Hamrun 2
Birkirkara 1
Hamrun: E. Bartolo, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, T. Caruana, W. Domoraud, M. Gauci, P. Doding, K. Micallef, D. Moukanza, O. Nikolopoulos, C.Calil
Birkirkara: K. Naumovski, D. Chapoval, M. Guillaumier (J. Grech 75), M. Andelkovic, P. Fenech, K. Zammit, E. Dos Santos, M. Mifsud (T. De Souza 63), C. Attard (E. Herrera 63), MF. De Siqueira, C. Rodriguez
Referee: D. Agius
Asst refs: R. Vella, D. Petrovic
4th official: G. Tonna
Scorers: CA Rodriguez 9, C. Calil 34, 74
Yellow cards: T. Caruana 29, E. Pepe 37, M. Andelkovic 37, M. Gauci 39, C. Attard 42, A. Monticelli 57, P. Doding 85
Player of the match: C. Calil
TMI Top 3: 1. C. Calil, 2. M Franca de Siqueira, 2. W. Domoraud
Attendance: 436
Hamrun Spartans returned to winning form as they came from behind to beat Birkirkara 2-1.
Caetano Calil was their hero as he scored two good goals to cancel Birkirkara's early lead through Rodriguez and give his side the three points.
The victory enabled the Spartans to join the same Birkirkara on the 12-point mark. It was their first win after two defeats and two draws.
Spartans coach Giovanni Tedesco had two newcomers among his ranks - Frenchmen Wilfried Domoraud and Donneil Moukanza. Both of them left a good impression on their debut.
On his part, Birkirkara mentor Paul Zammit had to leave out of his squad the recently signed Petar Orlandic. The Montenegrin striker suffered an injury during training. He had paved the way for the Stripes 2-0 win against Tarxien last week by scoring the first goal.
The first half was more or less balanced although Birkirkara created the better chances. In fact, Hamrun goalie Bartolo had much more to do than Birkirkara's Naumovski.
The Stripes appeared sharper in attack, especially after taking an early lead. They threatened to add to their tally before Hamrun started sharing the exchanges, eventually levelling the score deservedly, even if that was the one and only real chance created by the Spartans.
The Spartans started the second half in a most aggressive manner, but they gradually faded out as Birkirkara's Paul Fenech and Mislav Andelkovic took control of midfield.
However, it was the Spartans who had the last laugh as Calil asserted himself as their hero and Man of the Match with a great goal that deserved to be a winner.
In the 5th minute, Hamrun provided the first thrill as Caetano Calil tested B'Kara goalie Naumovski, but the latter saved well.
It was Birkirkara, however, who scored on their first attempt when after a Franca de Siqueira shot was blocked, the ball was not cleared by the Hamrun defence and there was Carlos Alberto Rodriguez who hit home from close in.
On 33 minutes, Cain Attard advanced on the right to fire a grounder which went just wide.
Hamrun levelled the score on 34 minutes. Caetano Calil had little difficulty in planting the ball past a helpless Naumovski, after receiving a low cross from the left flank.
In the 40th minute, from a Franca de Siqueira freekick, Chapoval had a strong header well saved by Bartolo.
In the 49th minute of the second half, the Stripes goalie Naumovski created panic for himself and his team as he tried to dribble a Hamrun striker and lost control of the ball. However, the ball was luckily cleared, though the Spartans appealed in vain for a penalty.
Three minutes later, Hamrun had a good opportunity to take the lead when Moukanza passed to the unmarked Domoraud, but the latter saw his effort being blocked by Naumovski.
Birkirkara replied soon after with a fast counterattack where Guillaumier set Michael Mifsud in the Hamrun area, but the veteran striker missed the target.
In the next minute, Mifsud set Andelkovic in the Spartans area, but Bartolo saved the day for his team with a fine save to corner.
In the 74th minute, the Spartans took the lead as Caetano Calil beat Naumovski with a great shot from 20 metres.
With two minutes to go, Marcelo Franca De Siqueira had a great shot just missing the target.
That proved to be the Stripes last chance to save the match as the final whistle soon blew.