Ħamrun Spartans 0
Mqabba 2
Mamic 84; Sammut 89;
Mqabba continued to boost their aspirations of prolonging their stay in the top flight with another year when they struck late to floor the struggling Ħamrun Spartans, yesterday.
It was a nail-biting encounter that could have gone either way but which, in the end, was decided after a blunder from Reds keeper Omar Borg who failed to hold on to a shot and Bojan Mamic scored from the loose ball.
That episode turned the tide Mqabba’s way as the Spartans rushed forward in search of an equaliser but leaving their backline exposed. And, in fact, it was Mqabba who scored again to clinch three vital points that lifted them to the 20-point mark along with Mosta.
The Spartans are now a team in crisis as they slipped to second bottom position and with a huge task on their hands to move out of the drop zone.
More woes awaited them at the end of the match as coach Jesmond Zammit and his assistant Vince Carbonaro resigned.
Zammit had taken over from Steve D’Amato in summer but, despite high expectations the team failed to challenge for a Cham-pionship Pool place.
Mqabba coach Clive Mizzi had Mamic and Thiago Mazzitelli avail-able from the start as Ryan Sammut was also in the initial line-up ahead of Clayton Micallef.
Ħamrun effected only one change to the team that lost 5-0 to Hibernians the week before as Gianluca Calabretta returned from suspension and started at right-back with Steve Bonnici at centre-half.
The Spartans started brightly. Anderson Ribeiro raced clear on the right before sending in an inviting ball towards Kevin Sammut who headed over.
Mqabba’s response came from a free-kick. Mazzittelli’s effort was deflected just past the upright.
Mqabba came agonisingly close to taking the lead on 16 minutes when Mamic released Jean Paul Muscat who was clean through. His shot beat Borg but Calabretta raced in to clear off the line.
At the other end, a misunderstanding between Marko Potezica and goalkeeper Kris Calleja was almost punished by the Reds. Spiteri released Ribeiro but his chip missed the target by a whisker.
The Spartans threatened again on 20 minutes when Grima’s free-kick just skimmed the Mqabba upright.
Mamic showed some deft footwork to beat two defenders but his shot was blocked by Borg.
Mqabba remained the more dangerous side though and four minutes from the break, Sammut was first to Mazzitelli’s corner but his header was cleared in time by Matthew Gauci.
A minute later, Mazzitelli was again the provider when he served Mamic who turned past Calabretta but his shot lacked precision.
The Spartans lifted their game early in the second half and protested for a penalty when Shields fell after a challenge by Timotic. The referee waved play on.
Shields then set up Spiteri on the edge of the Mqabba box but his drive finished just over.
Ħamrun came close to breaking the deadlock on 63 minutes when Gauci’s centre found Ribeiro whose firm header was stopped in style by Calleja.
Mqabba hit back two minutes later when Mamic served Muscat who fired wide.
Both teams effected a change midway through the half as Mqabba’s Claudio Calleja was replaced by Micallef and Reds’ youngster Lee James Agius made way for Daniel Zerafa.
Mqabba also shouted penalty 17 minutes from time when Mamic looked to have been pulled to the ground by Hartvig but, again, the referee deemed went nothing wrong in that action.
On 84 minutes, Mqabba stunned Ħamrun when Azzo-pardi’s shot from the distance was fumbled by Borg and Mamic rammed home.
There was little time left for the Spartans to save the match.
On 87 minutes, Grima was first to Sammut’s corner but his header was stopped by Calleja.
From the corner, Mazzitelli broke free and raced through on Borg’s goal. His shot was repelled by the keeper but Sammut followed on to score from the edge of the box.
Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg-4, S. Bonnici-5, G. Calabretta-6, R. Hartvig-6, M. Gauci-6, M. Grima-6, L.J. Agius-5 (66 D. Zerafa-5), K. Sammut-5, A. Ribeiro-5, D. Shields-6, G. Spiteri-6 (79 R. Mangion).
Mqabba
K. Calleja-7.5, M. Bonnici-6, C. Calleja-5 (66 C. Micallef-6), B. Timotic-6.5, J.P. Muscat-7 (79 M. Briffa), M. Potezika-8, B. Mamic-6, R. Sammut-6.5, T. Mazzitelli-6, D. Fenech-6 (58 D. Azzopardi-7), J. Briffa-6.5.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Yellow card: Timotic.
BOV Player of the match: Marko Potezika (Mqabba).