After 13 matches, at the end of round 1 in Malta’s Premier League, defending champions Ħamrun Spartans retained the pack’s leadership following their narrow victory over Hibernians. But it was mainly due to Floriana’s failure to get any points from their second loss in succession, in their surprise defeat against Gżira United. Meanwhile, Sliema Wanderers gained ground over the Greens with their slender win over Sirens and are now just a point behind them in third place.
Ħamrun Spartans ….. 2 Hibernians ….. 1
It was challenging for Ħamrun to claim all three points at the end of their 2-1 victory over Hibernians, who had been having a disappointing season by gathering just 18 points from a possible 39 in Round 1. For the Spartans, it was a challenging ride. However, they still managed to top the standings halfway through the campaign.
The Paolites’ hopes of a top-four finish keep disappearing. They have now gone three matches without crowning their efforts in a football match with a win.
Ħamrun started by putting pressure on their opponents and were unfortunate not to take the lead after 13 minutes when a powerful Uros Djuranovic shot smashed against the crossbar before bouncing on the goal line to be cleared to safety. But nine minutes later, Steve Borg paved the win for Ħamrun’s victory by scoring at the end of a corner kick action.
The Spartans stayed ahead but had to wait till the 85th minute to add a second goal from Ray Camenzuli. Hibernians reduced the arrears four minutes into stoppage time from a penalty converted by Jurgen Degabriele. But it was too little too late to avoid defeat.
Gżira United ….. 1 Floriana ….. 0
Floriana, who have given the impression that this could be their season, faced their second disappointment in just a few weeks by suffering their second defeat on the trot, this time a 0-1 loss against Gżira United that relegated them to the runner-up spot, three points behind Ħamrun.
Their victors on the day, Gżira, had been suffering many disappointments up to this game, culminating in the resignation of long-serving coach Darren Abdilla, who had guided them to becoming a solid proposition in the Premier League.
As it happened, new coach Andrew Cohen had a most satisfying debut, and their first victory for almost two months somewhat eased the pressure on Gżira by giving them some breathing space over the last four teams in the standings.
Floriana were a disappointment. They dominated and created enough scoring opportunities to take a commanding lead but missed them all and, in the end, paid dearly for their failure as they lost a match they were firm favourites to win.
The Maroons scored the all-important goal in the 44th minute through Thaylor Aldama, who lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Kitanov from a Gabriel Bohrer Mentz pass.
Floriana tried to make a reaction throughout the second half, but Gżira held out to the very end and even came close to adding to their tally two minutes from time when a Thiago Espindola freekick went just wide.
Sliema Wanderers ….. 1 Sirens ….. 0
Sliema Wanderers did not have to be on their best behaviour to waive away the opposition offered by bottom team Sirens. The result was close, a 1-0 win for the Wanderers. However, over the 90 minutes, they had to work hard to register their fifth victory in succession.
Sirens suffered their ninth defeat from 13 outings, and their position has become much too precarious to give them any comfort at the bottom of the league table. However, they had the chance to start on the proper trek when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Murilo Freire on Hafiz Mohammed Akadom after just six minutes, but Kwasi Donsu wasted the chance when he failed to beat goalkeeper Rashed Al-Tumi from the spot.
That miss was Sirens’ undoing, and they paid dearly for it as Sliema scored the goal that gave them victory and all three points in the 64th minute from Mohamed Abdulahi Awad from a pass by Denis Kouao.
Marsaxlokk …… 0 Balzan ….. 0
Marsaxlokk, who early in the season gave the impression they could be among the table toppers, fired blanks in a scoreless draw against Balzan, and although they are still high up, in fourth place in the league ladder, have now gone three league matches without a win and have lost precious ground. The sharing of points had more value for Balzan than Marsaxlokk as it helped them to preserve a mid-table position.
The match was void of excitement throughout the 90 minutes. The respective goalkeepers were rarely called up to save any dangerous situations. In the end, sharing the points was the fairest of outcomes.
Naxxar ….. 0 Mosta ….. 0
Neighbours Naxxar Lions and Mosta shared the spoils in a scoreless draw at the end of a balanced affair that satisfied nobody, especially Mosta, who failed to improve their position in the lower reaches of the standings.
The match failed to enthuse as both sets of players failed to raise their game, with play mostly confined to midfield and never really bothering the respective goalkeepers, especially in the first half.
In the second half, Mosta looked the more dangerous, and soon after the restart, Precious Linus Tenebe tested Matthias Debono in the Naxxar goal with a header, while goalkeeper Debono again Gianluca Sciberras with a fine save.
In their reaction, Naxxar could have taken the lead were it not for a fine save by Mosta goalkeeper David Udoh Akpan to keep out Pablo Augusto’s effort.
But Mosta again threatened to score, only for Armen Hovhannisyan’s effort, which looked to have beaten the Lions’ keeper in the 80th minute to be cleared off the goal line. By Ryan Cassar
In the dying minutes, the referee turned down Mosta’s appeals for a penalty, and in the 90th minute, Naxxar finished the game with only ten men when Pablo Augusto was red-carded.
Santa Lucia ….. 2 Birkirkara ….. 1
This continues to be a topsy-turvey season for Birkirkara. At one point, they looked as if they could make a strong challenge for the top positions, but at others, they are so vulnerable that any team could beat them, as in this instance when relegation-threatened Santa Lucia defeated them 2-1,
For the Saints, this precious victory gives them fresh hope for survival as it puts them six points above the two bottom two and very near to the teams above them.
Santa Lucia were the first to settle down. After 21 minutes, they drew ahead with a goal by Tatsuro Nagamatsu, who beat goalkeeper Marcel Zapytowski by finishing a move initiated by Santiago Moracci.
Birkirkara reacted strongly and three minutes later levelled the score through Andrei Ciolacu. They even looked as if they could take the reins and dictate matters. However, in the 40th minute, Santa Lucia caught them out once again through Alessio Piazza, who scored with a powerful shot that went in off the crossbar.
Birkirkara still looked good enough to salvage something out of this meeting. Still, they could have been more convincing, but for a headed effort by Enrico Pepe, seconds from the time that goalkeeper Da Paz saved, they never looked like they were troubling their opponents.
Valletta ….. 3 Gudja United ….. 0
What until this stage had been a most disappointing campaign for Valletta vastly improved with their 3-0 win over Gudja United on matchday 13. It also gave their supporters the satisfaction of their first victory since October. Gudja’s position, in the meantime, remains precarious as at the end of Round One, they share the bottom spot with Sirens with only six points.
Valletta had a perfect start thanks to an own goal by Ricardo Mendes, who deflected past his goalkeeper and into his net a cross from Victor Luiz’s cross.
That gave the Citizens the boost they needed. It helped them to stay on top throughout the match. Then, their best player, Federico Falcone, hit the upright and doubled Valletta’s lead with their second goal from a header in the 43rd minute.
Valletta did not let up in the second half and scored a third goal through substitute Diego Cardoso.
| Team | Played | Points |
| Ħamrun Spartans | 13 | 32 |
| Floriana | 13 | 29 |
| Sliema Wanderers | 13 | 28 |
| Marsaxlokk | 13 | 21 |
| Birkirkara, Naxxar Lions | 13 | 20 |
| Hibernians, Balzan | 13 | 18 |
| Valletta, Gżira United | 13 | 14 |
| Mosta, Santa Lucia | 13 | 12 |
| Gudja United, Sirens | 13 | 6 |
