Spartans take control after Bonello's red card

Ħamrun Spartans 3
Pereira 37, 68; Mawete 49
St George's 0

Balzan Youths' stunning win over Msida St Joseph should have served as an eye-opener for Ħamrun Spartans ahead of their KO clash with St George's in yesterday's second match at the Tedesco Stadium.

The early exchanges suggested that the Spartans had ignored the warning signs as St George's threatened to surge ahead but the course of the game changed when the Cospicua outfit lost Anthony Bonello to a red card.

Debutant Joao Batista Mawete had his penalty saved but once Marcelo Pereira, the Spartans' best player, gave his side the lead, Ħamrun went on to dominate their depleted opponents who finished the match with nine men.

Angola-born Mawete partnered Pereira and Gaetan Spiteri in attack as Ħamrun coach Steve D'Amato opted for a fluid 4-3-3 formation.

St George's, who are aiming to produce a strong challenge to win promotion to the Premier League, played 4-4-2 with Nigerian Anthony Ewurum, their only overseas player, leading the attack alongside Chris Ciappara.

In the opening stages, Spiteri hit over from a good position and, at the other end, a shot by Ciappara was deflected away for a corner.

Ciappara spurned a glorious opportunity to put St George's ahead after 14 minutes. The Spartans' goal was virtually unprotected when Ewurum's cross soared above Ivan Casha and towards Ciappara who headed the ball wide.

St George's offered the greater threat going forward. In the 17th minute, Emerson Amaira dissected the Ħamrun defence with a an astute pass towards Ciappara who moved past Mark Anthony Bonnici but his effort was tipped over by Casha.

Moments later, Glenn Bonello unleashed a dangerous drive from long distance which brushed the upright.

St George's had good reason to draw encouragement from their lively start but, out of the blue, their afternoon took a turn for the worse.

The game was 26 minutes old when Martin Hrubsa's cross from the right looped over Emanuel Sevasta and towards the unmarked Pereira whose low effort from point blank came off the base of the post. From the rebound, Pereira was quick to set up Mawete whose shot appeared to have come off the diving Bonello.

"Handball" shouted the Spartans players as referee Andre Arciola pointed to the spot and reached for his red card to dismiss the St George's defender. Mawete took the penalty but his shot was pushed away by keeper Thomas Galea.

St George's sighed with relief.

Having served the advancing Neville Galea on the left, Mawete was first to the left-back's cross but headed over 10 minutes from half-time. Just over a minute later, the Spartans nosed ahead.

Racing on to a Mawete pass, Pereira sped clear of the back-tracking St George's defence and hammered home.

The Spartans all but sealed their passage to the second round when they doubled their lead four minutes into the second half.

Pereira made a strong run towards the byline and dragged the ball back to Mawete who drove home.

Two-nil up, and with an extra man, Ħamrun were now in a position to administer their advantage.

On the hour, St George's troubles increased when Sevasta was given his marching orders for a second booking, given for a handling infringement.

Mawete had the goal in the net on 63 minutes but he was adjudged to have pushed Clint Schiavone before heading home.

A free-kick by Spiteri flashed against the side-netting but midway into the second half, Pereira, latching on to Mark Anthony Bonnici's pass, hit home to make it 3-0.

Casha then denied Ewurum as he parried away the Nigerian's effort from inside the box.

Eight minutes from time, Jonathan Holland teed up substitute Diego Cucciardi but the latter's tame flick was touched away by Galea. The Spartans would have increased their lead had Clyde Camoin's strong header from Pereira's cross not hit Mawete's back on the goal-line.

It was all Ħamrun at the death. Mawete wasted a great chance to score his second goal as his weak flick, from Camoin's pass, was stopped by Galea.

Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha, M.A. Bonnici, R. Mangion ('67 D.A. Cucciardi), R. Fenech, M. Micallef ('75 C. Camoin), N. Galea, M. Pereira, G. Spiteri, M. Hrubsa, J.B. Mawete, J. Holland.

St George's
T. Galea, B. Fenech, C. Schiavone, A. Bonello, E. Sevasta, G. Bonello ('72 D. Galea), E. Amaira, G. Mallia, N. Caruana, C. Ciappara ('52 J. Dalli), A. Ewurum ('87 T. Caruana).

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Missed penalty: Mawete (ĦS) 28.

Yellow cards: N. Galea; Sevasta.

Red cards: Bonello (SG) 26; Sevasta (SG) 60.