YoHealth Malta Premier – Opening Round – MD6
Marsaxlokk……..….0
Ħamrun Spartans…2
Ħamrun Spartans needed two late goals to secure victory against Marsaxlokk and move onto 12 points in the YoHealth Malta Premier, three clear of their opponents, who remain on nine. It was a result that looked harsh on Marsaxlokk, who had matched the champions for much of the match and created chances of their own, only to be undone in the final minutes.
The opening 45 minutes were evenly contested. The Spartans threatened early when, on 16 minutes, Saliou Thioune forced Christoffer Mafoumbi into a smart save from close range after being played through by Joseph Mbong and N’Dri Koffi. Marsaxlokk replied quickly with a fine run from José Arias Ulises, whose low shot flashed narrowly past the upright.
On 22 minutes, Dodo, facing his former club, struck from the right but missed the target, while shortly after, Bonello was again alert to parry a strike from distance. Marsaxlokk’s quick breaks remained a danger, and in the 33rd minute, Dodo volleyed just wide following a lapse in the Spartans’ defence.
The half ended with a scare for Ħamrun when, from a corner, Marsaxlokk’s Rehana Mihana delivered a teasing ball that almost caught Henry Bonello out, the Spartans’ captain seeing the effort pass just wide. The sides went into the interval goalless.
At the restart, Ħamrun made immediate changes as Raphael Compri and Daniel Letherby were replaced by Merlin Hadzi and Mouad El Fanis, shifting Mbong into a deeper role. The Spartans started brightly, Thioune setting up Bruno Eder, only for Mafoumbi to rush out and deny him.
Marsaxlokk came close to scoring on 59 minutes when a cross from the right found Ayom Mayok, who, incredibly, fired over from inside the six-yard box with only Bonello to beat. Injuries disrupted both sides. Sven Xerri replaced the injured Emerson Marcelina for Ħamrun, while Marsaxlokk lost Leandro Aguirre, with Jake Ghio coming on.
The breakthrough arrived in the 84th minute with a moment of brilliance. Mbong drifted across the edge of the Marsaxlokk area before laying the ball off to substitute El Fanis. The forward unleashed a superb curling drive from the left, which flew beyond Mafoumbi and into the top corner to spark wild celebrations among the travelling Spartans fans.
Marsaxlokk’s hopes of a comeback were ended in the final minute of normal time. Koffi went down under a challenge from Mafoumbi, with referee Ishmael Barbara pointing to the spot despite replays suggesting minimal contact. From 11 metres, Koffi kept his composure to double Ħamrun’s lead and seal the points.
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Line ups
Marsaxlokk: C. Mafoumbi, W. Soares Da Silva, N. Muscat (C), J. Arias Ulises (85′ E. Attard), J. Corbalan, Dodo, T. Caruana, J. Minala (85′ J.K. Mensah), L. Aguirre (63′ J. Ghio), R. Mihana (85′ N. Portelli), A. Mayok (69′ M. Barros)
Ħamrun Spartans: H. Bonello (C), R. Compri (46′ M. El Fanis), N. Micallef, D. Letherby (46′ M. Hadzi), S. Thioune (75′ A. Coric), J. Mbong, N. Koffi, B. Eder (81′ S. Smajlagic), O. Bjelicic, D. Simkus, E. Marcelina (57′ S. Xerri)
