Ħamrun Spartans crowned champions for tenth time
The National Stadium was painted with the red and black colours of Ħamrun Spartans as the newly-crowned Malta champions kickstarted their title party following a 1-1 draw against Hibernians.
The match had little significance for the Spartans in terms of result as they had already attained mathematical certainty of a second successful title after they dismantled their nearest rivals Floriana 5-0 the previous weekend.
But still, they were keen on putting on a strong showing and they did have a perfect start when Jonny put them ahead after five minutes.
Hibs were not demoralised and managed to restore parity just before the break through
Jonny 5 Antwi 40
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
F. Marchetti, S. Borg (69 G. Vella), J. Mbong, R. Prsa, Elionay (64 N. Krstic), U. Duranovic (69 C. Rutjens), O. Bjelicic (46 Eder), S. Paintsil, E. Marcelina, R. Camenzuli, Jonny.
HIBERNIANS
H. Sacco, F. Apap, K. Shaw, L. Caruana (77 A. Attard), R. Bairam (77 K. Radchenko), A. Bruno (84 J. Degabriele), G. Artiles C. Bonanni, G. Bastianos (77 S. Zuzul), R. Antwi (77 I. Chukunyere), H. Alves.
Referee: Alex Johnson.
Rodni Antwi. After the break, Hibs were more motivated to go on for the win in a bid to leapfrog Birkirkara in fifth place but in the end the stalemate prevailed.
However, the best was yet to come for the Spartans and after 2015 ................ 2016 2017 2018 2019 ................... 2020 2021 2022 2023
2024
Hibernians ........................ Valletta .................... Hibernians ........................ Valletta Valletta ........................ Floriana ........ Ħamrun Spartans .................... Hibernians ........ Ħamrun Spartans Ħamrun Spartans
...... the final whistle club captain Steve Borg was presented with the league trophy by MFA president Bjorn Vassallo to kickstart the Spartans title party.
Ħamrun Spartans coach Luciano Zauri decided to make two changes in his starting formation as Montenegrin forward Uros Duranovic was preferred to
Luke Montebello, the current Premier League top scorer, who had to settle for a place on the bench while Ognjen Bjelicic was drafted in the three-man defence at the expense of Eder.
Hibernians, on their part, under the charge of Branko Nisevic, who incidentally last year had led the Spartans to the Premier League title last season, made one change to their starting formation as Robert Bairam was preferred to Jurgen Degabriele.
Party mood
The match was played in front of a party atmosphere as hundreds of Ħamrun Spartans fans thronged the Enclosure stand to celebrate their team’s latest achievement.
And the Ħamrun fans quickly had good reason to celebrate as after five minutes of play the Spartans were already in front.
Duranovic found Ryan Camenzuli clear on the left and the Malta wing back immediately sent a low cross inside the area. The Hibernians defenders failed to clear and in came Jonny who blasted the ball past Hibs goalkeeper Hugo Sacco and into the roof of the net.
The Spartans were now in ascendancy and on 14 minutes they came close to doubling their lead.
Roko Prsa broke inside the area but was dispossessed by Ferdinando Apap with the ball falling into the path of Jonny who saw his shot deflected into the sidenetting.
On 24 minutes, Hibernians defender Hugo Alves Fernandes almost presented the Spartans with the second goal on a plate when his clearance went straight into the feet of Duranovic but the Montenegrin forward shot straight into the hands of Sacco.
Hibernians finally threatened on 31 minutes when from a Giannis Bastianos free-kick, Apap rose above his marker headed the ball wide.
The Paolites did manage to equalise five minutes from the break.
The hard-working Bonanni sent a dipping pass into the path of Rodni Antwi who chipped the ball past Federico Marchetti.
The Spartans tried to respond immediately and they came close to restore their lead a minute later when Jonny saw his low shot blocked by Sacco.
After the break, Zauri withdrew Bjelicic and roped in Eder in a bid to add more dynamism to his midfield.
The Brazilian midfielder almost made an instant impact when he stormed inside the area but was thwarted by a providential tackle by Apap.
Hibernians were not ready to let the Spartans have it all their way and in these early stages but