Floriana, Hamrun share spoils in draw

Hamrun Spartans extended their positive run to seven matches although they left it till late to level matters for a 1-1 draw at the National Stadium on Friday.

The Spartans are now alone in fourth place, two points behind Valletta and one point ahead of Sliema but the latter two have a game in hand. Floriana, on the other hand, join St. Andrews in eighth place on the 16-point mark.

The Greens had three new signings in their starting line-up – Edward Herrera, Ezequiel Cesani and Ulises Jose Arias. Terence Vella was also named in the starting eleven in lieu of Clyde Borg, Goran Galesic, the suspended Alex Cini and Birkirkara-bound Maurizio Vella.

On the other hand, Hamrun coach Giovanni Tedesco named ten of the eleven players who had started the last game against Valletta with Ryan Darmanin replacing the suspended Karl Micallef.

Floriana took the lead on the 34th minute thanks to Arthur Henrique Oyama Ricciardi who exchanged the ball with Tiago Galvao on the left before beating Hamrun custodian Manuel Bartolo.

Hamrun, who were unlucky to hit the woodwork on three occasions, equalised nine minutes from time when off a cross by Kevin Tulimieri, Wilfried Domoraud headed home past Akpan.

FLORIANA Ini Etim Akpan, Enzo Ruiz, Steve Pisani (44′ Clyde Borg), Ignacio Varela (60′ Daniel Agius), Tiago Galvao da Silva, Ulises Jose Arias, Arthur Henrique Oyama, Edward Herrera, Ezequiel Cesani, Terence Vella (70′ Jurgen Pisani), Emerson Marcelina.
Subs not used: Matthew Grech, Bradley Sciberras, Dylan Grima, Jake Stenson.
Coach: Guido Ugolotti
 
HAMRUN Manuel Bartolo, Antonio Monticelli, Enrico Pepe, Triston Caruana, Sebastian Nayar, Wilfried Domoraud, Matthew Gauci, Marco Criaco, Ryan Darmanin (79′ Karl Schembri), Caetano Calil, Kevin Tulimieri.
Subs not used: Sean Cini, Russell Vella, Cain Cutajar, Christopher Galea, Jeremy Busuttil, Bradley Schembri.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco
 
Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, William Debattista
Fourth Official: Emanuel Grech
Yellow Cards: Pepe, Tiago Galvao
BOV Player of the Match: Arthur Henrique Oyama

Attendance: 438