Watch: Ħamrun Spartans brush aside leaders Floriana to secure Top Six berth

Ħamrun Spartans laid down a real statement of intent as they breezed past league leaders Floriana 3-1 at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

It was a really impressive performance for the Malta champions who showed all their qualities at both ends of the pitch to secure a crucial victory that assured them a spot in the Top Six with one game to spare.

The Spartans were on top for the majority of the first half and managed to build a comfortable two-goal lead courtesy of goals from N’Dri Koffi and Matias Garcia.

The Spartans added a third early in the second half, and although they had Eder sent off soon after they showed all their defensive prowess as they managed to contain Floriana’s efforts.

In fact, the Greens only managed to pull one goal back through Mustapha Jah, but never seemed capable of turning the match around.

With this result, the Spartans moved up to third in the standings on 19 points, three adrift of joint leaders Floriana and Valletta.

Ħamrun Spartans were the better side early on and it was no surprise when they took the lead on 12 minutes.

Matias Garcia’s cross found Koffi, who directed the ball into the path of Joseph Mbong. The Ħamrun winger quickly picked Eder, whose shot was deflected by Koffi past Floriana goalkeeper Gabriele Ciolett.

Floriana responded on 23 minutes when Joao Texeira found himself in space on the edge of the area but Ryan Camenzuli was well placed to block shot.

Semar Smajgalic almost punished Floriana on 26 minutes when the Bosnia forward intercepted a poor back pass by Dunstan Vella but his shot was deflected just past the upright.

The match continued to be evenly tight with Floriana increasing their physicality and speed of play, and inevitably started to pose more danger to the Ħamrun Spartans defence.

However, it was Ħamrun Spartans who doubled their lead on 44 minutes.

Semar Smajlagic, who had just recovered from a head injury, was the architect when he fed Matias Garcia on the edge of the area and the midfielder hit a curling drive that gave no chance to Cioletti.

On the restart, Daniel Portela made two changes as Mustapha Jah and Zachary Scerri replaced Rui Areias and Dunstan Vella.

On the other hand Domantas Simkus came on for Ħamrun defender Ognjen Bjelicic.

But things got worse for Floriana in the first minute of the second half as Garcia pressed Charles M’Mwomba on the edge of the area and stole possession before hitting a low drive that beat Cioletti with a low drive.

Things got another twist on 52 minutes as the Spartans were reduced to ten men as Eder was shown a straight red card for a headbutt on Scerri, a harsh decision as TV replays showed the Ħamrun midfielder was pushed onto his Floriana counterpart.

With a man more on the pitch, Floriana took control of proceedings but struggled to break down the solid Ħamrun defence.

Teixeira should have pulled a goal back for Floriana on 71 minutes when he was found unmarked by Veselji but he fired over in front of Bonello.

The Greens did pull a goal back nine minutes from time when, from a Texeira free-kick, Mendonca’s shot was somehow kept out by Bonello, but from the rebound, Jah fired home.

 But that was too little too late as the Spartans held on for a crucial win.