Spartans beat rival neighbours Pieta to keep Euro hopes alive

Henry Brincat

Hamrun Spartans defeated their rival neighbours Pieta Hotspurs in a hard-fought encounter which produced five goals – all in an exciting 11 minute spell in the first half.

Calil and Tulimieri gave Hamrun a 2-0 lead, but Pieta quickly hit back to level matters through Mensah and Macedo, but Domoraud gave the Spartans a 3-2 first half lead which they kept till the very end.

The three points pushed Hamrun back into 5th place on 22 points. Pieta remained in 11th place on 10 points.

The first half was quite exciting, especially the last 15 minutes, during which five goals were scored as Hamrun took a 2-0 lead, Pieta responded with two goals of their own to level matters only for the Spartans to regain their lead.

Hamrun were technically ahead of their rival neighbours and even enjoyed superiority in midfield where Triston Caruana and Caetano Calil were in command.

Pieta had their own moments and also provided Hamrun goalie Bartolo with some anxious moments.

In the second half, Pieta pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but they only managed to seriously test Bartolo once and the Spartans were much more dangerous in their forays.

Hamrun quickly took the initiative and on the 3rd minute a Calil shot was saved by Pieta goalie Vella.

In the 12th minute, a Calil shot hit Macedo’s hands in the area. The Spartans appealed for a penalty, but the official, close to the action, waved play on.

Six minutes later, a Tulimieri dangerous cross was confidently dealt with by Vella who palmed the ball away to corner.

At the other end, Bartolo was called upon to punch away a cross by Mensah.

In the 27th minute, Bartolo saved the Spartans fort when he dived full length to save a Chimezie good effort.

The rebound by Mensah was blocked to a corner by a Hamrun defender.

In the next action, a Matthew Gauci cross was headed into the net by Triston Caruana to give the Spartans the lead.

Four minutes later, the Spartans struck again when off a cross from the right flank, it was Kevin Tulimieri who hit first time into the net, though his shot must have been deviated by a Pieta defender that left goalie Vella completely stranded.

Pieta were back in the match two minutes later as they reduced the arrears through a Mensah header off a cross from the right.

Two minutes later, it was all square as Pieta scored a second goal. From a Pace Cocks freekick, it was Antonio Macedo who made the most of the glaring gap left by the Hamrun defence to hit home from close in.

The excitement continued and it was now Hamrun to take the lead once again in the 42nd minute.

From a Triston Caruana freekick, Enrico Pepe headed goalwards where Wilfried Domoraud was on hand to head home past Vella.

At the start of the second half, Tulimieri went close with an effort that went slightly wide.

In the 53rd minute, Mensah brought the best out of Bartolo who dived sideways to tip the ball away.

Hamrun were again close on 58 minutes when Domoraud went past the onrushing goalie Vella, only to see his effort hitting the upright before going dead.

Before the end substitute Darmanin went close to scoring a fourth for the Spartans with a first timer that just missed the target.

In added time, Hamrun had Orestis Nikolopoulos dismissed after receiving a second yellow card.

Photo: Christine Borg