Hamrun Spartans moved second in the BOV Premier League, on level points with Gzira United, as they returned to winning ways, defeating Zejtun Corinthians 4-0 at the Centenary Stadium on Sunday.
This was the first win for the Spartans after three consecutive 2-2 draws. For Zejtun, this was the third defeat in four matches.
Zejtun went close on the 14th minute with a Fernando Gomes effort from the edge of the area saved by Manuel Bartolo aided by the crossbar and on the 20th, Hamrun were unlucky to hit the upright direct from a corner through Ailton Jorge Soares.
However, the Spartans took the lead on the 24th minute thanks to Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares who intercepted a back pass by a defender and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Christian Cassar.
Nine minutes later, Zejtun were reduced to ten men as Fernando Jose Gomes Junior received a second yellow card and was therefore sent off by referee Emanuel Grech.
On the 63rd minute, Hamrun doubled the score, once again, courtesy of Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares whose low shot beat the Zejtun goalkeeper.
Predrag Djordjevic made it 3-0 on the 74th with a powerful shot from inside the area when served by Ailton Soares.
Two minutes later, Hamrun added another when Matthew Guillaumier lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper and Franklin Sasere tapped the ball home from close range.
HAMRUN Manuel Bartolo (79′ Matthias Debono), Darko Gojkovic, Matthew Guillaumier, Arthur Oyama (68′ Karl Micallef), Joseph Essien Mbong, Jorge Ailton Soares (79′ Nikolai Micallef), Franklin Olanitori Sasere, Elkin Serrano Valero, Juan Carlos Corbalan, Predrag Djordjevic (79′ Darren Borg), Emerson Marcelina (77′ Ige Abdullahi Adeshina).
Coach: Mark ButtigiegZEJTUN Christian Cassar, Diego Albanese, Lucas Gama Moreira, Kemar David Reid (68′ Adrian Carabott), Jurgen Suda (46′ Dylan Agius), Marcelo Pereira Muniz (79′ Gianluca Bugeja), Fernando Jose Gomes Junior, Vitor Da Silva Vieira, Edward Herrera (68′ Christian Grech), Neil Tabone, Anderson De Barros.
Coach: Orosco AnonamReferee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Darko Stankovic
Fourth Official: Slobodan Petrovic
Yellow Cards: Fernandinho, E. Herrera, V. da Silva Vieira, D. Albanese, M. Guillaumier, E. Serrano Valero
Red Cards: 34′ Fernandinho
BOV Player of the Match: Jorge Ailton Soares
The expel of Fernand Gomes was the turning point of the match, although we already were 1-0 down. If luck was with us in the beginning minutes we have scored first but football is not all about luck. Since we strated this campaign this was the worse display. We need to be more careful about yellow cards knowing more that our squad is short. This game is past now, let’s focus on the coming game and learn what we did wrong in this game. I believe that we can do much better as we already did in other matches.
Kurragg Blues