Hamrun Spartans staged a stunning comeback to thrash Marsaxlokk 6-1 in the 360Sports Malta Premier Closing Round at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Sunday. The match saw a dominant display from the Spartans, led by a Raphael Lopes hat-trick, as they handed Marsaxlokk their first defeat in 12 matches.
Marsaxlokk struck first in the 20th minute when Alex Tanque latched onto a through ball on the right. After a swift run, he evaded a defender and delivered a precise diagonal finish past goalkeeper Henry Bonello from the edge of the area.
Ħamrun responded quickly, equalizing six minutes later. A well-placed cross from Talison on the right found Raphael Lopes, who expertly headed past Marko Drobnjak to level the score.
The Spartans took the lead in the 37th minute when Talison set up Lopes inside the area. Lopes capitalized on the opportunity, firing past Drobnjak from close range to make it 2-1.
Nine minutes into the second half, Ħamrun extended their advantage. Luke Montebello delivered a superb ball after a driving run on the left, allowing Lopes to round two defenders and calmly slot the ball home for his third goal of the match.
The Spartans continued their onslaught, adding a fourth in the 69th minute. Talison intercepted a poor pass from Nikolai Muscat on the left and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area that found the back of the net.
With six minutes remaining, Ħamrun added a fifth. Eder pounced on a cross from Montebello, beating a defender to the ball and finishing from close range.
The rout was completed by Luke Montebello in the dying minutes with a spectacular direct free kick from the right, curling the ball into the top-right corner to seal the 6-1 victory.
This commanding win underlines Ħamrun’s strength as they march forward in the Closing Round, while Marsaxlokk will need to regroup after a rare setback.
