Hamrun Spartans earned their first three points in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League when they came from behind to beat Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar 3-1 at the National Stadium on Thursday.
The Spartans created the better chances but following a goalless first half, it was Lincoln Red Imps who opened the scoring but after the champions of Gibraltar had a player sent off, Hamrun turned the score in their favour with three goals even though they also had a player sent off.
It was Hamrun who came out on top and after four minutes a powerful shot by Eder from the edge of the area was blocked by Hankins and a minute later, a diagonal shot by Joseph Mbong from the right went just wide of the post. Hamrun kept up the pressure and in the sixth minute a shot by Matias Garcia was turned into a corner by the goalkeeper.
Lincoln Red Imps responded with a cross from Toni Kolega from which Kieke Gomez turned to Vincenzo Polito before finishing off in the 26th minute. A minute later, Saliou Thioune missed a good chance for Hamrun when he received a ball on the left but his finish went wide. On 31 minutes, former Hamrun defender, Christian Rutjens tested Bonello off a Graeme Torrilla free kick. Seven minutes later, Garcia served Ognjen Bjelicic whose shot from outside the area was blocked.
Two minutes from the end of the first half, Thioune headed wide off a cross by Bjelicic from the right and one minute in added time, Garcia hit wide off an inviting cross by Ryan Camenzuli.
The Spartans threatened once again three minutes in the second half with a Koffi header which was deflected into a corner and two minutes later, a Bjelicic effort from outside the area was saved by Hankins. On the other side, Rutjens went close off a Toni free kick on 53 minutes.
Four minutes later, the team from Gibraltar took the lead with Bernardo Lopez controlling the ball following a cross from the left before beating Bonello.
Hamrun replied with a cross by Koffi from which Mbong’s header was saved by Hankins on the hour and two minutes later, the Lincoln Red Imps goalkeeper neutralised a Garcia effort from outside the area.
Graeme Torrilla was sent off for Lincoln Red Imps on 63 minutes for a nasty challenge on Koffi which earned him a second yellow card.
Two minutes later, Hamrun equalised when from a pass from Koffi from the left, Mouad El Fanis placed the ball at the back of the net.
Hamrun made it 2-1 on 74 minutes with Semir Smajlagic heading home off a cross by Rafael Compri from the right on 74 minutes.
Five minutes later, Vincenzo Polito was sent off for Ħamrun after receiving a second yellow card but two minutes in added time, Ħamrun scored the third goal when after a good move by Smajlagic on the left, he passed the ball to Jovan Cadjenovic who was quick to pass to Ante Coric who beat Hankins with a low shot.
The Spartans will be facing Shakthar Donetsk in two weeks’ time at Ta’ Qali with the last match scheduled a week later away from home against Shamrock Rovers.
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 1-Henry Bonello, 2-Rafel Compri, 8-Matias Garcia (72’ Jovan Cadjenovic), 9-Saliou Thioune, 10-Joseph Mbong, 13-Vincenzo Polito, 19-N’Dri Koffi (5-Sven Xerri 90+1’), 25-Eder, 27-Ognjen Bjelicic, 91-Emerson Marcelina, 94-Ryan Camenzuli.
LINCOLN RED IMPS 13-Jaylan Hankins, 3-Christian Rutjens, 6-Bernardo Lopez (99-Ayman El Ghobashy 90’), 8-Mandi, 9-Kike Gomez (67’ Nicholas Pozo), 10-Andre Tjay De Barr, 18-Toni, 21-Nano, Graeme Torrilla, 24-Toni Kolega, 80-Boubacar Dabo.
Referee: Jovan Kachevski (MKD)
Attendance: 2,134