Spartans hit six past Marsaxlokk

Hamrun Spartans returned to winning ways as they registered a most comfortable 6-1 win over Marsaxlokk thanks to two hat-tricks by Anderson Mendes Ribeiro and Kevin Sammut. Three points which put the Spartans in second place in the Relegation Pool on fourteen points.

Marsaxlokk, on the other hand, remain at the bottom of the table with nine points.

Matthew Gauci was missing for the Spartans as he serves a one-match ban. Marsaxlokk, on the other hand, were in full strength.

The Spartans went close on the 6th minute when off a Massimo Grima freekick, Dene Shields’ header hit the crossbar following a deflection by the goalkeeper. Off the rebound, there was a cross by Gaetan Spiteri from the left and Anderson Mendes Ribeiro’s header scraped past the post.

Two minutes later, Hamrun took the lead when off a cross from the right by Shields, Gaetan Spiteri served Kevin Sammut who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Christian Cassar.

On the 12th minute, David Camilleri went close once again with a corner from the right which hit the upright.

Anderson Mendes Ribeiro doubled the score on 29 minutes when he received a pass just outside the area and rounded a defender before hitting low past the Marsaxlokk custodian with the ball hitting the foot of the post before ending at the back of the net.

Three minutes from the end of the first half, Sammut served Anderson Mendes Ribeiro on the left and the latter hit past Cassar for the Spartans’ third goal.

Two minutes in the second half, Anderson Ribeiro added another, heading home off a cross by Kevin Sammut.

Marsaxlokk pulled one back on 59 minutes when off a cross from the left by Alex Pedrozo, Nemanja Stoskovic beat Omar Borg with a fine diving header.

On 63 minutes, Anderson Ribeiro received a through pass, entered the penalty area and rounded the goalkeeper but incredibly hit the foot of the post.

Kevin Sammut scored Hamrun’s fifth goal on 73 minutes when he received a cross from the right by Azzopardi and chipped the ball over Cassar.

Three minutes from time, Hamrun were awarded an indirect freekick inside the area. Massimo Grima served Kevin Sammut on the left and the latter hit low past Cassar.

Anderson Mendes Ribeiro was voted BOV Player of the Match.

M’XLOKK Christian Cassar, Modesto Valeriani (46′ Trevor Templeman), Patrick Borg, Luke Agius, Jermain Brincat (46′ Clive Brincat), Nemanja Stoskovic, Sunday Eboh, Jean Paul Farrugia, Gary Caruana, Peter Taiye Oladotun, Alex Cesar Pedrozo.
Subs not used: Jurgen Muscat, Gabriel Buttigieg, Jonathan Xerri, Craig Debattista, Sacha Borg.
Coach: Anton Cremona
Asst. Coach: Louis Cutajar

HAMRUN Omar Borg, Massimo Grima, Anderson Mendes Ribeiro, Lee James Agius, Kevin Sammut, Ronni Hartvig, Gaetan Spiteri (71′ Rupert Mangion), David Camilleri (80′ Luke Grech), Steve Bonnici, Gianluca Calabretta (71′ Glenn Azzopardi), Dene Shields.
Subs not used: Andrea Cassar, Ryan Spiteri, Diego Cucciardi, Daniel Zerafa.
Coach: Stefan Sultana
Asst. Coach: Marco Grech

Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Chris Francalanza
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Yellow Cards: S. Borg, Eboh
Scorers: 8′ Kevin Sammut (H); 29′ Anderson Mendes Ribeiro (H); 42′ Anderson Mendes Ribeiro (H); 47′ Anderson Mendes Ribeiro (H); 59′ Nemanja Stoskovic (M); 73′ Kevin Sammut (H); 87′ Kevin Sammut (H)

Meanwhile Qormi returned to winning ways as a freekick by Jorge Pereira da Silva gave the team led by Stephen Azzopardi the three points in the clash with Tarxien Rainbows.

They lead the way with eighteen points, four ahead of Hamrun Spartans. Tarxien stay third from bottom on twelve points.

Roderick Sammut and Abubakar Bello-Osagie were back for Qormi after missing the last two games but Kenneth Scicluna, Federico Mirarchi and Dino Cachia were all unavailable for selection. The Rainbows lacked Everton Antonio Pereira as he serves the second of a two-match ban.

The Rainbows had the first attempt at goal on the 10th minute with a diagonal shot by Luiz Romulo De Castro, following a cross from the left by Jimmy Nzinga Mayasi, ending just wide.

On the 14th, Joseph Chetcuti went close for Qormi following a cross by Jorge Pereira da Silva from the left and six minutes later, a freekick by Jorginho ended just over the bar. A Joseph Farrugia freekick on 24 minutes was parried by Nicky Vella. Kris Thackray then concluded a good move on the left flank with a cross but there was no one to finish off.

Ryan Mintoff came to the rescue for Tarxien on 63 minutes clearing off the goal-line a goal-bound header by Joseph Chetcuti, served by Joseph Farrugia following a cross by Jorge Pereira. Three minutes later, Abubakar Bello-Osagie hit just wide from the edge of the area.

Qormi finally broke the deadlock eight minutes from time thanks to a great freekick by Jorge Pereira da Silva which beat goalkeeper Nicky Vella.

Jorge Pereira da Silva was voted BOV Player of the Match.

QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Roderick Sammut, Joseph Chetcuti (93′ George Chircop), Joseph Farrugia, Ranier Buhagiar (67′ Matthew Bartolo), Jonathan Bondin, Jorge Pereira da Silva, Kris Thackray, Triston Caruana, Abubakar Bello-Osagie (85′ Luke Sciberras), Vincent Kouadio Adioumani.
Subs not used: Steve Sultana, Carmelo Farrugia, Stephen Wellman, Christian Briffa.
Coach: Stephen Azzopardi

TARXIEN Nicky Vella, Steve Sadowski, Carlo Mamo, Ricardo Costa, Jimmy Nzinga Mayasi (83′ Adrian Carabott), Mark Tanti (61′ Stefan Giglio), Daniel Mariano Bueno, Luiz Romulo de Castro, Orosco Anonam (43′ Karl Pulo), Ryan Mintoff, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: David Cassar, Warren Zerafa, Julian Vella, Lee Galea.
Coach: Patrick Curmi
Asst. Coach: Michael Church

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Alex Grech, Duncan Sultana
Fourth Official: Andre Arciola
Yellow Cards: K. Pulo, J. Farrugia
Scorers: 82′ Jorge Pereira da Silva
Attendance: 693