Spartans show no mercy and hit half a dozen goals
360Sports Malta Premier 2024/25
Hamrun Spartans …..6
Naxxar Lions …………0
After a loss to Mosta and a draw with Balzan, Hamrun roared back to form with a thumping 6-0 win against Naxxar Lions in a 360Sports Malta Premier Opening Round clash at the National Stadium on Friday.
The win puts Hamrun level with Sliema Wanderers in third place, just one point behind Floriana and two adrift of Birkirkara, though both Sliema and Birkirkara have a game in hand.
For Naxxar, the defeat leaves them joint-second from bottom with four points, having lost four of their six matches.
Hamrun made three changes from their Balzan draw. Henry Bonello took over from Celio in goal, Ryan Camenzuli returned in place of Matthew Ellul, and Juan Corbalan got the nod over Emerson Marcelina. Naxxar’s coach George Vella opted to start Ryan Cassar and Hudson, with Neil Pace Cocks and Gustavo Barbosa on the bench.
Hamrun broke the deadlock on 13 minutes. A Roko Prsa free-kick led to Elionay’s deflected shot, which keeper Matthias Debono blocked, but Raphael Lopes pounced to score from close range.
Eleven minutes later, Joseph Mbong doubled the lead, firing home a powerful angled shot after being set up by Prsa.
On 29 minutes, Hamrun were awarded a penalty when Fernando Barbosa fouled Chris Ondong Mba in the box. Luke Montebello stepped up to convert, making it 3-0.
Just before half-time, Ondong Mba added a fourth with a diagonal shot that beat Debono.
Nine minutes after the restart, Ondong Mba capitalised on a short back-pass from substitute Owen Portelli to slot past Debono for his second and Hamrun’s fifth.
Substitute Shaisen Attard completed the rout on 77 minutes, beating Debono with an angled shot after being set up by Eder.
Line Ups:
Naxxar Lions: M. Debono, N. Micallef, P. Vitor (46 O. Portelli), T. Yamaguchi (46 G. Barbosa); Matheus, E. Farias (66 M. Fenech), R. Cassar, F. Nunes, Sergio (46 Y. Ito), F. Barbosa, D. Jackson.
Ħamrun Spartans: H. Bonello, S. Xerri, L. Montebello (61 W. Barros), C. Ondong, J. Mbong (71 S. Attard), R. Prsa, E. Freitas (46 Eder), J. Corbalan, Mayron, R. Camenzuli, R. Lopes Silva (72 Talison).
Referee: Daniel Casha. Yellow cards: Mayron, Barbosa.
