Hamrun Spartans scored four goals in the first half as they registered another comfortable win, this time beating Santa Lucia 4-1 at the National Stadium on Sunday.
It was another five-star performance by Mark Buttigieg’s side to register their second win in as many matches to join Valletta on top.
The Spartans lacked Juan Corbalan but had substitute Franklin Sasere making his debut. On the other hand, making their first appearance for Santa Lucia were Timothy Tabone Desira and Glaucio Jose de Araujo Silva.
Hamrun made their intentions clear right from the start and on the 5th minute, Djordjevic released Dodo on the left and the latter’s goal-bound effort was cleared off the goal line by Andre. Dodo took the rebound and his conclusion was hit the upright and was deflected into a corner by Kevin Correia.
They managed to take the lead on the 6th minute when Ige Abdullahi Adeshina, surrounded by a number of Santa Lucia players, lost control of the ball but Jamie Zerafa failed to clear and Dodo hit low with Andreas Vella blocking his attempt, Ige Adeshina took the rebound and slammed the ball home.
Three minutes later, the Spartans doubled the score through Joseph Mbong who hit hard past Vella following an assist by Djordjevic from the left.
The Spartans scored the third goal on the 28th minute when Kevin Correia lost possession just outside the area to Adeshina who anticipated the goalkeeper and served Marcelo Barbosa who placed the ball at the back of the net.
However, on the 45th minute, substitute Franklin Sasere made it 4-0 when off a cross by Predrag Djordjevic from the left, he hit home from close range.
One minute from time, Santa Lucia scored a consolation goal when Kevin Ante Rosero pounced on a header by a defender for the goalkeeper and hit hard past substitute goalkeeper Matthias Debono.
SANTA LUCIA Andreas Vella, Timothy Tabone Desira, Andre Fausto Prates Rodrigues, Izaias Junio Duarte da Silva (82’ Romario Camilleri), Kevin Correira Pinheiro, Glaucio Jose de Araujo Silva (60’ Jeremy Delmar), Kevin Ante Rosero, Victor Luiz Prestes Filho, Michael Camilleri (73’ Liam Mckay), Jamie Zerafa, Rei Tachikawa.
Subs not used: Christopher Farrugia, Andreas Vella, Brady Agius, Kieran Xuereb.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri
Asst. Coach: Brian ChetcutiHAMRUN Jonathan Debono (74’ Matthias Debono), Darko Gojkovic, Joseph Mbong (84’ Miguel Tabone), Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares, Abdullahi Ige Adeshina, Elkin Serrano Valero, Predrag Djordjevic, Karl Micallef, Marcelo Barbosa Junior (74’ Nikolai Micallef), Emerson Marcelina, Darren Borg (84’ Christopher Galea).
Subs not used: Xylon Portelli, Kieran Higgans.
Coach: Mark Buttigieg
Asst. Coach: Stefan SultanaReferee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Christopher Francalanza, Mark Ciantar
Fourth Official: Slobodan Petrovic
Yellow Cards: Zerafa, Correia, Camilleri, Tabone Desira
BOV Player of the Match: Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares