Ħamrun Spartans 1
Riberio 66;
Mosta 1
Bajada 62;
A dour dog fight between two relegation candidates finished even at the Hibernians Stadium, a result which does more for the Spartans’ survival hopes than for Mosta’s similar aspirations.
Steve D’Amato’s men, who would have moved on the verge of safety with victory yesterday, dominated the first half without making a breakthrough. Then when Jonathan Bajada broke the deadlock, they were only able to maintain their lead for only four minutes.
Back-to-back victories over Marsaxlokk and Qormi looked to have eased Mosta’s relegation worries but Tarxien’s victory over Mqabba means that Mosta are just three points above the danger zone with three games remaining including next Saturday’s direct encounter against Clive Mizzi’s side.
On their part, Ħamrun remain unbeaten in the relegation pool, away from the bottom two places and within touching distance of survival.
The only change in Mosta’s starting line-up from the Qormi game was enforced upon D’Amato with Florent Raimy replacing the suspended Predrag Mirceta.
For Ħamrun, Gaetan Spiteri was back in the thick of things while Daniel Zerafa replaced the suspended Matthew Gauci.
The Spartans fashioned the first glimmer of chance after just two minutes with Gianluca Calabretta overlapping down the right flank and sending over a cross that the unmarked Kevin Sammut fired into the side-netting from an excellent position.
Sammut maintained the pressure three minutes later with a stinging shot that was held by the Mosta goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.
Dyson Falzon, lifted the spirits of the Mosta supporters in the 13th minute when the former Ħamrun midfielder took flight on a solo run down the left flank before Zerafa’s slide caused the ball to ricochet off in the direction of Bajada but the latter’s low shot came to nothing.
Just over the half an hour mark, Bajada invented a spectacular bicycle-kick assist for Obinna Obiefule who escaped the attentions of Ronnie Hartvig but found Omar Borg standing boldly in goal to divert his effort for a corner.
The brisk movement of Gilbert Martin and Bajada on the flanks disconcerted the Spartans in the final moments of the first half as Stefan Sultana’s side grew increasingly sloppy.
Five minutes from the break, Martin advanced down the right flank to set-up Bajada whose first-timer was blocked by Borg.
Mosta continued to enjoy spells of pressure after the break but the Spartans defied them valiantly with some determined blocks and challenges.
In one particular instance, Bajada needed treatment for a bleeding nose following a collision with an opponent but he was able to play on and open the score after 62 minutes.
Martin drove again unmolested down the right flank with Bajada darting behind in the middle and was able to apply a cool finish on the defence-splitting through ball from Martin.
Moments later, Obiefule had a strike ruled out for offside but Ħamrun’s riposte was instant and equalised four minutes later.
Anderson Ribeiro peeled off Federico Tisbi to nip in between the defender and Debono to tap the ball home.
With ten minutes remaining, the Brazilian left three Mosta defenders in his wake before Yannick Ossok put in a crunching tackle to dispossess Ribeiro but the ball fell kindly to Spiteri who shot straight into the hands of Debono.
Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg-6.5, G. Calabretta-5.5, D. Camilleri-5.5, S. Bonnici-5.5, R. Hartvig-5.5, M. Grima-6, L.J. Agius-5.5 (59 R. Mangion-6), K. Sammut-6.5, G. Spiteri-5.5, A. Ribeiro-6.5, D.Zerafa-7.
Mosta
J. Debono-6, A. Borg-6, F. Tisbi-6, Y. Ossok-5, A. Cini-6, J. Bajada-7.5, K. Magro-6, F. Raimy-6, D. Falzon-6 (63 I. Zammit), G. Martin-8 (88 F. Aboulezz), O. Obiefule-5.5.
Referee: Malcom Spiteri.
Yellow cards: Bonnici, Zammit.
BOV player of the match: Jonathan Bajada (Mosta).
Attendance: 704.