Reds prevail after nervy finale

Mqabba 2
Mazzitelli 79; Mamic 90 pen;
Ħamrun Spartans 3
Ribeiro 36; Shields 51 pen; Agius 71;

Ħamrun Spartans were forced to endure a nervy finale before hanging on to a much-needed victory over Mqabba in a thrilling encounter at the Tedesco Stadium yesterday.

The Spartans came into the match under intense pressure after last week’s humiliating defeat to Marsaxlokk had left them one place off the bottom.

Ħamrun seemed well on their way to a comfortable victory after surging into a 3-0 lead but two late goals from Thiago Mazzitelli and a Bojan Mamic penalty set up a tense finale for Ħamrun coach Jesmond Zammit who must have feared the worst but somehow the Reds held on to a morale-boosting win that lifts them away from the bottom places.

Zammit rang the changes after his side’s 5-3 upset to Marsaxlokk. Rupert Mangion was preferred to David Camilleri in midfield as Gaetan Spiteri came on for Daniel Zerafa.

Mqabba were buoyed by the return of Mamic who put on a clinical display, chasing down every ball as if his life depended on it.

Mqabba started promisingly and after three minutes Branislav Timotic headed over from Mazzitelli’s free-kick.

Ħamrun responded immediately with Dene Shields releasing Anderson Ribeiro who beat goalkeeper Kris Calleja with a header, only to see Mauro Bonnici acrobatically clearing the ball off the line.

Ribeiro was close again six minutes later and this time he saw his shot blocked by Timotic.

But the Spartans’ pressure finally told on 36 minutes as Ribeiro reacted quickest to muscle his way ahead of Timotic and power the ball home from Massimo Grima’s inviting free-kick.

Ħamrun now had the wind in their sails and Shields came close to double the lead. Just before half-time, Spiteri launched a lightning-quick counter-attack with the Scottish striker collecting a loose ball but he wastefully lashed his shot wide of the far post.

And any hopes of a second-half revival by Mqabba were quickly stamped out when some lethargic defence allowed Ħamrun to double their lead six minutes after the break. Shields controlled the ball ahead of Bonnici and the latter hauled down the Spartans striker with the referee immediately pointing to the spot.

Shields picked himself up to drive the ball past Calleja.

Mqabba proved themselves capable of playing attractive football this season and they almost cut the deficit two minutes later but they were denied by the woodwork off a Claudio Calleja’s shot.

On 72 minutes Lee James Agius, who had just replaced Spiteri, scored with virtually his first touch of the ball as he fired home from a Shields delivery.

Here the Spartans seemed to ease the pressure in the final 15 minutes and that almost cost them the three points.

On 79 minutes Mazzitelli pulled a goal back when he beat Andrea Cassar with a firm rising shot.

Mqabba refused to throw in the towel and deep into stoppage time they were awarded a penalty when Grima was judged to have used his arm to block Calleja’s shot with the referee awarding a penalty.

Mamic duly converted from the penalty spot to set up a tense final few minutes.

But in the end it was too little too late for Mqabba as the Spartans held on to a precious victory.

Mqabba: K. Calleja-7, C. Micallef-5.5, M. Potezica-6, R. Sammut-6, M. Bonnici-6 (80 M.A. Psaila), D. Azzopardi-5, T. Mazzitelli-7, R. Duca-6 (58 J.P. Muscat-5), C. Calleja-6.5, B. Mamic-6, B. Timotic-6.5.

Ħamrun Spartans: A. Cassar-6, N. Gacesa-6, G. Spiteri-5.5 (70 L.J Agius-6) M. Grima-6.5, A. Ribeiro-7, K. Sammut-5, M. Gauci-5, C. Polli-5, G. Calabretta-5.5, D. Shields-8 (86 Toneto Porcari), R. Mangion-6 (82 D. Camilleri).

Referee: Mario Apap.

Yellow cards: Duca, Gacesa, Calabretta, Grima, Ribeiro.

BOV player of the match: Dene Shields (Ħamrun).

Attendance: 390.

Tarxien suffer Galvao blow, Marsaxlokk to release Raimy and Campagnoli

Birkirkara vs Balzan Youths (today at 6 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Birkirkara will be aiming to bounce back from their 3-2 upset to Tarxien Rainbows on Sunday.

The Stripes filed a protest against the result citing a technical error in the action leading to Tarxien’s third goal. Their protest is expected to be heard tomorrow morning.

Right-back Angus Buhagiar returns for Birkirkara after missing the Tarxien defeat due to suspension.

Balzan Youths defender Clifton Ciantar is out after receiving a two-match ban following his red card in the 2-0 defeat to Valletta last week.

Yessous Camilleri is available after serving his one-match suspension.

Mosta vs Floriana (today at 8.15 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Mosta and Floriana both figured in a 1-1 draw in their last outing, against Mqabba and Hibs respectively.

Bottom of the table with five points from 10 matches, Mosta need to start picking up more wins to avoid falling further behind their relegation rivals.

Coach Oliver Spiteri must make do without midfielder Kurt Magro, suspended, while captain Nikola Bogdanovic is doubtful due to injury. On the plus side, Spiteri can bank on Federico Tisbi after the Italian defender missed the Mqabba game due to suspension.

Floriana coach Michael Woods will have to watch the game against Mosta from the stands after being handed a one-match touchline ban. Woods was ordered off the bench during the Hibs match.

Defender Owen Bugeja is suspended after collecting his fourth yellow card last weekend.

Forward Ivan Woods is sidelined with a hamstring problem and Tyrone Farrugia is recovering from cruciate surgery. Playmaker Christian Caruana is expected to be included in the squad after recuperating from an ankle injury and goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo returns from suspension.

Sliema Wanderers vs Tarxien Rainbows (tomorrow at 2 p.m., Hibs Stadium).

Sliema Wanderers will be chasing their first win in six games when they meet Tarxien Rainbows who are on a high after two consecutive victories.

Danilo Doncic, the Sliema coach, must make at least one change from the team that drew 3-3 with Qormi as defender Josef Mifsud is suspended.

Striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza is expected to make the squad after recovering from a hamsting injury.

Tarxien Rainbows suffered a blow this week as Brazilian forward Rodrigo Andreis Galvao, scorer of a brace in the 3-2 win over Birkirkara, is expected to be out for some weeks with a hamstring problem.

Brazilian midfielder Caio Suguino is suspended and captain Manuel Caruana is doubtful.

Hibs vs Qormi (tomorrow at 4 p.m., Hibs Stadium).

Hibs must be bracing themselves for a tough match against the resurgent Qormi who have gained seven points from their last three games.

The Paolites conceded a last-gasp goal in a 1-1 draw with Floriana last weekend while Qormi shared the spoils with Sliema.

Left-back Adrian Pulis is still out of the equation for second-placed Hibs but otherwise coach Mark Miller has a full squad at his disposal.

Qormi coach Stephen Azzopardi is expected to give a debut to Scottish midfielder Stuart Duff who has signed for the Yellow-Blacks until the end of the season.

Captain Joseph Farrugia is out for Qormi with a calf injury.

Marsaxlokk vs Valletta (Sunday at 3 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Having returned to the summit of the table as a result of their 2-0 win over Balzan and Hibs’ draw with Floriana, Valletta will be determined to retain top spot when they take on Marsaxlokk in the only game on Sunday.

Marsaxlokk, who are still without a coach, have terminated the contracts of Florent Raimy and Carlos Campagnoli by mutual consent.

Despite the club’s financial difficulties, the Marsaxlokk players enhanced their reputation last weekend when they beat Ħamrun Spartans 5-3 to move on the 10-point mark.

The southerners face an uphill task against the champions who will be vying to end their first-round commitments on a top note.

Cedric Kisamba, a flank defender from Congo, has started a trial with the Citizens but he will play no part in Sunday’s game.

Striker Michael Mifsud has a slight injury but is expected to recover in time to face the Blues.