Hamrun S. 4

Sliema W. 2

Anderson Mendes Ribeiro scored three goals in a six-minute magic spell to help Hamrun Spartans turn the tide in their favour and make a remarkable comeback to notch their second consecutive victory.

With 21 minutes to go Sliema were winning thanks to a solitary goal scored by Frendo in the first half, and thanks to a penalty save by goalkeeper Bonello. But the incredible happened when Bonello had to be replaced, as his substitute Curmi was beaten four times in the space of ten minutes, without practically having a touch of the ball.

It was an overall deserved victory for the Spartans who now move to a healthier position in the table.

Sliema tried to recover late in the game managing to pull one back through a Mitev penalty, but it was too little too late as they paid dearly for the 10-minute blackout that handed the Spartans an impressive victory.

Sliema Wanderers were without striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, while for Hamrun Spartans Dene Shields was making his debut.

The match started at a very slow pace with the first attempt coming from Hamrun Spartans when Ribeiro shot slightly wide from the centre of the penalty area following a Calabretta pass. Sliema took the lead on 19 minutes when Siqueira floated a good cross from the left towards Santos Silva who nodded towards Cleaven Frendo who shot past Omar Borg.

The Spartans replied with a Spiteri effort from the edge of the area, and on the other end Mitev shot slightly over the bar. On 31 minutes Hamrun had two good scoring opportunities, in the first one a melee ensued in front of Bonello with the Sliema defence finally clearing away the danger, and a minute later Bonello dived to save a scorcher from Massimo Grima.

Two minutes from the break Hamrun Spartans were awarded a penalty when from a Polli cross from the right, Gaetan Spiteri was pushed by Alex Muscat, with referee Apap promptly pointing to the penalty spot. But Ribeiro failed to beat goalkeeper Henry Bonello, who was also on the right spot to save Gaetan Spiteri’s point blank rebound. From the resultant corner the Spartans were again close with Massimo Grima’s header going inches wide.

In the second half, the Spartans had more of the ball but they rarely tested goalkeeper Bonello who was only called in action to block harmless crosses from the flanks. In one of these sorties Henry Bonello was injured and had to be stretchered off and was replaced by Anthony Curmi.

Curmi’s first duty was to pick up the ball from the back of the net as a minute after his inclusion Anderson Mendes Ribeiro obtained the equaliser taking advantage of some slipshod defending from the Blues.

The Spartans were now a transformed side as they pushed the Wanderers inside their penalty area and on 72 minutes they took the lead. Massimo Grima’s cross from the left flank was again met by Ribeiro who headed past a bewildered Anthony Curmi.

And more was yet to come for the Sliema substitute goalkeeper as he suffered a third goal in the space of six minutes when Ribeiro struck again from close range following a cross by Gaetan Spiteri.

Eleven minutes from time Dene Shields had a powerful run down the centre of Sliema’s defence to beat Curmi with a low shot. Five minutes from time Sliema Wanderers pulled one back when Jeremy Ani was floored by Matthew Gauci and from the resultant penalty Daniel Mitev sent Borg the wrong way.

Hamrun S: O. Borg, M. Grima, R. Fenech (S. Bonnici 37 min)(D. Camilleri 67 min), A.M. Ribeiro, K. Sammut, M. Gauci, C. Polli, G. Spiteri, N. Gacesa, G. Calabretta (L.J. Agius 57 min), D. Sheilds

Sliema W: H. Bonello (A. Curmi), A. Muscat, J. Mifsud (J. Ani 76 min), M. Scerri, D. Mitev, S. Bezzina, J.L. Siqueira, R. Galabov (R. Grech 76 min), R. Bajada, J. Santos Silva, C. Frendo

Referee: Mario Apap

Ass. Referees: Paul Apap, Joe Camilleri

Fourth Official: Clayton Pisani

Scorers: C. Frendo 19 min, A.M. Ribeiro 69 min, 72 min, 75 min, D. Shields 80 min, D. Mitev 85 min pen

Yellow cards: J.L. Siqueira, G. Calabretta, A. Muscat, R. Grech

Player of the match: Anderson Mendes Ribeiro (Hamrun S.)

TMI best three: 1. A.M. Ribeiro, 2. M. Grima, 3. K. Sammut

Attendance: 617