ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 2
Ekele 60
Mbong 80
MARSAXLOKK 0
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, S. Xerri, M. Guillaumier, M. Garcia (87 M. El Fanis), J. Mbong (87 C. Serber), V. Polito, O. Bjelicic (72 Eder), E. Blessing (70 Jonny), M. Carboni (67 S. Attard), E. Marcelina, R. Camenzuli.
MARSAXLOKK
C. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni, E. Pepe, N. Muscat, R. Linden (85 E. Attard), J. Corbalan, U. Arias (79 J. Kirby), J. Ailton Soares (85 R. Mihana), J. Minala, L. Aguirre, D. Simkus (67 I. Christie-Davies).
Referee Alex Johnson.
Yellow cards: Corbalan, Mbong, Attard, Pepe.
Ħamrun Spartans kept up the pressure on leaders Floriana as two second-half goals enabled them to see off Marsaxlokk at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
It was a crucial win for the Malta champions who were desperate for the three points to stay close to leaders Floriana, after the latter had moved five points clear with Sunday’s emphatic 4-1 win over Hibernians.
The Spartans had to sweat for the points as Marsaxlokk made life difficult for their opponents and after the break they looked to take control of the match.
But in their best patch, the Spartans took the lead through Blessing Ekele before the excellent Joseph Mbong sealed the points with a second goal ten minutes from time.
The win lifted Ħamrun Spartans just two points behind leaders Floriana before the two rivals face off in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.
The Spartans were soon on the front foot, and striker Blessing Eleke twice came close when first he latched onto Sven Xerri’s cross, but his header was saved by Christoffer Maffoumbi, and then he hit a firm drive from inside the area that was again saved by the Marsaxlokk custodian.
On 10 minutes, Matthew Guillaumier came close with a thumping drive that just missed the upright.
Marsaxlokk’s response arrived seven minutes later when Rasmus Linden tried his luck from a distance, but Bonello was alert to push the ball away.
Scoring chances dried up as the half wore on, with Guillaumier again hitting from the distance, but Maffoumbi was alert to block.
For the rest of the half, neither side’s goalkeeper was tested as the match fell into a lull with both teams showing little creativity upfront.
Ten minutes into the second half, Vincenzo Polito came to the Spartans’ rescue when he was well-placed to clear off the line Domantas Simkus’ firm drive that looked destined to hit the back of the net.
The Spartans looked on the ropes and on the hour mark Linden picked Corbalan in space, and his firm drive flashed just wide.
Instead, it was the Spartans who forged ahead on the hour mark when Ekele latched onto a dipping cross inside the area and the Nigerian’s flick caught Maffoumbi by surprise with the ball finishing into the back of the net.
For the Nigerian, this was his first goal for the Spartans since joining the Malta champions in January.
Ħamrun kept pushing for a second, and on 66 minutes, Mbong picked Garcia who was denied by Maffoumbi.
Marsaxlokk came close to an equaliser on 70 minutes when Dodo Soares ran in space, and his volley finished just past the upright with Bonello beaten.
Ħamrun continued to threaten and substitute Eder forced his way inside the area and his low drive was blocked in two attempts by Maffoumbi.
The Spartans killed off the match ten minutes from time when Garcia forced his way inside the area and his deflected cross fell into the path of Joseph Mbong who headed home.
