A draw was a fair result in this keen and action-packed game as both teams had their very good moments and neither side dominated the other. Hamrun gained their first point from three games while Valletta are on seven points also from three games.

Early in the match, Valletta’s Matthew Thorne missed the upright from outside the area.

Later City keeper Yenz Cini saved Ayrton Micallef’s close-range shot.

Hamrun opened the score in the 11th minute when Roberto Camilleri served Micallef with a through ball and despite being harased by two defenders, he entered the area and scored with a low shot.

Their joy was short-lived as Valletta equalised two minutes later through Siraj Arab who scored from inside the area after he was put through by Thorne.

The Spartans had a Ryan Spiteri header saved by Cini.

Valletta came very close to a second goal in the 27th minute when Siraj Arab was fouled on the left edge of the area and from the free kick by Glenn Cassar, his twin brother Samir headed slightly out from inside the area.

The first two actions after the restart were created by Valletta. Cassar served substitute Ryan Ciantar in the area but Hamrun keeper Isaac Zammit Cordina saved his close-range shot and later he neutralised the ball from a cross by Galea Lucas after the latter’s run down the right flank.

In the 47th minute Hamrun were reduced to ten men when Zerafa was shown the red card for punching an opponent. In a Hamrun attack, substitute Jacob Rakban served Micallef with a through pass but Galea Lucas foiled him with a timely intervention.

Valletta came very close on two occasions in the 63rd and 65th minutes. Ciantar served Siraj Arab in the area with a perfect cross and Zammit Cordina saved his header. Then Seybell Zammit served the same player in the area but Zammit Cordina foiled with a timely sortie in two attempts.

In the 67th minute Valletta were also reduced to ten men when Fabio Muscat was shown the red card after a foul on Micallef. From the resultant free kick, which was taken by Micallef, the ball was partly cleared and it came in the path of Luke Grech who thumped the ball against the bar with Cini beaten.

Referee: Gordon Barbara

Player of the match: Jake Azzopardi (Hamrun S)