Hamrun, Gudja share spoils in entertaining draw

Hamrun Spartans and Gudja United earned their second point as they shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw at the National Stadium on Friday.

Both coaches – Manuele Blasi for Hamrun and Josef Mansueto for Gudja – maintained faith in the same players following a goalless draw for Hamrun with Gzira United and the 1-1 draw for Gudja with Hibernians.

The Spartans went close with attempts by Ailton Jorge Soares on the 5th minute and Nicola Leone on the 17th. Gudja replied with a Rundell Winchester effort ending just wide after receiving a through pass.

One minute from the end of the first half, the Spartans took the lead when Wilfried Domoraud had a shot blocked by the Gudja defence and Marco Criaco took the rebound, beating Jonathan Debono with a powerful drive.

However, three minutes in the second half, Gudja restored equilibrium when off a corner from the right, Juan Andres Bolano headed the ball home past Manuel Bartolo.

Bartolo performed a great save on Alexandre Santana on 64 minutes. The Hamrun custodian was called into action once again on 75 minutes on a powerful shot by Rundell Winchester from the edge of the area. However, on the 79th minute, Wilfried Domoraud tested Jonathan Debono with a header from close range.

Gudja forged ahead nine minutes from time as Rundell Winchester concluded a great run on the left flank by slotting the ball past goalkeeper Bartolo from inside the area.

Winchester could have added another on the 87th minute but was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a cute lob from the

However substitute Ryan Darmanin levelled matters on the 88th minute, heading the ball home from close range following a cross from the left.

HAMRUN Manuel Bartolo, Triston Caruana, Ailton Jorge Soares, Wilfried Domoraud, Clayton Failla, Nicola Leone, Soufiane Lagzir, Marco Criaco, Karl Micallef, Orestis Nikolopoulos, Mattia Cinquini (87′ Ryan Darmanin).
Subs not used: Jean Claude Debattista, Karl Luke Schembri, Christopher Galea, Darren Borg, Miguel Tabone, Bradley Schembri.
Coach: Manuele Blasi
Asst. Coach: Fabrizio Antonini

GUDJA Jonathan Debono, Zachary Cassar (73′ Jurgen Farrugia), Aidan Jake Friggieri (80′ Dylan Grima), Rundell Winchester, Carlos Alexandre Santana Barroso, Gabriel Mensah, Anderson de Barros, Hubert Vella, Juan Andres Bolanos, Justin Grioli, Allan Ricardo Miranda (61′ Llywelyn Cremona).
Subs not used: Timothy Aquilina, Jonathan Bondin, Miguel Attard, Anderson Meyar de Melo.
Coach: Josef Mansueto
Asst. Coach: Thane Micallef

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Ivan Galea
Fourth Official: Mario Apap
Yellow Cards: Lagzir, Winchester
BOV Player of the Match: Alexandre Santana

Attendance: 931