Hamrun Spartans bounced back from last week’s narrow defeat to Balzan as they defeated Floriana 2-1 at the National Stadium on Saturday.
The Spartans therefore registered their second win this season to join Valletta, Balzan and Floriana who were suffering their first defeat this season after three draws and a win from their first four outings.
The Spartans had two changes as Arthur Oyama and Soufiane Lagzir replaced Claude Dielna and Predrag Djordjevic. Floriana, on the other hand, had no changes from the team which drew with Birkirkara.
Hamrun took the lead on the 20th minute thanks to a powerful drive by Isaac Ntow, served by Luke Gambin, which surprised goalkeeper Georgi Kitanov.
Eight minutes later, the Spartans doubled the score thanks to a Franklin Sasere penalty after the Nigerian striker was brought down inside the area by Emiliano Callegari.
Floriana pulled one back eight minutes in the second half when off a Ryan Camenzuli cross from the left, Darko Gojkovic failed to clear the ball into safety and Augusto Rene Caseres slotted the ball home past goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
FLORIANA Georgi Kitanov, Adam Magri Overend (Alejandro Garzia 65’), Christian Rutjens, Zachary Cassar, Augusto Caseres (Eugeniu Rebenja 65’), Kristian Keqi, Ulises Jose Arias (Brandon Diego Paiber 71’), Matias Nicolas Garcia, 28-Emiliano Callegari, Jan Busuttil (Andrei Ciolacu 65’), Ryan Camenzuli (Daniel Agius 80’).
Coach: Gianluca AtzoriHAMRUN Henry Bonello, Darko Gojkovic, Joseph Mbong, Soufiane Lagzir (Faissal El Bakthaoui 67’), Ailton Jorge Soares, Arthur Oyama, Franklin Sasere, Luke Gambin, Karl Micallef, Isaac Ntow, Emerson Marcelina.
Coach: Mark ButtigiegReferee: Darryl Agius
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, James Muscat
Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara
Yellow Cards: A. Caseres, E. Callegari, F. Sasere, El Bakhtaoui
BOV Player of the Match: Franklin Sasere