Hamrun’s splendid euro run came to an end yesterday when they drew 3-3 with Partizan Belgrade in the second leg at Ta’ Qali to go out 7-3 on aggregate. The 1-4 defeat in Belgrade last week left little room for an eventual recovery by Branko Nisevic’s side, but the Spartans still gave their all yesterday even taking the lead in the first half and then making a great comeback late in the game to earn a prestigious draw.
The Spartans were the best team in the first half yesterday but Partizan obtained an immediate equaliser and that was practically the end of Hamrun’s residual hopes of making it to the group stages.
In the second half Partizan took the correct measures and Hamrun gradually lost their composure and Partizan took full advantage scoring two goals in the last quarter of the game, but Hamrun did not throw in the towel and thanks to two late penalties the Spartans obtained a more than deserved equaliser.
However it was an incredible journey for the Spartans who should treasure this valuable experience and have another shot next season. The Spartans will now concentrate on the local scene were next Monday they will face none other than champions Hibernians in their league opener.
The form shown by the Spartans in these European clashes should make them firm favourites to win this season’s title, but the Spartans will have to keep their feet firmly on the ground, and this will be mainly Nisevic’s task.
Hamrun took their opponents by storm in the first half, trying to cancel the three-goal deficit suffered in Belgrade. They had several attempts at goal and several near misses but on 27 minutes Hamrun took a deserved lead when Prsa fired home when served by Guillaumier.
But the Spartans joy and hope of recovery were quashed seven minutes later when Gomes fired home from a corner action with the Spartans defence unable to clear the danger.
In the second half the Spartans lost much of their attacking flair and Partizan took the lead on 72 minutes when Urosevic dribbled his way inside the area to beat Bonello with a low drive. Seven minutes later Partizan were on velvet with the best move of the game with Andrade squaring towards Gomes who headed home.
But the Spartans were determined to bow out in style and they managed to do this to the delight of the thousands of loyal Spartans supporters who once again packed the main stand of the national stadium. On 82 minutes the first penalty for a handling infringement, converted by Vinicius, and in stoppage time another penalty for the Spartans with Fedele making it 3-3 from the spot.
Hamrun S: Henry Bonello, Matthew Guillaumier (79’ Matteo Fedele), Luke Montebello (63’ Jonny), Elvis Mashike (73’ Igor Nedeljkovic), Ailton Jorge Soares ‘Dodo’, Roko Prsa, Rodrigo Callegari Torre, Mousa Balla Sowe, Ognjen Bjelicic, Emerson Marcelina, Ryan Camenzuli (79’ Vinicius Freitas).
Partizan: Aleksandar Popovic, Sinisa Sanicanin, Igor Vujacic, Svetozar Markovic, Patrick Andrade, Queensy Menig (69’ Kristian Belic), Ricardo Gomes, Ljubomir Fejsa, Marko Zivkovic, Foussein Diabate (74’ Bibras Natcho), Slobodan Urosevic (79’ Zlatan Sehovic).
Referee: Jakob Kelhet (Denmark)
Photo: Domenic Aquilina