Hamrun Spartans lost 0-1 to Lausanne-Sport of Switzerland in a match from match day 2 of the UEFA Conference League league phase at the National Stadium on Thursday.
Therefore, after the narrow defeat to Jagiellonia away from home in their opening match, the Spartans suffered another defeat but this time, they have only themselves to blame for the several missed chances.
Hamrun are one of six teams still without points after two matches and will play their third match on November 6 against Samsunspor of Turkey away from home. Samsunspor claimed maximum points from the two matches against Legia Warsaw and Dynamo Kyiv.
From the first game against Jagiellonia, the Spartans had two changes as Domantas simkus and the suspended Joseph Mbong were replaced by Emerson Marcelina and Merlin Hadzi.
The visitors held the initiative in the opening minutes but on 18 minutes, Saliou Thioune concluded a good run on the left flank with a shot which was blocked by goalkeeper Karlo Letica although it was later flagged as an offside. Two minutes later, Ante Coric had a shot from outside the area ending high.
Lausanne replied with a Theo Bair effort which was blocked by Bjelicic on 26 minutes when served on the right. Five minutes later, Henry Bonello saved a Nathan Butler-Oyedeji attempt from close range but on 35 minutes, Hamrun missed an excellent opportunity with Thioune having a shot neutralised by Letica when all alone in front of the goalkeeper.
Lausanne-Sport managed to take the lead on 38 minutes thanks to Gaoussou Diakite beat goalkeeper Bonello with a fine curling shot from the left.
In added time, Bonello performed a good save on a Bryan Okoh header. Ante Coric then had a freekick from the left ending just wide for Hamrun.
Six minutes in the second half, Morgan Poaty had a fine effort from the left turned into a corner by Bonello. less than a minute later, Thioune missed another good opportunity when he entered the area from the left and rounded a defender but his conclusion was erratic. Thioune missed another good chance on 61 minutes as he miskicked the ball when inside the area but the ball eventually reached Ante Coric whose fine rising shot from outside the area ended just wide.
N’Dri Koffi missed another good chance for the Spartans heading wide off an inviting cross by Rafael Compri on 69 minutes.
HAMRUN Henry Bonello, Rafael Compri, Saliou Thioune, Vincenzo Polito, N’Dri Koffi (82’ Jovan Cadjenovic), Ante Coric, Eder (82’ Semir Smajlagic), Ognjen Bjelicic (90’ Shaisen Attard), Merlin Hadzi (64’ Mouad El Fanis), Emerson Marcelina, Ryan Camenzuli.
LAUSANNE Karlo Letica, Brandon Soppy, Bryan Okoh, Jamie Roche, Theo Bair (67’ Alban Ajdini), Olivier Custodio, Nathsn Butler-Oyedeji (57’ Nicky Beloko), Kevin Mouanga, Morgan Poaty, Gabriel Sigua (46’ Beyatt Lekoueiry), Gaoussou Diakite (86’ Hamza Abdallah).
Referee: Henrik Nalbandyan ARM
Assistant Referees: Mesrop Ghazaryan, Atom Segulyan ARM
Fourth Official: Ashot Ghaltakhchyan ARM
VAR: Zaven Hovhannisyan ARM
Assistant VAR: Yura Mahtesyan