Matchday 12: Valletta 0 Hamrun S. 1
22/11/2025
Ħamrun Spartans outsmarted neighbouring rivals Valletta 1-0 at the National Stadium to storm to the top of the YoHealth Malta Premier League.
An Ognjen Bjelicic goal three minutes into the second half proved decisive to enable the Spartans to come out on top in what turned out to be a real battle against their fierce rivals.
The Spartans, after a slow start, started to ramp up the pressure on their opponents’ goal, and they had to wait until early in the second half for a fine strike from Bjelicic that earned them a crucial win.
From then on, the Spartans had to withstand Valletta’s late pressure and their solid defence, again marshalled by goalkeeper Henry Bonello, managed to preserve the clean sheet and secure the three points that lift them two points clear over Floriana, who face Marsaxlokk this afternoon.
Valletta will surely feel hard done by the outcome as they threw everything they had at the Spartans’ defence but they were let down by their finishing late on as they slumped to their second successive defeat.
Prior to kick-off, Ħamrun Spartans CEO Marcel Bonnici presented a commemorative shirt to goalkeeper Bonello who was making his 100th appearance for the Reds in the Premier League.
Thane Micallef, the Valletta coach, was boosted by the return of Serbian defender Sava Radic and forward Yuri Messias after they missed their team’s defeat to Żabbar St Patrick before the international break.
Ħamrun, on the other hand, fielded several of their best players even though they gave a rest to Croatian midfielder Ante Coric, while N’dri Koffi started on the bench.
Valletta started brightly as their high pressing was unsettling the Spartans, who were struggling to make any inroads in their opponents’ half.
It was the Citizens who created the first chance after eight minutes when Jake Azzopardi won a free-kick some 30 metres out and goalkeeper Henry Bonello was forced to push away Yuri Messias’ thumping drive from the resulting free-kick.
On 20 minutes, Valletta protested for a penalty when Mendoza’s throughball played in Messias who fell under the challenge of Vincenzo Polito.
Valletta goalkeeper Thane Micallef asked the referee to review the action on the Football Video Support, and referee Slobodan Petrovic, after reviewing the footage, decided that no infringement and no penalty was awarded.
Ħamrun finally threatened on 24 minutes when the Spartans won possession in midfield and Garcia released Saliou Thioune, who was denied by Valletta goalkeeper Adilson Maringa.
Four minutes later, Camenzuli raced through on the left and his pinpoint cross towards Semar Smajgalic but Brewer was on hand to head the ball away.
Ħamrun were starting to step up their intensity of play and it was mirrored by the fact that they were seeing more of the ball.
In stoppage time, Valletta thought they had won a penalty. Aldama picked Messias who sped inside the area and fell under the challenge of Emerson Marcelina.
The referee pointed to the spot but Marcelina immediately asked his coach to review the decision on Football Video Support.
Petrovic went onto the screen and realised that Messias had simulated his fall, thus the Serbian-born referee overturned his decision and booked the Brazilian forward for simulation.
On the restart, Modica made three changes as Mouad El Fanis, Koffi and Joseph Mbong were brought on in lieu of Jovan Cadenovic, Saliou Thioune and Merlin Hadzi.
And the move produced instant dividends as two of the new entrants engineered the Spartans’ opening goal.
The clock marked 48 minutes when El Fanis embarked on a surging run and fed Mbong. The Malta winger moved inside the area and quickly set up Ognjen Bjelicic, and the Serbian hit a curling drive that gave no chance to Maringa.
Valletta finally threatened on 65 minutes when Bonello dived at full stretch to block Steve Borg’s header from a Brandon Paiber free-kick.
Two minutes later, the Ħamrun no.1 produced a fine save to deny Messias after some fine work from substitute Yannick Yankam.
Valletta lost an even better chance 20 minutes from time when Aldama’s cross cut the Spartans defence open, but neither Jefferson nor Andrea Zammit managed to turn the ball into an open net.
Chances continued to fall for Valletta as 13 minutes from time, Jefferson beat the Spartans’ offside trap but fired over with only Bonello to beat.
Ħakrmurn finally threatened ten minutes from time, but El Fanis shot was saved by Maringa.
Substitute Andrei Ciolacu almost grabbed a last-gasp equaliser when he tried to flick the ball from close in but his effort was deflected just wide.
Source: Times of Malta
VALLETTA: A. dos Santos, S. Borg, B. Paiber, J. Azzopardi (A. ZAmmit), S. Brewer, N. Micallef (E. Pinto Gomes), Y. Messias, S. Radić, T. Aldama (K. Ewurum), J. De Assis (A. Ciolacu), J. Mendoza (Y. Yankam).
HAMRUN S.: H. Bonello, R. Compri, M. Garcia, S. Mbacke Thioune (J. Mbong), V. Polito, S. Smajlagic (D. Simkus), J. Cadenovic (N. Koffi), O. Jelicic, M. Hadzi (M. El Fanis), E. Marcelina, R. Camenzuli
Scorers: 47′ O. Bjelicic (H)
Yellow Cards: B. Paiber, Y. Messias (V), M. El Fanis (H).
Referee: S. Petrovic.
