Pieta H. 0
Hamrun S. 2
Pieta H.: J. Chircop St John, T. Ose, D. Agius, P. Chimezie (J. Delmar 90), J. Busuttil (N. Pisani 86), G. Mensah, JM Artiaga, C. Grech, U. Calistus, I. Jalo (N. Pace Cocks 81), A. Macedo
Hamrun S.: E. Bartolo, E. Pepe, T. Caruana, C. Henneberg, W. Domoraud (R. Darmanin 76), A. Scicluna, M. Criaco (C. Borg 26), K. Micallef, O. Nikolopoulos, C. Calil (M. R. Gauci 86), K. Tulimieri
Referee: M. Apap
Asst. Refs: M. Scerri, I. Galea
4th official: F. Zammit
Scorers: K. Tulimieri 34, W. Domoraud 76
Yellow cards: I. Jalo 30
BoV Player of the Match: W. Domoraud
TMI Top 3: 1. W. Domoraud; 2. K. Tulimieri, 3. D. Agius
Hamrun Spartans yesterday had to struggle more than expected to beat Pieta Hotspurs ------ to remain firmly in the hunt for 4th place and a potential Europa League berth next season.
Kevin Tulimieri, in the first half, and Wilfried Domoraud in the second, scored for the Spartans to give them a crucial three points ahead of their upcoming final match against Valletta.
The Spartans went three points ahead of Sliema and five over Balzan ahead of the Sliema-Balzan encounter.
For Pieta it was their official confirmation of being relegated to next season's First Division. With only one match remaining, they cannot reach 12th placed St Andrews who are five points above them in the standings.
Hamrun welcomed back to their fold Triston Caruana after missing the last match through suspension. The same could be said for Pieta about their young star Jan Busuttil who was Pieta also had young goalkeeper Jacob Chircop St John making his debut.
Hamrun deserved their slim one-goal lead at the interval.
Despite playing against the wind, they created a lot more than their opponents, richly deserving the goal they scored on 34 minutes which gave them the lead.
On the other hand, Pieta fought gallantly and moved forward frequently, although their finishing was rather poor as Hamrun's defence was solid all the way rarely giving them a clear chance of goal.
In the second half, the match followed the same pattern, but Pieta were more insistent and kept Bartolo busy though never managing to find the net.
But the Spartans never looked back and went on to make sure of their victory with a second goal.
The Spartans quickly surged into attack and in the first minute, Wilfried Domoraud had a shot passing across goal.
In the 12th minute, it was Mensah who tried his luck for Pieta, but his shot went over.
A minute later, Busuttil went past two defenders and crossed low into the Hamrun small box, but Chimezie hit the ball badly and it went wide.
Hamrun went close on 15 minutes through a Marco Criaco shot from outside the area, with the ball missing the left upright by inches.
In the 18th minute, from a Dylan Agius cross, Bartolo saved the Hamrun fort diving at the feet of Chimezie to avoid an awkward situation.
Bartolo was again a protagonist four minutes later as he dived sideways to save a Chimezie low shot.
Hamrun missed the best chance on 33 minutes when Domoraud set Tulimieri in the Pieta area, but with only goalie Chircop St John to beat, he hit wide of the target.
The Spartans were not to be denied and a minute later, it was Carlos Henneberg who dribbled round the goalie and squared low for Tulimieri to hit home from practically over the goal line.
Soon after the start of the second half, Hamrun threatened again when from a Domoraud cross, Henneberg saw his header going wide.
On 52 minutes, Dylan Agius tested goalie Bartolo seriously but the Hamrun custodian turned to corner in style.
Pieta insisted and on 55 minutes, it was Jan Busuttil who saw his effort hitting the side rigging.
Hamrun doubled their lead on 76 minutes when from a Karl Micallef cross, Domoraud easily beat the Pieta goalie.
Pieta were unlucky not to score at least a consolation goal when in added time, Mensah saw his header hitting the crossbar with Bartolo beaten.