Ħamrun Spartans 3
Vittoriosa Stars 1

Ħamrun Spartans scored three times in the opening 45 minutes to cruise to a comfortable victory over Vittoriosa Stars and keep up the pressure on Gżira United.

It was a confident performance from the Spartans who have now closed the gap on the league leaders to one point.

The Spartans took three minutes to open the scoring.

The Vittoriosa defence was too slow to track the run of Haruna Garba who hit a firm drive that flew into the roof of the net.

The Spartans were now in control and wrapped up the points with two quickfire goals.

On the half-hour, Argentine winger Matias Muchardi picked up a rebound on the edge of the area and fired a low shot that rolled into the bottom corner of the net.

Two minutes later, Saturday Nanapere found Jake Grech who drove home from the edge of the area.

Ten minutes from the break, Karl Magri, the Vittoriosa goalkeeper, denied the Spartans a fourth goal when he pushed away Grech’s shot.

On the restart, the Spartans opted to administer their advantage.

Vittoriosa Stars managed to create a couple of scoring opportunities.

On 68 minutes, Mark Barbara’s effort sailed over the crossbar.

Fourteen minutes from time, Spartans goalkeeper Frederick Tabone made a fine save to keep out a close-range effort from striker Adrian Carabott.

Ħamrun responded with a Garba effort that was kept out by Magri.

Vittoriosa pulled one back in stoppage time.

Petr Mrvic was brought down in the area by Glenn Azzopardi and Lukic made no mistake from the spot.

Ħamrun Spartans: F. Tabone, P. Chircop (A. Sicali), G. Azzopardi, M.A. Borg, M. Muchardi, J. Grech, O. Anonam, E. Briffa (T. Cilia), S. Nanapere (P. Anizoba), R. Refalo, H. Garba.

Vittoriosa Stars: K. Magri, R. Previ, D. Pisani, M. Barbara, P. Mrvic, A. Galea (J. Galea), M. Lukic, L. Gauci (T. Nasiti), S. Meilaq (G. Sultana), D. Fava, A. Carabott.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Man of the match: Matias Muchardi (Ħamrun Spartans).

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