Ħamrun Spartans striker N'Dri Koffi charges forward against Birkirkara. Photo: Dominic Borg
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 6
El Fanis 36; Garcia 50, 71
Thioune 66; Mbong 74
Koffi 90
BIRKIRKARA 1
Makoma 45
Ħamrun Spartans ended the year in some style after hammering Birkirkara 6-1 at the National Stadium.
It was a vital victory for the Malta champions who bounced back from a disappointing week which had saw them first lose to Marsaxlokk in the championship and then fall to a 3-1 defeat in Ireland against Shamrock Rovers.
However, the Reds showed all their character with a clinical display as they completely dominated the Stripes in very tough conditions, with the National Stadium pitch in a very poor state following the heavy rainfall of the past two days.
In the end, the Spartans picked three crucial points that saw them bridge the gap on Floriana to four points ahead of their direct clash on January 6.
For Birkirkara itr was another day to forget as they bar for a short spell at either side of half-time, they never showed they had the strength to trouble their opponents as they crashed to their fourth successive defeat.
The match was in doubt as to whether it would be played, given the poor conditions at the National Stadium, as the heavy rain that fell on Sunday continued to deteriorate a surface that was already in poor condition.
But after two match inspections, referee Ishmael Barbara ruled that the pitch could host the match with the kick-off moved back by 30 minutes.
Ħamrun Spartans, desperately needing a win to bridge the gap on runaway leaders Floriana, made their intentions clear right from the outset as they dominated proceedings with Birkirkara struggling to come out of their half.
Their first chance arrived after ten minutes when Matias Garcia’s shot was punched away by Martinez and from the rebound, the ball fell to El Fanis who set up Mbong, who was blocked by a defender.
The Birkirkara goalkeeper was busy again in the next few minutes as a minute later he pushed away another Garcia shot and then the hard-working El Fanis was again denied by the Birkirkara custodian.
Birkirkara finally threatened on 23 minutes when Lucas Macula managed to control a long ball inside the area but was denied by the charging Henry Bonello.
On 25 minutes, Ħamrun Spartans protested for a penalty when Mbong fell under a challenge from Garrone. But the referee reviewed the action on the Football Video Support but stood by his decision of ‘no penalty’.
Eleven minutes from the break, the Spartans were awarded a central free-kick and Ognjen Bjelicic’s shot whizzed past the upright.
But a minute later were not to be denied as they took the lead.
Matias Garcia found Raphael Compri on the right and his cross was met by El Fanis, who let fly a sweetly-struck volley that flew into the net.
However, Birkirkara fought back and stunned the Spartans with an equaliser in stoppage time.
From a free-kick action, Geoffrey Acheampong chipped the ball towards Stephane Makoma who rifled the ball past Bonello.
The second half was off to an eventful start as after a minute the Stripes almost struck again when Morello picked the young Kaiden Fenech who was denied by Bonello before Sven Xerri cleared the danger.
At the other end, Koffi served Garcia who fired over.
However, the former Floriana midfielder made amends a minute later when he was teed up by Mbong and hammered the ball into the bottom corner.
Ħamrun kept coming and five minutes into the second half, Xerri hit a curling drive that was saved by Martinez.
The Spartans moved two points clear on 66 minutes when Compri sent a fine ball towards substitute Saliou Thioune, who headed home.
Ħamrun sealed the win on 71 minutes when Xerri won possession and served Mbong. The latter sped clear and teed up Garcia, who saw his deflected shot arrow past Martinez and into the net.
Ħamrun were not finished yet, and three minutes later, they added a fifth goal. Thioune’s shot was deflected by a defender, with the ball falling kindly for the sprinting Mbong who kept his cool to fire past Martinez.
On 80 minutes, Martinez had to be alert to charge out of his goal and intercept Garcia’s cross before Mbong could push the ball into an empty net.
But the Spartans made it 6-1 two minutes from time when substitute Jovan Cadenovic released Koffi, who turned past his marker and drilled the ball past Martinez to wrap up a dominant victory.
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, R. Compri, S. Xerri (76 S. Attard), M. Garcia, J. Mbong, V. Polito, N. Koffi, Eder (76 J. Cadenovic), O. Bjelicic (71 D. Simkus), M. El Fanis (46 S. Thioune), E. Marcelina.
BIRKIRKARA
M. Martinez, F. Garrone (54 S. Marjanovic), M. Morello, S. Dimech (70 J. Busuttil), K. Fenech, N. Micallef, D. Maydana, N. Cross, G. Acheampong, S. Makoma, L. Macula.
