ĦAMRUN S 1
HIBERNIANS 1
Ħamrun: M. Bartolo, K. Micallef, O. Nikolopoulos, E. Pepe, A. Scicluna (M. Gauci 60'), T. Caruana, M. Criaco, C. Calil, K. Tulimieri, W. Domoraud, C. Henneberg (R. Darmanin 69')
Hibernians: M. Jovicic, M. Dias (M. Sahanek 63'), M. Barbosa (C. Zammit 87'), A. Agius, N. Radojevic, B. Kristensen, D. Vella, J. Grech, J. Mbong, T. Fonseca, T. Marcolino
Yellow Cards: K. Micallef 71' (Ħ), N. Radojevic 71', T. Marcolino 80', J. Grech 94' (H)
Scorers: K. Tulimieri 34' (Ħ), J. Grech 93' (H)
Referee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Roberto Vella
BOV Player of the match: Kevin Tulimieri (Ħamrun Spartans)
TMI Top 3: 1. E. Pepe (Ħ), 2. A. Agius (H), 3. T. Caruana (Ħ)
Attendance: 760
Leaders Hibernians were few seconds away from suffering their fourth defeat of the league, but managed to salvage a point in the stoppage time thanks to a goal from Ħamrun's ex-player Jake Grech. Hibernians needed this win to assure themselves of staying alone on top of the table but they could end the week sharing top spot with their rivals Valletta.
Ħamrun will take a point with the leaders and title contenders but as the game progressed, they will surely feel that they lost two important points in their quest to finish in top four. They controlled their opponents for most of the game, as Hibernians failed to create numerous goal scoring opportunities, but couldn't resist the pressure few minutes more.
The first half was a balanced affair as both teams were responding to each other, but it was the Spartans who ended the half in the lead. Hibernians dominated the second half possession wise, but the wall of Ħamrun led by their central defenders Orestis Nikolopoulos and Enrico Pepe, were solid. Hibernians seemed to have felt the pressure of winning at all costs and during the game they were erratic.
After a quiet fifteen minutes, Jake Grech almost put Hibernians in front after 17 minutes as his shot from an ideal position was blocked for a corner. Ħamrun responded with a dangerous action that almost gave them the lead. Triston Caruana crossed an in swinger from the left side and Carlos Henneberg was at the right but his bounced header was turned into a corner by Marko Jovicic.
Ħamrun were controlling their opponents and even had a chance to score on the 27th minute as striker Wilfried Domoraud crossed from the right to Caetano Calil but his effort finished over the bar. On the other side, Nemanja Radojevic tested Manuel Bartolo with a well taken left-foot free-kick but the veteran goalkeeper saved into a corner.
The Spartans broke the deadlock ten minutes before the end of the half as Triston Caruana whipped in a free-kick from the right and Italian Kevin Tulimieri was the quickest to unmark himself and slotted past Marko Jovicic with a well-taken bounced header. Hibernians reacted five minutes later with a low shot from Dunstan Vella that was deflected on time.
Hibernians started the second half with a clear intent of recovering the disadvantage. Andrei Agius tried with a dangerous free-kick that well blocked into a corner by Bartolo. The Ħamrun goalkeeper was focused enough to deny Jake Grech few minutes later.
Ħamrun were more concentrated not to suffer the goal rather than double the lead, but Hibernians had only possession as Manuel Bartolo wasn't really tested for almost half an hour. Hibernians had a golden chance on the 89th minute after a well-planned action but his shot from close range was denied by a brilliant Bartolo.
But Stefano Sanderra's team equalised in the third minute from the five given by referee Emanuel Grech. Ħamrun failed to clear the ball in a persistent action, Fonseca played to Jake Grech who slid past Bartolo with a low drive amongst the joy of their supporters.
In the last seconds of the game, Hibernians even tried to win the game with a powerful shot from about 25 metres by Marco Sahanek but the shot was saved by Bartolo.