Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/755517
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2016 55 Sport FOOTBALL Hamrun return to winnings ways with victory over Gzira Hamrun Spartans ......... 2 Gzira United .................. 0 WARREN ZAMMIT ĦAMRUN Spartans returned to winning ways with a solid 2-0 win over Gżira United The Spartans protested for a penalty on the third minute when Patrick Jean Texeira Maia went down inside the penalty area. How- ever, Fyodor Zammit judged it to be a simulation and cautioned the Ħamrun forward. Ħamrun went close on the 8th minute. Leandro Wallace Motta Dos Santos found Jake Grech inside the area, but the Ħamrun captain saw his effort being blocked by a de- fender for a corner. Jonathan Holland's side had an- other good opportunity ten min- utes later. Jake Grech went on the left flank and delivered the ball to- wards Texeira Maia. The Brazilian attempted an effort from distance that sailed wide of the post. On the 30th minute, Texeira Maia created another opportunity for Ħamrun. The striker went on a good run and hit a low shot that was parried by Mauro Boerchio. Gżira's only chance in the first half came in the additional time given by the referee prior to half time. Gi- anmarco Conti went down the left side and delivered a cross that was met by Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledesma who saw his header going slightly wide. The Maroons produced another chance on the 49th minute. Follow- ing a cross inside the penalty area, Jallow Momodou Salieu saw his header ending up over the bar. Jorge Mesqueu Neto managed to put the Spartans ahead on the 58th minute. Motta Dos Santos sent a cross inside the penalty area towards the Brazilian who headed home in front of an open goal. On the 73rd minute, Teixeira Maia went close to double the score for Ħamrun after being put through on goal by Jake Grech. However, his effort was blocked by the Gżira goalkeeper. Gżira responded four minutes later after Correa Duarte Ricar- do Calixto delivered a cross that found Rodrigues Ledesma. The 33 year old fired a header that went centimetres wide of the post. On the 87th minute, Jake Grech managed to put the result beyond doubt for Ħamrun after netting their second goal. The 19 year old went through on goal and placed the ball past Boerchio. Ħamrun Spartans starting line- up: David Cassar, Luis Miguel Vergara Rodrigues, Philip Chir- cop, Luke Sciberras, Mesqueu Neto Jorge, Massimiliano Giusti, Luke Grech, Leandro Wallace Motta Dos Santos, Jake Grech, Sergio Raphael Dos Anjos, Patrick Jean Texeira Maia. Gżira United starting line-up: Mauro Boerchio, Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledesma, Gianmarco Conti, Antonio De Queiroz Mache- do Neto, Juan Carlas COrbalan, Andre White, Jallow Momodue Salieu, Jonathan Bondin, Zachary Scerri, Souleymane Diamoutene, Correa Duarte Ricardo Calixto. Referee: Fyodor Zammit Assistant referees: Luke Portelli, Peter Abela Fourth official: Glen Tonna BOV player of the match: Jake Grech (Ħamrun Spartans) Birkirkara ..................... 3 Tarxien Rainbows ......... 1 WARREN ZAMMIT BIRKIRKARA scored three late goals to secure a 3-1 win over Tarx- ien Rainbows Birkirkara had a good chance on the 45th minute when Srdjan Dim- itrov found Vito Plut, whose effort hit the woodwork. The Stripes went close once more on the 50th minute. From a free kick, Dimitrov saw his effort going slightly high. Besek's side kept pushing forward and had another good chance on the 73rd minute. Christian Bubal- ovic hit a shot that went centimetres wide of the post. Birkirkara went ahead on the 82nd minute. Matteo Desira Buttigieg was brought down inside the pen- alty area and the referee pointed to the spot. From the eleven metres mark, Vito Plut finished past the Tarxien goalkeeper. Dimitrov doubled the score for Birkirkara six minutes later. From a free kick, the Serbian saw his shot taking a deflection off the wall be- fore finishing inside the net. On the 90th minute, Birkirkara scored their third goal. In his at- tempts to clear Plut's cross, Mat- thew Tabone sent the ball inside his net. Tarxien reduced the margin of the score in the additional time given by the referee. Triston Caruana fired a stunning shot from outside the pen- alty area that ended up inside the net past Miloslav Kopric. Birkirkara starting line-up: Miro- slav Kopric, Christian Bubalovic, Gareth Sciberras, Mislav And- jelkovic, Srdjan Dimitrov, Vito Plut, Nikola Vukanac, Frank Temile, Joseph Zerafa, Cain Attard, Ryan Scicluna. Tarxien Rainbows starting line-up: Andrea Cassar, Julian Galea, Tris- ton Caruana, Daniel Ponce de Leon Garcia, Alex Nilsson, Sergio Fernan- dez Prendes, Daniel Zerafa, Alex da Paixao Alves, Matthew Tabone, Sa- cha Borg, Claudio Daniel Frances. Referee: Etienne Mangion Assistant referees: Alan Camill- eri, Thomas Debono Fourth of ficial: Alan Mario Sant BOV player of the match: Tris- ton Caruana (Tarxien Rainbows) Leandro Wallace Motta Dos Santos in action during Hamrun's win against Gzira Utd PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG Birkirkara leave it late to defeat Tarxien Rainbows Alex Da Paixao Alves challenging for the ball