Hamrun Spartans win five-goal thriller

Hamrun Spartans extended their positive run to five matches as they defeated neighbours Pietà Hotspurs 3-2 at the Hibernians Stadium on Saturday. A win which puts Giovanni Tedesco’s side on the 22-point mark.

For Pietà, this second consecutive defeat leaves them fourth from bottom on ten points.

Hamrun had two changes from their last league outing as Wilfried Domoraud and Marco Criaco replaced Sebastian Nayar and Carlos Henneberg. On the other hand, Pietà coach Ramon Zammit made just one change from the team which lost to Tarxien and Antonio Orlando Macedo Neto replaced Christian Degabriele.

The Spartans took the lead on the 33rd minute when Triston Caruana headed the ball home off a cross by Matthew Gauci.

Hamrun doubled the score two minutes later, the Spartans doubled the score thanks to Kevin Tulimieri whose volley, following a cross by Domoraud, beat the helpless Pieta custodian.

The Hotspurs reduced the gap on the 37th minute thanks to an own goal as Karl Micallef headed the ball past Bartolo following a cross from the right.

Four minutes later, Pieta levelled matters thanks to Antonio Macedo Neto who hit home from close range following a Neil Pace Cocks free kick from the right.

However one minute from the end of the first half, the Spartans regained the lead thanks to Wilfried Domoraud who headed the ball home following a Triston Caruana free kick and an Enrico Pepe header.

Thirteen minutes in the second half, Wilfried Domoraud was unlucky to hit the upright for Hamrun.

In added time, the Spartans were reduced to ten men after having Orestis Nikolopoulos sent off.

HAMRUN Matthew Bartolo, Antonio Monticelli, Enrico Pepe, Triston Caruana, Wilfried Domoraud, Matthew Gauci, Marco Criaco (69’ Ryan Darmanin), Karl Micallef, Orestis Nikolopoulos, Caetano Calil, Kevin Tulimieri.
Subs not used: Lydon Moore, Cain Cutajar, Darren Borg, Christopher Galea, Jeremy Busuttil, Bradley Schembri.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco

PIETÀ Nicky Vella, Takaki Ose, Neil Pace Cocks (81’ Travis Bartolo), Dylan Agius, Paul Chimezie (83’ James Scicluna), Jan Busuttil, Gabriel Mensah, Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa (81’ Christian Degabriele), Christian Grech, Ishaya Irimiya Jalo, Antonio Orlando de Macedo Neto
Subs not used: Jacob Chircop St John, Svein Bartolo, Nicholas Pisani, Shunsuke Nakamura.
Coach: Ramon Zammit

Referee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Theodore Zammit
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Calil, Criaco, Nikolopoulos, Tony
Red Cards: 90’ Orestis Nikolopoulos
BOV Player of the Match: Triston Caruana