Hamrun S 0

Mqabba 2

An embarrassing gaffe by Hamrun goalkeeper Omar Borg, who allowed David Azzopardi’s speculative shot to drift away from him, enabling Bojan Mamic to shoot past him, gave Mqabba the lead seven minutes from the end. And another strike by the defender Ryan Sammut five minutes later, piled more misery on Hamrun Spartans, who remain without a win in five matches and goalless in the last two.

With Calabretta back from suspension, Hamrun fielded Steve Bonnici and Ronnie Hartwig as centre backs and moved Massimo Grima in midfield, dropping David Camilleri to the bench. Ribeiro was Hamrun’s point of reference in attack, flanked by Gaetan Spiteri and Dene Shields. But the distribution of the ball is in need of dramatic improvement if Hamrun want to be more lethal in front of the opposing goal.

Mqabba’s win was more than they deserved. They produced the better football and carved out the better chances both in the first and the second half and could have even taken the lead earlier.

But, although late, their willingness to win the game was justly rewarded.

Mqabba were buoyed by the return of Ryan Sammut in defence and with both Mamic and Mazitelli starting the match. The former Balzan midfielder, David Fenech, making his debut for the new club, also had a good performance until substituted.

The first threats on both ends came from set pieces though, in a cagey start. On eight minutes a Mazitelli free kick was deflected off the Hamrun wall into a corner and two minutes later, on a Sammut corner, Grima’s firm header was blocked.

To Mqabba fell the best chance past the quarter hour when Mamic played a long pass to Muscat who went inside the area, his shot beat keeper Borg but Calabretta recovered to clear the ball before crossing the line.

On the other end, Spiteri’s long range effort, with the Mqabba keeper off his line, went narrowly over.

On 20 minutes, Grima put his free kick narrowly off target, before a litany of misplaced passes from both sides interrupted much of the rhythm. Mqabba kept pressing though and in a six-minute spell they went close on three occasions.

Julian Briffa picked a short Calabretta clearance but his shot from the edge of the area went inches wide. On 41 minutes, Ryan Sammut headed Mazitelli’s corner towards goal but Gauci cleared on the line.

Mamic also missed a glaring opportunity. He picked Mazitelli’s pass, went past Calabretta but placed his shot off target.

Hamrun’s response came late in the half. Hartwig’s header on an Agius corner was tipped over the bar into another corner by keeper Calleja and then Agius had his powerful shot blocked.

In the second half, both sides were cautious, preferring not to lose. Hamrun looked menacing when Shields rolled the ball square towards the unmarked Spiteri who shot narrowly over. And past the hour, keeper Calleja stretched himself to hold out Ribeiro’s goal bound header on a Gauci cross.

Mqabba had two claims for a penalty turned down when Mamic was held by Hartwig as he was about to shoot and Calabretta’s stretched hand blocked Mamic’s header on a Muscat cross.

With Mqabba playing the tune, they finally broke the deadlock with seven minutes remaining. Azzopardi’s shot from a distance looked harmless but when keeper Borg dropped the ball, Bojan Mamic was quick to tap it in from close range.

Hamrun’s late rally saw them only go close with a Grima header, off a corner.

Mqabba could exploit the Spartans’ gaps at the back as they struck the fatal blow ona fast break two minutes from time.

Mazitelli’s first effort was blocked by keeper Borg, but Mazitelli played the loose ball towards the unmolested Ryan Sammut whose shot was deflected off the foot of the post by substitute Zerafa before crossing the line.

Mqabba keeper Calleja even denied Hamrun a consolation goal in added time with a smart save off the energetic Calabretta.

Hamrun S O.Borg, S. Bonnici, G. Calabretta, R. Hartwig, M. Gauci, M. Grima, L. Agius (D. Zerafa), K. Sammut, A. Ribeiro, D. Shields, G. Spiteri (R. Mangion)

Coach J. Zammit

Mqabba K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, C. Calleja (C. Micallef), B. Timotic, J.P. Muscat (M. Briffa) M. Potezika, B. Mamic, R. Sammut, T. Mazitelli, D. Fenech (D. Azzopardi), J. Briffa

Coach C. Mizzi

Referee C. Lautier

Asst.refs K. Borg, C. Francalanza

4th official F. Zammit

Scorers B. Mamic 83, R. Sammut 88

Yellow cards B. Timotic

Player of the match Marko Potezika (Mqabba)

TMI top 3 1. M. Potezika 2. J.P. Muscat 3. G. Calabretta