ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 2
Faria 24, Micallef 27
SLIEMA WANDERERS 3
Muchardi 21, 51 pen
Correa 48
Sliema Wanderers came from behind to see off Ħamrun Spartans in a five-goal thriller at the Hibs Stadium on Saturday.
It was the Wanderers who drew first blood after 21 minutes when Matias Muchardi blasted in beautifully off a free-kick which sailed into the top corner of the net.
The Spartans hit back on 24 minutes. Sliema goalkeeper Glenn Zammit misjudged the ball’s trajectory and Arthur Faria lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper.
The goal hit hard Sliema and Lydon Micallef took a touch and turned towards goal before firing a cross-shot that took a deflection off Kurt Shaw as it rolled past the diving Zammit.
Sliema drew level threw minutes into the second half when Tiago upended Ricardo Correa just outside the box and the Uruguayan midfielder picked himself up to send a delightful left-foot strike that bent viciously away from Steve Sultana’s despairing dive.
Minutes later, Daniel Zerafa pulled on Frenci Qeros inside the box and the referee rightly ordered a penalty. Muchardi sent Sultana the wrong way as the Wanderers nosed ahead.
Ħamrun were kept in the game through Sliema’s missed chances and ten minutes from time, Zerafa almost salvaged a point with a late header from Thiago Espindola’s free-kick that drew a breath-taking one-handed save from Zammit.
BOV Player of the match: Mathias Muchardi (Sliema Wanderers).