Hamrun Spartans moved fourth in the BOV Premier League as they defeated Qormi 2-1 at the National Stadium on Friday. The Spartans move two points ahead of Sliema, who however, have a game in hand.
Qormi, on the other hand, suffer a second consecutive defeat to stay five points behind St. Andrews and seven behind Senglea.
Mario Muscat made three changes from the team which lost to Tarxien as David Cassar was preferred to Jamie Azzopardi while Mateus Regis and Mohamed Bangoura replaced Antonio Rozzi and Freud Gnindokponou.
On the other hand, coach Giovanni Tedesco, on his return after serving a six-match ban, named Francesco Marra in lieu of Marco Criaco.
The Spartans took the lead on the 25th minute when off a through pass by Enrico Pepe, Wilfried Domoraud headed home past goalkeeper David Cassar.
Eleven minutes in the second half, Qormi levelled matters thanks to Yannick Yankam whose fine volley from the edge of the area gave goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo no chance.
Hamrun regained the lead on the 69th minute when Lucas Santana brought Kevin Tulimieri down inside the area and from the penalty spot, Caetano Calil converted.
Five minutes from time, the Spartans could have added another but Wilfried Domoraud was unlucky to hit the upright after receiving the ball from a corner.
HAMRUN Manuel Bartolo, Enrico Pepe, Triston Caruana, Carlos Henneberg (88′ Ryan Darmanin), Wilfried Domoraud, Matthew Robert Gauci, Karl Micallef, Orestis Nikolopoulos, Caetano Calil, Kevin Tulimieri, Francesco Marra (54′ Conor Borg).
Subs not used: Sean Cini, Andre Scicluna, Cain Cutajar, Darren Borg, Christopher Galea.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco
Asst. Coach: Stefan SultanaQORMI David Cassar, Davide Mansi, Yannick Yankam, Manolito Micallef, Mateus Regis da Silva (71′ Iven Zammit), Alan Abela (82′ Luke Busuttil), Jordy Lokando, Mohamed Bangoura, Lucas Santana, Romeu Pericles Romao, Tensior Gusman (53′ Freud Gnindokponou).
Subs not used: Jamie Azzopardi, Gilmour Sammut, Michael Borg, Alessio Cassar.
Coach: Matthew Psaila
Goalkeepers’ Coach: Mario MuscatReferee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Dusan Petrovic
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia
Yellow Cards: Marra, Abela, Lucas Santana, Caruana, Bangoura
BOV Player of the Match: Kevin TulimieriAttendance: 319