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29 SENGLEA won another direct clash at the bottom of the table as they defeated Pietà Hotspurs 2-1. Pietà were awarded a penalty on the 35th minute. Arian Mrsulja floored Nicholas Pisani inside the penalty area and the ref- eree pointed towards the spot. However, Gabriel Mensah's shot from the penalty spot was saved by Matthew Farrugia. Senglea broke the deadlock just two min- utes later. Following a corner, Mido Sidqi El Mehdi placed the ball past Nicky Vella. The Hotspurs levelled matters on the brink of half-time. Jan Busuttil went round a defender and delivered a cross in the path of Nicholas Pisani who slotted the ball inside an open goal. Augusto Caseres regained Senglea's lead on the 59th minute. The Argentinian for- ward fired a powerful shot from an angled position that gave Vella no chance. Senglea ended up with ten men a min- ute later as Mrsulja was shown his second yellow card of the match. However, Senglea held firm as they col- lected another three precious points. Senglea Athletic starting line-up: Mat- thew Farrugia, Taisei Marukawa, Mido Sidqi El Mehdi, Zack Cassar, Leighton Grech, Romulo Santos Silva, Diego da Sil- va Venancio, Matias Garcia, Augusto Rene Caseres, Arian Mrsulja, Christian Sammut Pietà Hotspurs starting line-up: Nicky Vella, Christian Degabriele, Jan Busut- til, Nicholas Pisani, Gabriel Mensah, Juan Manuel Artiaga, Christian Grech, Stefan Radovanovic, Umeh Uchenna Calistus, Ishaya Irmiya Jalo, Antonio Machedo Neto Referee: Stefan Pace Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Paul Apap Fourth Official: Glen Tonna BOV Player of the Match: Taisei Marukawa (Senglea) WARREN ZAMMIT HAMRUN produced another solid display as they registered a 3-0 win over Tarxien Rainbows. Tarxien created the first chance of the match after three minutes. Following a cross, Destin Prince Mambouana's close range effort was pushed away by Sean Cini. Hamrun hit back and nearly forged ahead on the 12th min- ute. Caetano Calil went past a defender, but finished off target from in front of the goalkeeper. The Spartans kept on insisting and created another chance on the 22nd minute. Kevin Tulim- ieri's effort from inside the pen- alty area was saved by Dorian Bugeja in two attempts. Hamrun's efforts paid off three minutes later. Donneil Alain Makounza squared the ball for Marco Criaco and the latter fired a powerful shot from inside the penalty area that gave Bugeja no chance. Bugeja was on the alert to deny Hamrun from adding an- other goal on the 38th minute. Orestic Nikolopoulos fired a stunning volley that was tipped behind by Tarxien's custodian. From the resulting corner, Hamrun were unlucky not to score as Wilfried Domoraud's header stamped off the upright. Hamrun started the second half on the offensive, but suf- fered a setback on the 64th min- ute as Tulimieri was given his marching orders by the referee after being shown his second yellow card. Despite playing with a man less, Hamrun remained supe- rior and were denied by the post again on the 74th minute. Moukanza went round a de- fender before drilling a low shot that hit the woodwork. However, Tedesco's side sealed the three points on the 84th minute. Matthew Gauci's excellent delivery went into the path of Domoraud who fin- ished home from close range to the joy of Hamrun's numerous supporters present at the sta- dium. Hamrun added another goal during the additional time. Moukanza went through on goal before attempting a cross shot that was deflected inside the net by Mambouana of Tarx- ien. Following this result, Hamrun remain fourth in the table. Fur- ther to this, they extended the gap between them and Balzan to 5 points. Hamrun Spartans starting line-up: Sean Cini, Enrico Pepe, Triston Caruana, Wilfried Do- moraud, Matthew Robert Gau- ci, Marco Criaco, Karl Micallef, Donneil Alain Moukanza, Ores- tis Nikolopoulos, Caetano Calil, Kevin Tulimieri Tarxien Rainbows starting line-up: Dorian Bugeja, Marco Botta, Jens Alexander Wem- mer, Juan Gill Cruz, Daniel Zerafa, Michele Paolucci, Dar- ren Falzon, Siraj Arab, Destin Prince Mambouana, Anderson De Barros, Ricardo Silva Faria Referee: Mario Apap Assistant Referees: Christo- pher Francalanza, Roberto Vella Fourth Official: Etienne Mangion BOV Player of the Match: Donneil Alain Moukanza (Hamrun) maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 FEBRUARY 2019 SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE Hamrun Spartans roll over Tarxien Hamrun Spartans Tarxien Rainbows 3 0 Senglea win another direct clash Senglea Athletic Pietà Hotspurs 2 1 PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG