Watch: Ħamrun Spartans hand Hibernians first defeat of the season

Ħamrun Spartans stormed to the top of the YoHealth Malta Premier when they eased past Hibernians 2-0 at the Centenary Stadium.

It was a convincing victory for the Malta champions, who, after surviving a couple of scares early on they managed to take control of the match once they surged ahead through Semar Smajgalic.

Hibs tried to mount a reaction, but the Spartans had too much quality for their opponents, who were missing some key players.

The Paolites stepped up the pressure after the break, but Ħamrun punished them with a second goal to seal the three points and hand the Paolites their first defeat of the season.

Hibernians were off to a fast start, and after four minutes, they almost took the lead when, in a lightning transition, Lucas Villela outpaced Ognjen Bjelicic and squared the ball to Cleiton, but the Brazilian was late for the ball, and the Spartans cleared.

However, it was Ħamrun who took the lead on six minutes when Merlin Hadzi sent a fine throughball into the path of Semir Smajgalic, and the Bosnian forward kept his cool to fire the ball past Hugo Sacco.

The match remained evenly balanced, with Hibs trying to pile the pressure on the Spartans’ defence while the Reds were looking to strike with quick transitions.

On 24 minutes, the Spartans threatened again when Smajgalic picked Cadenovic inside the area, but his shot was saved by Sacco.

On the half hour, Sacco had to dive to his left to turn to a corner Mbong’s low drive.

Ħamrun thought they had added a second three minutes later when Cadenovic fed Smajlagic, who tapped home, but the ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.

After the break, Hibernians started to press their opponents higher, with the result that they were enjoying more possession but struggled to create any danger.

Instead, it was the Spartans who almost doubled their lead on 57 minutes when in another swift raid, Cadenovic fed Hadzi, whose low cross was turned towards goal by Smajgalic, who was denied by a brilliant reflex save from Sacco.

But the Paolites failed to heed the warning signs as the Spartans doubled their lead on the hour mark.

Polito’s cross found Hadzi, who released Mbong and the Malta winger kept his cool to slot the ball past Sacco.

Hibs finally threatened on 78 minutes when from a corner, Aiden Zammit’s header, from a corner, was well saved by Henry Bonello.

Mouad El Fanis, who in midweek scored a worldie against Marsaxlokk, came close to another spectacular strike when his low drive rattled the upright with Sacco beaten.

In stoppage time, Spartans substitute Scott Camilleri almost capped a memorable debut when his curling drive just whizzed by the upright with Sacco beaten.