C. Olses, J. Moutachy, V. Radenovic, L. Dumancic, B. Tavares, O. Verbickas (90 D. Salcinovic), E. Ofori, Y. Kendysh, G. Matulevicius, H. Devens (84 K. Hadji), L. Antal.
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, R. Compri, O. Bjelicic, E. Marcelina, N. Micallef (63 M. Hadzi), R. Camenzuli, D. Simkus (77 Eder), J. Cadjenovic (90 M. El Fanis), J. Mbong, M. Garcia (90 S. Thioune), N. Koffi.
Referee: Sandi Putros (Denmark).
Yellow cards Compri.
Ħamrun Spartans have a tough job on their hands to progress past the first qualifying round of the Champions League after suffering a 2-0 defeat at Lithuanian side FK Zalgiris in Vilnius.
Second-half goals from Liviu Antal and substitute Kassim Hadji put the Lithuanians firmly in charge of the tie, but the Spartans will feel hard done by the outcome, particularly given their encouraging display, which saw them create several scoring chances but failed to find a breakthrough.
Ħamrun had shared the exchanges for much of the match, and looked the likelier side to score, with Camenzuli and Mbong having the best chances.
After the break, the Spartans remained well in the game but were undone by their defending in their set-pieces, which led to Antal’s opener.
The team here started to press higher up the pitch in search of an equaliser, but it was Zalgiris who struck at the death with a second goal, which left the Spartans with a mountain to climb in Tuesday’s second leg at the Centenary Stadium.
Ħamrun Spartans coach Giacomo Modica handed four debuts in his starting formation as wingback Raphael Compri, Domantas Simkus, Matias Garcia, and N’Dri Koffi all made their first appearance for the Malta champions.
The Spartans started brightly as they managed to withstand the home side’s early pressure and also pushing men forward and created some interesting openings without ever threatening Zalgiris’ goal.
The home side created the first chance after 18 minutes when Matulevicius’ throughball found Henrique Devens inside the area, but the Brazilian fired wide.
A minute later, Ħamrun responded when Ryan Camenzuli sped inside the area and his rising shot finished just over the bar.
On 25 minutes, the Spartans threatened again when Matias Garcia won the ball just outside the area, but his shot finished over the bar.
Zalgiris tried to step up their game and started to put more pressure on the Ħamrun Spartans’ defence, but the visitors looked very organised.
Instead, it was Ħamrun who threatened eight minutes from the break when Mbong found himself through, but his shot was too central and was pushed away by Olses.
There were no changes after the interval, with Zalgiris again starting on the offensive, trying to breach the Ħamrun defence with their vertical balls, but the Spartans continued to defend well.
Zalgiris thought they had taken the lead on 53 minutes when Antal latched onto a throughball and Henrique stabbed the ball home.
But the assistant referee raised his flag for an offside position of Antal and the goal was ruled out.
On 58 minutes, Koffi went on a surging run, and his throughball was a tad too long for Mbong, who was denied by the onrushing Olses.
The Spartans were made to pay as on 59 minutes Zalgiris took the lead.
From a Tavares free-kick, Yuri Kendysh nodded the ball into the path of Antal who anticipated the onrushing Bonello to slot home.
Ħamrun tried to respond and on 63 minutes, Cadenovic found Koffi, who headed over.
Modica withdrew Nikolai Micallef and Domantas Simkus and roped in Merlin Hadzi and Eder in a bid to inject more attacking flair.
Eder was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty on 75 minutes as the Brazilian looked to have been clipped inside the area by a Zalgiris defender, but the referee waved play on.
Six minutes from time, Zalgiris roped in Kassim Hadji for Devens, and the substitute made an instant impact as he latched onto Ofori’s throughball and stabbed the ball past Bonello.
Ħamrun kept fighting, and a minute from time, Mbong hit a curling drive that forced Olses into a fine diving save.
Deep into stoppage time, Zalgiris failed to clear a Hadji corner and Cadenovic could only direct his header into the hands of goalkeeper Olses as Zalgiris held on to a crucial victory.
