VALLETTA 0
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 0
VALLETTA
A. Maringa, S. Borg, B. Paiber, J. Azzopardi, Y. Yankam, S. Brewer, E. Mbende, Y. Messias (90 N. Micallef), S. Radic, T. Aldama, S. Meijer (59 A. Zammit).
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
Celio, R. Compri, M. Guillaumier, M. Garcia, J. Mbong (90 S. Attard), V. Polito (83 D. Bulevardi), D. Ceter (83 M. El Fanis), O. Bjelicic, Jonny (67 N. Koffi), E. Marcelina, R. Camenzuli (90 S. Xerri).
Refeee: Matthew Degabriele.
Yellow cards: Mbende, Camenzuli, Bjelicic, Borg, Garcia.ż
Valletta and Ħamrun Spartans gave life to a hard-fought encounter which, however, in the end failed to yield a winner as the goalless stalemate prevailed.
Ħamrun Spartans enjoyed the biggest share of possession and may be created the better chances, but still they found in front of them a very disciplined Valletta defence who stood firm for everything their opponents threw at them.
In fact, the match provided few scoring opportunities, with both sets of goalkeepers rarely tested, and in the end, the final stalemate was the fairest result.
Ħamrun Spartans coach Giacomo Modica was again without his regular goalkeeper, Henry Bonello, who is recovering from injury, while Brazilian forward Jonny was handed his first start after his goal against Tarxien Rainbows last weekend.
Valletta coach Thane Micallef resisted the temptation to hand a starting role to Andrea Zammit, scorer of a hat-trick against Mosta, as he reconfirmed the same 11 players that featured last week.
As expected, the match turned out to be a fascinating affair with both sides trying to assert their dominance with scant success as poor distribution of the ball was hurting the fluency of the match.
The first scoring opportunity stemmed from a defensive error when Matthew Guillaumier’s poor pass was intercepted by Yuri Messias. The Brazilian forward tried to chip the ball over the onrushing Celio but Emerson Marcelina was on hand to clear the ball away.
Ħamrun tried to grow more into the match, and they finally threatened on 25 minutes when Ognjen Bjelicic picked the hard-working Jonny inside the area but the Brazilian forward fired wide.
Jonny had an even better chance three minutes later.
Matias Garcia dispossessed Emanuel Mbende just outside of his area and sent a low cross to which Jonny was a fraction late to turn into an empty net.
Seven minutes from the break, Ryan Camenzuli sent a fine cross towards Demar Ceter, but the Colombian forward saw his header finish just over.
The match maintained the same script in the second half with Ħamrun Spartans continuing to boss the proceedings, with Valletta looking to soak up the pressure and trying to catch their opponents with swift transition play.
It was Ħamrun who threatened again on 65 minutes when Ryan Camenzuli headed the ball inside the area and Ceter was pushed away by Maringa.
While the level of agonism continued to be very high, scoring chances remained few and far between.
Eight minutes from time, Ħamrun threatened again when Ceter found Koffi inside the area but his angled shot flashed wide.
Two minutes later, Compri almost found Mbong inside the area but the Malta winger fired wide.
Valletta almost won it three minutes from time. Mbende’s shot was deflected into the path of Messias who adjusted his body and hit an overhead kick that was brilliantly saved by Celio.
At the other end, Mbong served substitute Danilo Bulevardi who saw his low drive flash past the upright.
