Guillaumier scores on return as Ħamrun Spartans fend off Tarxien Rainbows

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS      2       

Guillaumier 44; Jonny 62

TARXIEN RAINBOWS    1       

Lokosa 67

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS

Celio, R. Compri, M. Guillaumier, S. Attard (80 S. Xerri), M. Garcia, J. Mbong, V. Polito, D. Ceter (61 N. Koffi), O. Bjelicic (80 Eder), D. Bulevardi (61 Jonny), E. Marcelina.

TARXIEN

A. Cassar, A. Al-Hagi, A. Lokosa, C. Murici, A. Valverde, Nhayson, Y. Mosquera, M. Musulin (58 K. Donsu), P. Panic, A. Vella (78 I. Hinestroza), M. Grima (69 L. Borg).

Referee: Emanuel Grech.

Yellow card: M. Grima

Ħamrun Spartans earned the three points thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Tarxien Rainbows.

The Opening Round winners only managed to break the deadlock towards the end of the first half through the returning Matthew Guillaumier.

Although they doubled the score just past the hour, courtesy of a Jonny goal, Tarxien were quick to reduce the gap, maintaining the pressure until the final whistle.

The Spartans had Guillaumier and Danilo Bulevardi making their debut. Celio deputised for goalkeeper Henry Bonello while Shaisen Attard and Vincenzo Polito were also back in the starting line-up.

The Rainbows had five changes from their previous outing as Andrea Cassar started in goal along with four new signings, namely Yilson Mosquera, Petar Panic, Abdelhrahman Gaafar Ali Al-Hagi and Anthony Abidemi Lokosa.

After a quiet start, Nhayson had a powerful shot ending just wide on 23 minutes with Ħamrun going close with a Ognjen Bjelicic effort a minute later.

Andrea Cassar then came to the rescue, blocking a conclusion by Damir Ceter when served by Joseph Mbong and on 42 minutes, Marcus Grima headed just over the bar when served by Mosquera.

However, one minute from the end of the first half, the Spartans managed to take the lead thanks to Matthew whose powerful drive from outside the area was not held by goalkeeper Andrea Cassar with the ball ending at the back of the net. 

Ħamrun doubled the score on 62 minutes. Mbong provided the assist from the right and Jonny, who had just replaced Bulevardi, tapped the ball home from close range.

Tarxien reduced the gap five minutes later. Anthony Abidemi Lokosa received a pass from the left and rounded a defender before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Celio.

Three minutes later, Tarxien goalkeeper Andrea Cassar halted a good run by Jonny on the left flank, blocking his run on the edge of the area.

Lokosa went close once again for Tarxien with a header off a corner from the left on 74 minutes and two minutes later, a goal-bound effort by Angel Valverde was cleared off the line by Rafael Compri.

On the other side of the pitch, Matias Garcia missed a good opportunity from close range when served from the right on 82 minutes.

Two minutes later, Jonny entered the area with the ball reaching N’Dri Koffi whose conclusion was blocked by a defender.

It is interesting to note that Tarxien played the last 12 minutes with nine overseas players on the field instead of the eight as stated by competition rules after erroneously replacing Andreas Vella with Isidoro Hernandez but the Spartans still protected their lead till the end.