Hamrun Spartans were in excellent form as they defeated Marsaxlokk 4-1 in a match from the VBET Malta Premier Opening Round league phase at the National Stadium on Friday.
The Spartans therefore registered a third successive win to join second-placed Valletta, Floriana, Birkirkara and Mosta on ten points, one behind Marsaxlokk. Valletta, Floriana and Mosta, however, have a game in hand.
For Marsaxlokk, this was the first defeat after three wins and two draws.
Marsaxlokk had one change from the team which defeated Floriana as Juan Corbalan replaced Weder Silva. Damir Ceter was preferred to Marcelo for Hamrun.
Nikolai Muscat was unlucky to hit the upright following a good move between Linden and Dodo inside the area on 13 minutes but three minutes later, Hamrun took the lead when off an Ante Coric free kick from the left, the ball was deflected by a defender and Ognjen Bjelicic beat goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi with a low shot from the right which was not held by the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper.
Marsaxlokk equalised two minutes in added time when Leandro Aguirre delivered a corner from the right which bounced onto Ryan Camenzuli and then onto Oualid El Hasni to end at the back of the net.
Hamrun were awarded a penalty on 62 minutes after Marcello Trotta was floored by Joseph Minala inside the area and from the penalty spot, substitute Lucas Villela converted.
Five minutes later, Hamrun increased the lead when Ryan Camenzuli exchanged the ball with Marcello Trotta before slotting the ball past Mafoumbi from inside the area.
Eight minutes from time, Marcello Trotta made it 4-1 when he received a cross by Matthew Guillaumier and after rounding a defender, he beat Mafoumbi with a fine shot from the left.