FLORIANA 1
Nwoko 53
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 2
Montebello 7 pen., 45
FLORIANA
C. Maffoumbi, O. El Hasni, M. Veselji, J. Grech, D. Vella, C. Zammit Lonardelli, F. Sasere, A. Kouro (79 Allionida), Fernandinho (46 K. Nwoko), G. Yameogo (46 O. Spiteri), E. De Souza.
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, M. Ellul, D. Letherby, L. Montebello (46 G. Vella) (67 R. Camenzuli), Talison, J. Mbong, Elionay, Mayron, K. Scicluna (71 S. Borg), E. Marcelina (85 S. Agius), R. Lopes Silva.
Referee Philip Farrugia.
Yellow cards: Talison, Bonello, Yameogo, Emerson, Mbong, Letherby, Mayron.
Ħamrun Spartans produced another clinical display as a Luke Montebello brace in the first half propelled them to a 2-1 win over Floriana.
For the Greens this was their first defeat of the season and denied them the chance to close the gap on leaders Birkirkara as they slipped to three points behind the Stripes and just two points ahead of Sliema Wanderers.
It was a disciplined performance from the Spartans who after dominating the first half they managed to fend off Floriana’s fightback.
The only blemish for the Spartans was injuries to Luke Montebello and Emerson Marcelina who face a race against time to be fit for Friday’s Super Cup showdown against Sliema Wanderers.
Ħamrun were off to a flying start as after seven minutes they were awarded a somewhat harsh penalty.
Joseph Mbong sped clear on the right and sent a low cross towards Raphael Lopes Silva who fell under the challenge of Zammit Lonardelli. The referee pointed to the spot albeit TV replays showed that Zammit Lonardelli had anticipated the Ħamrun striker.
From the spot, Luke Montebello drilled the ball past the diving Christoffer Mafoumbi
Emerson Marcelina came to the Spartans rescue on 17 minutes when the Brazilian defender cleared off the line Oualid El Hasni’s header from a free-kick action.
Floriana continued to dominate possession but for all their possession they were struggling to create any danger to the Ħamrun goal.
There minutes from the break, a Jake Grech free-kick caused mayhem in the Ħamrun defencebut Floriana failed to profit and Mattias Ellul cleared the danger.
Instead, it was Ħamrun who doubled their lead when the Floriana defence failed to clear Lopes Silva’s chip inside the area and Montebello popped and rifled a fierce volley into the net.
On the restart, Floriana came out firing and Dunstan Vella teed up Zammit Lonardelli who fired just wide.
Floriana managed to pull a goal back on 52 minutes when Franklin Sasere’s shot was palmed away by Bonello into the path of substitute Kyrian Nwoko who fired home the rebound.
Ħamrun had a chance to restore their two-goal lead on the hour when Talison played in Gabriel Vella and his angled drive was pushed away by Maffoumbi.
Four minutes later, Mayron connected to Talison’s corner kick but his effort was blocked by Maffoumbi.
Twenty minutes from time, the Spartans roped in Steve Borg for Kean Scicluna, as the veteran defender finally made his return to play after several months out with injury.
Sixteen minutes from time, Camenzuli put Talison in space and the Brazilian was denied by Maffoumbi.
Floriana mounted a late rally but could not breach a resolute Ħamrun Spartans defence.
