Ħamrun Spartans midfielder Matias Garcia forces his way through against Floriana. Photo: Domenic Aquilina
Ħamrun Spartans remained in the hunt to battle for top spot in the Opening Phase Top Six when they struck twice late on to secure a crucial 2-0 win over Floriana.
The Spartans grabbed the points thanks to the contribution of two second-half substitutes as Jonny marked his return to the Maltese Premier League with a spectacular opener before Jovan Cadenovic sealed the points with his first touch of the match.
The result was crucial for the Spartans as they managed to cut the gap on Floriana to just one point before this weekend’s final match day, which will see the Spartans face Sliema Wanderers while Floriana will face their fierce rivals Valletta, who are also in the hunt for a top-two finish.
Ħamrun’s win was far from straightforward as they had to survive a Floriana onslaught for the first 50 minutes of the match but once more they were rescued by the goalkeeping heroics of Henry Bonello.
But as the minutes passed, the Spartans grew in stature and managed to hit a double strike that earned them their third win over Floriana this season.
The match’s build-up was not short of controversy after the Malta FA asked the Malta Premier League to switch the match from the National Stadium to the Centenary Stadium, as the surface in Malta’s main stadium was not in a condition to host matches.
The strong winds that hit the islands, coupled with the occasional rain, made conditions for both sets of players very tricky and had a negative effect on the quality of play produced by both teams.
It was Ħamrun who created the first chance after 15 minutes when the Spartans stole possession just outside the Floriana area, and Joseph Mbong’s shot was somehow turned away by Gabriele Cioletti.
Floriana responded two minutes later, and the Greens were unlucky not to take the lead. From a Jake Grech corner kick, the ball fell to Zach Scerri, who saw his shot somehow kept out by Henry Bonello with the aid of the upright. Mattia Veselji was first to the rebound but was again denied by the Spartans no.1.
After that raft of chances, the match fell into a bit of a lull as scoring chances were few and far between, with both sets of players struggling to play fluid football in the stormy conditions.
Floriana protested for a penalty when they felt that Joseph Mbong handled the ball when trying to clear a corner. But the referee waved play on, and reconfirmed the decision after the Football Video Support was consulted.
In stoppage time, Floriana should have punished the Spartans when Polito’s poor pass was intercepted by Jah, but was denied by the onrushing Bonello, and from the rebound Federico Varela fired wide.
After the break, Jah had another glorious chance when he raced clear but once more he was denied by the onrushing Bonello.
Jah continued to torment the Ħamrun defence, and on 54 minutes he sped past his marker but was denied by Bonello with the assistance of Ryan Camenzuli.
At the other end, the woodwork came to Floriana’s rescue as Mbong’s delivery from a free-kick moved across the face of goal with the ball hitting the upright.
On the hour mark, Modica brought on Saliou Thioune and Jonny, who was making his first league appearance of the season.
Thioune almost scored on 61 minutes when the Floriana defence were surprised by a long ball but the forward fired wide.
Floriana were struggling with the long balls and on 64 minutes Koffi pounced on their opponents’ hesitation, but his effort was cleared off the line by Gamarra.
Ħamrun Spartans’ pressure finally yielded an opener and it was Jonny who delivered with a sensational strike.
Matias Garcia powered his way forward and fed Jonny, who from 30 metres out, hit a thumping drive that flew into the top corner of the net.
Floriana tried to fight back, but it was Ħamrun who killed off the match on 82 minutes. Mbong played Jonny space on the left and his low cross finished into the path of Jovan Cadenovic, who had just replaced Koffi, and the Montenegrin fired home with his first touch.
