Dramatic Hamrun equaliser forces a championship decider between Valletta and Hibernians

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A dramatic equaliser by Donneil Alain Moukanza deep into stoppage time handed Hamrun Spartans a 1-1 draw with Valletta at the National Stadium on Saturday. A draw which puts the Citizens and Hibernians on level points and therefore a decider will determine the championship.

The Spartans, on the other hand, secured fourth place which could mean a place in the UEFA Europa League this summer should Valletta, Hibernians or Gzira United win the FA Trophy.

Valletta went close after less than one minute when off a cross by Miguel Angel Alba from the left, Mario Fontanella’s header was saved by Bartolo. On the 15th minute, following a good run by Santiago Malano, he served Fontanella on the left and the latter’s angled shot was deflected into a corner by Bartolo. From resulting corner by Alba, Fontanella’s close-range effort was neutralised by the goalkeeper.

The Citizens took the lead on 29 minutes when Mario Fontanella pounced on a back pass by Andre Scicluna from the right and slotted the ball past Bartolo.

Two minutes from the end of the first half, Hamrun went close to equalising with a Wilfried Domoraud effort ending just over the bar.

One minute from time, Valletta were reduced to ten men after Raed Ibrahim was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in a few seconds, first for time-wasting and then for applauding the referee’s decision.

Three minutes in added time, Hamrun notched the dramatic equaliser when off a long-distance cross by Triston Caruana, Orestins Nikolopoulos headed the ball in the direction of Donneil Alain Moukanaza who controlled the ball before hitting low past goalkeeper Henry Bonello.

HAMRUN Manuel Bartolo, Enrico Pepe, Triston Caruana, Sebastian Nayar (55′ Conor Borg), Wilfried Domoraud, Andre Scicluna (55′ Matthew Robert Gauci), Karl Micallef, Donneil Alain Moukanza, Orestis Nikolopoulos, Caetano Calil, Kevin Tulimieri (76′ Ryan Darmanin).
Subs not used: Sean Cini, Miguel Tabone, Karl Luke Schembri, Cain Cutajar.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco
Asst. Coach: Stefan Sultana

VALLETTA Henry Bonello, Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg, Ryan Camilleri (62′ Jean Borg), Santiago Malano, Kyrian Nwoko (85′ Bojan Kaljevic), Enmy Pena Beltre, Joseph Zerafa, Rowen Muscat, Miguel Angel Alba (69′ Raed Ibrahim Saleh), Mario Fontanella.
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Shaun Dimech, Nicholas Puls, Bogdan Gavrila.
Coach: Gilbert Agius
Asst. Coach: Stefan Giglio

Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Yellow Cards: Alba, Gauci, Calil, Domoraud, Muscat
BOV Player of the Match: Mario Fontanella

Attendance: 5,590