Another bold performance by the Spartans is not enough

4 1

Partizan: Aleksandar Popovic, Sinisa Sanicanin, Igor Vujacic, Svetozar Markovic, Patrick Andrade (82’ Nemanja Jovic), Queensy Menig (59 Kristijan

′

Belic), Ricardo (90’ Nikola Terzic), Ljubomir Fejsa, Marko Zivkovic, Foussein Diabate (90’ Samed Bazdar), Slobodan Urosevic.

Hamrun S: Henry Bonello, Ederson Bruno Domingos (72’ Luke Montebello), Steve Borg, Matthew Guillaumier, Roko Prsa, Ognjen Bjelicic, Juan Carlos Corbalan (78’ Mousa Balla Sowe), Igor Nedeljkovic (46 Elvis

′

Mashike), Jonny Robert do Nascimento (72’ Ailton Jorge Soares ’Dodo’), Emerson Marcelina, Ryan Camenzuli.

Referee: Filip Glova (Slovakia)

Hamrun Spartans’ brilliant adventure in the Conference League will most likely finish with the tie against Partizan as the side from Belgrade won the first leg yesterday 4-1. Hamrun played another great match yesterday, dictated matters for long stretches but was punished, severely punished by a more polished and experienced outfit.

However Hamrun held their heads high and were a delight to watch. Rarely if ever a Maltese club played with such confidence and authority away from home and against such opposition.

Hamrun started on the attack facing the opponents with confidence and keeping possession of the ball for long stretches. However on nine minutes Camenzuli lost possession of the ball with Menig testing Bonello who saved in style.

On 15 minutes Partizan broke the deadlock when Zivkovic split the Spartans’ defence with a precise pass and Gomes rounded Bonello before shooting low into the net with Marcellina’sefforts to block the ball resulting in vain. Hamrun continued to keep possession of the ball but received another setback on 25 minutes when from a corner action Vujacic headed towards Urosevic who headed home from close range.

On 33 minutes Hamrun were further punished when Diabate finished in style a swift counter break by Partizan, a counter break that left the Spartans defenders reeling. In the dying

stages of the first half Hamrun managed to pull one back through Corbalan but the goal was disallowed as Jonny had previously fouled the Partizan custodian.

At the start of the second half Hamrun had a good opportunity when a Guillaumier header from a Prsa corner went slightly over the bar. The goal came on 52 minutes when from a Jonny corner Matthew Guillaumier headed home.

Four minutes later Hamrun went close again when a Matthew Guillaumier point blank header was brilliantly saved by Popovic. Hamrun continued to attack but left room for Partizan’s breaks which were always menacing, and on 70 minutes Andrade scored the fourth goal, a goal which could have easily been avoided by the Spartans’ rearguard.

Near the end of the game Hamrun continued to attack going close to scoring another goal through substitutes Montebello and Sowe.