clash against their rivals, Floriana, who missed the chance of sealing the league title after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Birkirkara.

Muscat admitted that he is expecting a very tough match against what he described as the most consistent side in the Premier League this season, but is hopeful his players can keep alive their title dreams with another huge performance.

“I’m expecting another tough battle against Floriana in the semi-final on Monday,” Muscat said.

“I am expecting Floriana to come out determined to make up for the disappointment of failing to close out the title race against Birkirkara. But we will be ready for them. This is a massive match for us and all our focus is to prepare in the best possible way so we can deliver a big performance against Floriana on Monday.”