Hibernians 1
Hamrun S. 2
Simon Farrugia
Hibernians : M. Jovicic, T. Tabone Desira, F. Apap, L. Marcio, B. Kristensen (C. Atsina 62'), D. Vella, G. Izquier, A. Agius, L. Nanni, J. Grech (M.Beerman 80'), T. Groothusen (I.Iriberri 73')
Hamrun S. : M. Bartolo, T. Caruana, J.Dodo Soares, W. Domoraud, C. Failla, S. Lagzir, N. Leone, M. Criaco, K. Micallef, O. Nikolopoulos, M. Cinquini
Referee: Emanuel Grech
Asst refs: Roberto Vella, James Muscat
4th official: Philip Farrugia
Yellow Cards: Marcio, Kristensen, Failla, Micallef, Leone, Apap, Vella, Bartolo
Scorers: Failla 22', Dodo Soares 30', Vella 45'
BOV Player of the Match: Soufiane Lagzir (Hamrun S.)
TMI Top 3 : 1. S. Lagzir 2. C. Failla 3. L.Nanni
Attendance: 684
The last match of the seventh day programme saw Hamrun Spartans returning to winning ways inflicting on Hibernians their third defeat. The Spartans were the better team in the first half with Hibernians responding too late in the day and thus failed to take something from this difficult encounter.
Hamrun went into this match after succumbing to their first defeat of the campaign when they were beaten by Mosta.
On the other hand Hiberians also tasted defeated in their last match with their opponents being lowly Birkirkara which for them was the first league win.
Missing for the Paolites international midfielder Joseph Mbong who was serving a one-match ban and their was a welcome return on the bench for Jurgen Degabriele after a lengthy lay off through injury.
Hibernians went all out searching an early goal and on 13 minutes a cross by Leonardo Nanni found Bjorn Kristensen but his header was turned onto a corner by Bartolo. In the 18th minute it was now Hamrun's turn when off a Criaco cross, a headed effort by Domoraud ended wide.
The Spartans kept piling on the pressure and three minutes later Lagzir brought the best out of Jovicic who palmed the ball into a corner. And from the corner kick the Paolites rearguard failed to clear and a cross shot by ex-Clayton Failla left Jovicic stranded and ended in the back of the net.
After a miss by Failla on 24 minutes, six minutes later Hamrun doubled their lead. It was Jorge Dodo Soares who fired a shot from the edge of the area beating Jovicic all ends up.
Hibernians had their first chance on 36 minutes when a Terence Groothusen was turned onto a corner. But in first half added time Hibernians reduced the gap through an acute shot from close range by international midfielder Dunstan Vella.
In the second half Hibernians came more into the picture but it was the Spartans who first threatened when on the hour a Lagzir shot scraped the woodwork. ibeHib
Hibernians missed a golden opportunity on 69 minutes when a perfect cross by Izquier Artiles caused havoc in the area but no one was their to deal the final touch.
Two minutes later another cross from the Spanish player found Nanni but the latters shot from the distance finished wide.
Ten minutes from the end Hibernians had another chance to save the match when a cross by Dunstan Vella found substitute Imanol Iriberri but his header was saved by the Spartans custodian.
Till the end, though the Paolites threw everything on the offensive, the stubborn Hamrun defence held strong to gain another precious win which puts them once again in second place, three points shy off leaders Floriana.
