Spartans’ four-goal blitz leaves Marsaxlokk reeling

Ħamrun Spartans 6
Calabretta 23, 70; Grima 48, 71; Shields 74; Hartvig 82;
Marsaxlokk 2
Farrugia 12; Oladotun 37;

Another upset looked on the cards as the embattled Marsaxlokk, who had stunned the more-quoted Ħamrun 5-3 in the first round, led their fellows-in-distress 2-1 late in the first half.

Coach Stefan Sultana looked on incredulously as his team’s woeful defending had contributed to Marsaxlokk’s two goals but, des-pite their travails this season, the Spartans still boast a host of clinical players who can change the course of a game.

That was certainly the case yesterday as the Reds roared back with a devastating attacking display in the second half that left Marsaxlokk gasping for breath.

Man-of-the-match Massimo Grima’s equaliser three minutes after the restart laid the platform for the Spartans to go on rampage, unleashing a four-goal blitz in 12 minutes.

The openness with which the two teams confronted each other made for a hugely enjoyable game, full of goals and scoring chances, but, from a defensive point-of-view, the two teams performed like novices.

While that perhaps was to be expected from this patched-up Marsaxlokk team, not the same can be said of the Spartans who have more experienced players manning their back line.

This success, the first since Sultana took over from Jesmond Zammit, also halted a run of six matches without a win for the Spartans.

Veteran midfielder David Camilleri filled the void left by the absence of suspended striker Anderson Ribeiro for the Spartans.

Sultana selected a 4-4-2 approach with Gaetan Spiteri partnering Shields in attack and the roaming Kevin Sammut offering support from the wings.

One of the three changes in the Marsaxlokk ranks had been widely predicted as Ivan Kurtusic was not in the squad as, in upholding Tarxien’s protest against the result of their match with the southseasiders which had ended 2-2, the MFA Protests Board effectively ended the Serbian midfielder’s stint with the Blues.

Peter Taiye Oladotun replaced Kurtusic as coach Anton Cremona made three changes from the last game with Luke Agius and Craig Debattista handed first-team roles.

In the opening minutes, Ħamrun goalkeeper Omar Borg saved Nemanja Stoskovic’s free-kick. Spiteri, left unmarked, veered into the box but his grounder was repelled by Christian Cassar.

The Ħamrun captain should have atoned for his miss but stumbled as he tried to connect with Matthew Gauci’s measured cross from the left.

It was all Ħamrun now. Lee James Agius ran into the box from the left and let the ball roll to Sammut whose first-time drive was deflected away for a corner.

But, somewhat unexpectedly, it was Marsaxlokk who broke the deadlock.

Latching on to Oladotun’s square pass from the left, Jean Paul Farrugia peeled away from his markers and lifted the ball over Borg and into the net from a tight angle.

Ħamrun had an excellent chance to level matters when Sammut made headway on the right and laid the ball for the unmarked Gianluca Calabretta but the latter’s grounder was central and Cassar saved.

Stung by Marsaxlokk’s opener, the Spartans pressed hard for an equaliser. Camilleri picked out Shields inside the box but Cassar was attentive as he warded off the Scot’s powerful drive.

Such was the Spartans’ supremacy at this stage that it looked a matter of when not if they would gain a leveller.

That came midway into the first half after a prolonged raid.

After his initial shot was blocked by Clive Brincat, Spiteri crossed towards the far post and Sammut’s header was partially blocked by Cassar. Amid the ensuing melee, the ball rolled to Calabretta whose shot trickled past a clutch of players and over the line.

The game continued to ebb and flow.

Ħamrun were betraying signs of uneasiness at the back and Marsaxlokk further exposed the Spartans’ vulnerability on the right flank.

Eight minutes for the end of the first half remained when Pedrozo was granted time and space to slip a low pass to Oladotun whose run had escaped the attention of the ball-watching Ħamrun defenders.

The Nigerian advanced unchallenged before poking the ball past Borg.

The Spartans’ woeful defending had the despairing Sultana shaking his head in disbelief.

But, the second half had only just started when Ħamrun made it 2-2, Grima heading past Cassar from Gauci’s corner.

From scorer, Grima turned saviour as the Spartans were again found wanting at the back.

This time, Pedrozo drove to the byline from the right and crossed for Farrugia whose initial header was blocked by Grima who stood firm to repel the Marsaxlokk striker’s follow-up shot.

Ħamrun were quick to move from defence to attack, Calabretta playing an excellent cross to Sammut whose first-time effort flashed against the base of the post.

The game remained entertaining but the Spartans carried the heavier ammunition and duly surged ahead for the first time 20 minutes from time.

Shields orchestrated the move with a surging run through the middle before directing a pass to Sammut. His effort was deflected into the path of Calabretta who sent the net bulging with a thunderous drive.

This goal knocked the stuffing out of Marsaxlokk. They conceded again when Grima got his second of the game from a free-kick.

The Spartans’ barrage continued as, three minutes after Grima’s goal, they went 5-2 in front, Shields heading home from close range with the Marsaxlokk defence in a state of chaos.

Three goals up and with the points now in the bag, the Spartans went for the jugular.

Shields missed a gilt-edged chance to score when his point-blank shot was touched away by Cassar but from the corner, Ron Hartvig sent a glancing header past Cassar.

Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg-5, S. Bonnici-5, G. Calabretta-6.5, R. Hartvig-6, M. Gauci-6.5, M. Grima-7.5 (83 L. Grech), L.J. Agius-6 (60 R. Mangion-5.5), K. Sammut-7, D. Camilleri-6.5, D. Shields-6, G. Spiteri-6 (75 D. Zerafa).

Marsaxlokk
C. Cassar-5.5, P. Borg-4, C. Brincat-5, T. Templeman-5, N. Stoskovic-5.5 (83 S. Borg), C. Debattista-5.5 (79 M. Valeriani), L. Agius-5 (62 S. Eboh), J.P. Farrugia-6.5, G. Caruana-4, P.T. Oladotun-6.5, A.C. Pedrozo-6.5.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Yellow cards: L.J. Agius; Hartvig; Stos-kovic; Grima.

BOV player of the match: Massimo Grima (Ħamrun Spartans).

Attendance: 894.