Valletta edge past Hamrun to move second

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Mario Fontanella was once again the hero for Valletta as he scored the only goal in a hard-fought win over rivals Hamrun Spartans at the National Stadium on Sunday.

A win which puts Darren Abdilla’s side on level points with Gzira United in second place, six points behind leaders Floriana.

The Spartans, on the other hand, remain sixth, on level points with Balzan on 18 points, now going six matches without a win.

The Citizens scored the all-important minute, one minute in added time at the end of an otherwise dull first half, when off a cross by Enmy Pena Beltre, Mario Fontanella’s powerful header proved too strong for goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo.

HAMRUN Manuel Bartolo, Alessio Capitelli, Triston Caruana, Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares, Wilfried Domoraud, Clayton Failla, Nicola Leone, Darren Borg (57′ Ryan Darmanin, Marco Criaco, Karl Micallef, Mattia Cinquini.
Subs not used: Jean Claude Debattista, Karl Luke Schembri, Matthew Robert Gauci, Cain Cutajar, Andre Scicluna, Bradley Schembri.
Coach: Manuele Blasi
Asst. Coach: Fabrizio Antonini

VALLETTA Henry Bonello, Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg, Matteo Piciollo (66′ Kyrian Nwoko), Jean Borg, Enmy Pena Beltre, Joseph Zerafa, Rowen Muscat, Irakli Dzaria, Mario Fontanella (88′ Nicholas Pulis), Kevin Tulimieri (66′ Shawn Dimech).
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Ryan Camilleri, Bojan Kaljevic, Eslit Sala.
Coach: Darren Abdilla
Asst. Coach: Gilbert Agius

Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Luke Portelli
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow Cards: Zerafa, Bonello, Muscat, Piciollo, Leone, Fontanella
BOV Player of the Match: Mario Fontanella
Attendance: 2,018