Hamrun Spartans returned to winning ways as they registered an impressive 5-2 win over Mosta at the National Stadium on Friday.
The Spartans had three changes from the team which drew with Floriana as goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia, Massimiliano Giusti and Luke Grech replaced David Cassar, Glenn Azzopardi and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza. For Mosta, Adrian Caruana replaced Raylon Paisley.
The Spartans took the lead on the 6th minute when off a cross by Saturday Nanapere, Haruna Garba’s powerful drive gave goalkeeper Yenz Cini no chance.
On the 13th minute, Hamrun doubled the score thanks to a header by Jorge Mesqueu Neto off the rebound after a Jake Grech freekick from the left hit the crossbar.
On the half-hour, Jake Grech made it 3-0 as he tapped the ball home from close range following an assist from the left by Nanapere.
One minute in added time before the end of the first half, the Spartans scored the fourth goal thanks to a Haruna Garba header from close range following a corner from the left by Jake Grech.
Mosta reduced the gap four minutes in the second half thanks to Kemar Reid whose low shot hit the foot of the post before ending at the back of the net.
Saturday Nanapere was unlucky to hit the upright with a powerful drive from the left on the 62nd minute.
However on the 73rd minute, the Spartans extended the lead after they were awarded a penalty when Saturday Nanapere was brought down inside the area; from the penalty spot, Jake Grech converted
Ten minutes from time, Kemar Reid scored with a direct freekick from the left for Mosta.
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MOSTA Yenz Cini, Gabriel Bezak, Luca Martinelli, Dany Djoufack (69′ Kevaughn Atkinson), Tristan Grant (46′ Dexter Xuereb), Kyle Frendo, Kurt Magro, Martin Vlcek, Adrian Caruana (22′ Emerson Vella), Kemar Reid, Njongo Priso Doding.
Subs not used: Manuel Bartolo, Luke Galea, Antoine Borg, Zachary Brincat.
Coach: Edmond LufiHAMRUN Matthew Farrugia, Philip Chircop, Luke Grech, Haruna Garba (88′ Patrick Jean Teixeira), Sergio Raphael dos Anjos Raphael, Luke Sciberras, Saturday Nanapere, Leandro Wallace Motta dos Santos (68′ Rodney Refalo), Jake Grech, Jorge Mesqueu Neto, Massimiliano Giusti (78′ Daren Falzon).
Subs not used: Lyden Moore, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, Mark Anthony Borg, Trevor Cilia.
Coach: Steve D’AmatoReferee: Glen Tonna
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Matthew De Gabriele
Yellow Cards: Caruana, Magro, Raphael, Garba
Scorers: 6′ Haruna Garba, 13′ Jorge Mesqueu Neto, 30′ Jake Grech, 45+1′ Haruna Garba, 49′ Kemar Reid, 73′ Jake Grech pen, 80′ Kemar Reid
BOV Player of the Match: Haruna Garba
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Leaders Balzan registered a sixth win in seven matches as they found no difficulty in beating St. Andrews 3-0 at the Hibernians Stadium.
For St. Andrews, this was the third defeat in the last four matches, leaving them joint-second from bottom on six points.
Balzan had no less than four changes from the team which defeated Gzira as Christian Cassar, Samir Arab, Terrence Agius and Matteo Piciollo replaced Ivan Janjusevic, Dylan Grima, Alfred Effiong and the suspended Justin Grioli. Dean Camilleri replaced Ivan Edgardo Paz for St. Andrews.
The leaders managed to take the lead on the 13th minute when off a short clearance by the St. Andrews defence, the ball reached Abdelkarim Nafti whose volley gave goalkeeper Jake Galea no chance.
Balzan doubled the score just before half-time thanks to a powerful shot from outside the area by Paul Fenech which saw the ball hit the upright before ending at the back of the net.
The score was 3-0 on the 58th minute when Matteo Piciollo was floored inside the area by Michael Johnson and Bojan Kaljevic converted from the penalty spot.
BALZAN Christian Cassar, Bojan Kaljevic, Bruno Giglio de Oliviera, Steve Bezzina, Lydon Micallef (72’ Alan da Silva Souza), Paul Fenech, Matteo Piciollo (76’ Dylan Grima), Samir Arab (65’ Clive Brincat), Abdelkarim Nafti, Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero, Terrence Agius.
Subs not used: Ivan Janjusevic, Jamie Zerafa, Sean Cipriott, Alfred Effiong.
Coach: Oliver SpiteriST. ANDREWS Jake Galea, Michael Johnson, Karlo Kesinovic, Bong Won Che, Felix Udoh Okon, Emmy Manuel Pena Beltre, Kyrian Nwoko (82’ Ryan Darmanin), Joseph Farrugia (68’ Ivan Edgardo Paz), Daniel Brandle (76’ Jacob Walker), Ziga Kastrevec, Dale Camilleri.
Subs not used: Dean Sciberras, Ryan Sammut, Liam Grech, Mark Scicluna.
Coach:Referee: Stefan Pace
Assistant referees: Christopher Francalanza, David Castillo
Fourth Official: Mario Apap
Yellow cards: Che, Nafti, Camilleri
Scorers: 13’ Abdelkarim Nafti, 45’ Paul Fenech, 58’ Bojan Kaljevic pen
BOV Player of the Match: Paul Fenech
Renato Vella reporting from the Hibernians Stadium