HIBERNIANS 1
Kristensen 66
HAMRUN SPARTANS 3
J. Grech 35, Mifsud Triganza 71, 86
Hamrun Spartans produced a massive shock on their return to the premier league with a victory over Hibernians.
Cheered on by an extremely enthusiastic crowd, Hamrun had the better of the early exchanges but failed to trouble the Hibernians goalkeeper Andrew Hogg.
Renan Pimenta Telles, one of only three summer additions to the Hibernians squad, proved to be a handful for Hamrun Spartans defence and the Brazilian striker shot straight into David Cassar’s hands earlier on.
On 34 minutes, Cassar dived acrobatically to turn over the bar a powerful header by Andrei Agius served by Clayton Failla from corner.
The importance of the save was underscored seconds later when Jake Grech opened the scoring. Their Spartans’ inspirational captain picked up the ball near the halfway line and few seconds later it was in the back of the net via a 30-metre strike which flew over Hogg and into the top corner.
With Hibernians clearly stunned, Hamrun enjoyed a dominant brief spell. But once the dust had settled, the Paolites hit back and began to run the midfield. On 44 minutes, Marcelo Dias tried to surprise Cassar out of position as he mustered a strong drive that the back-tracking goalkeeper saved with the aid of the post.
The Spartans, predictably, were forced to mount a rearguard action in the opening exchanges of the second half but were soon showing attacking ambition to threaten the Paolites.
Saturday Nanpere, who was tasting top-flight football for the first time after a career in the lower divisions, embarked on a mazy run which took him past a posse of defenders before his shot was blocked by Rodolfo Soares.
Hibernians resumed in the ascendancy and Bjorn Kristensen equalised, hitting Patrick Teixeira Maia’s body from point-blank range, after he was played in by Jackson Lima with the ball landing into the net.
The Paolites’ draw lasted only five minutes before Hamrun restored their lead, courtesy of Jake Grech’s wonderfully struck free-kick from 35 metres which landed in Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza’s path to head past Hogg.
Hibernians had few clear opportunities, the best coming to substitute Jurgen Degabriele whose volley was spectacularly turned around the post by Cassar.
But Mark Miller’s men were caught out one final time when Jake Grech released Mifsud Triganza and he fired past Hogg.
From the deafening noise at the final whistle it was clear that the Spartans fans’ wait for their return to the premier league was well worth it.