HIBERNIANS 0
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 3
Scicluna 28; Talison 75
Mbong 79’
HIBERNIANS
H. Sacco, S. Hamanojda (68 D. Xuereb), K. Shaw, K. Fraga, Miullen, J. Degabriele (83 J. Portelli), B. Kristensen (46 L. Caruana), F, Falcone, M. Ellul (46 A. Bruno), G. Bastianos, P. Nunes (40 H. Gabriel).
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
Celio, M. Ellul, S. Borg, D. Letherby, Talison (90’ F. Bugeja), J. Mbong, S. Agius (90’ N. Grech), J. Corbalan (36’ K. Hili), Mayron, K. Scicluna, R. Camenzuli.
Referee: Glen Tonna
Missed penalty: Degabriele (H) 13.
Yellow cards: Borg, Celio, Mayron.
Red Cards: Miullen (H) 81.
A depleted Ħamrun Spartans side ended their Opening Round commitments on a high as they defeated Hibernians 3-0.
A win which should boost the Spartans’ morale ahead of the Closing Round which kicks-off in January.
Hibernians, on the other hand, disappointed after earning maximum points from the previous two matches against Mosta and Birkirkara.
In the absence of Alessandro Zinnari, Ħamrun assistant coach Alessandro Longo could not count on the suspended Elionay, Luke Montebello and Raphael Lopes apart from those ruled out to injuries like Emerson Marcelina, Roko Prsa and Shaisen Attard among others.
However, Joseph Mbong and Mayron were back while Steve Borg had a rare start.
On the other hand, Branko Nisevic opted for one change as the returning Bjorn Kristensen was preferred to Higor Gabriel.
Hibernians could have taken the lead on 13 minutes after they were awarded a penalty after Steve Borg brought Miullen down inside the area.
However, Jurgen Degabriele’s effort from the penalty spot was turned into a corner by Celio.
The Spartans forged ahead on 28 minutes. Talison delivered a corner from the left and Kean Scicluna rose high to head home past goalkeeper Sacco.
Towards the end of the first half, Ħamrun lost Juan Corbalan injured and in the space of three minutes, Hibs lost Pedro Henrique Nunes and Bjorn Kristensen.
After replacing the Brazilian defender, Nisevic opted to play for the remaining three minutes and the eight minutes of added time in ten men not to end up with just one substitution slot for the whole of the second half.
Meanwhile deep into stoppage time, Silas Alfred Hamanojda had a shot from outside the area ending just over the bar for the Paolites.
In the second half, the two teams shared the exchanges for long stretches but on 63 minutes, Mattias Ellul went close for the Spartans with a long-distance effort which was parried by Sacco.
On 71 minutes, a freekick by Talison was blocked by the Hibs custodian and following a series of rebounds, Daniel Letherby had a shot from the edge of the area just missing the target.
Hibs replied with a Jurgen Degabriele effort from outside the area ending off target.
Ħamrun, however, doubled the score on 75 minutes.
Goalkeeper Celio sent Talison through on the right and the latter outsprinted the Paolites’ defenders on the run and beat Hugo Sacco with a diagonal shot
Following a good run on the right flank, Joseph Mbong almost added another a minute later when he had a powerful shot turned into a corner by Sacco.
However on 79 minutes, the Hibs custodian could do nothing to stop Joseph Mbong from sealing the issue with a third goal with a great overhead kick.
Soon after the goal, Miullen was sent off for Hibernians after a clash between a number of players, leaving his side in ten men.
