Rampant Spartans punish erratic Sta Lucia

STA LUCIA 1

Ante Rosero 90

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS  4 

Adeshina 6; Mbong 9

Barbosa 27; Sasere 44

Three goals in the first half hour of the match were enough for Ħamrun Spartans to see off an erratic Sta Lucia side and preserve their perfect start to their Premier League campaign.

It was another convincing performance from Mark Buttigieg’s side who again underlined their scoring prowess with a clinical display in the first half to bag their second successive win and go top of the Premier League standings with six points.

However, one must say that the Spartans’ cause was aided by some erratic defending from Sta Lucia, particularly in three of the four goals conceded and surely coach Oliver Spiteri will demand far better from his players if they are to leave their mark this season.

Ħamrun enjoyed a storming start as after four minutes Predrag Djordevic put Jorge Ailton Soares in space and the Cape Verde forward slid the ball past goalkeeper Andreas Vella but Andre Prates Rodrigues clear the ball off the line. Dodo regained possession but saw his effort cleared off the line by Kevin Correa.

But the Spartans were not to be denied as two minutes later Ige Adeshina served Dodo who was denied by Vella but from the rebound Adeshina lashed in a firm strike that hit the back of the net.

The Saints were stunned and the Reds added a second on nine minutes when in another swift break, Djordjevic sent a low cross towards Joseph Mbong who stabbed home.

The Spartans were in cruise control and on 29 minutes they all but wrapped up the points when Correia’s poor pass was intercepted by Dodo who quickly served Marcelo Barbosa who fired into an empty net.

Sta Lucia threatened on 41 minutes when Correia met Luis Prestes Filho corner kick but headed wide.

On 44 minutes the Spartans lost Emerson Marcelina who picked up a knock and was replaced by new signing Franklin Sasere.

The former Lugano striker took just three minutes to leave his mark when he latched onto Djordjevic’s cross and fire the ball home.  

After the break, Sta Lucia tried to get themselves back into the match and on 51 minutes Kevin Ante Rosero hit a thumping volley that finished just wide.

At the other end, Darko Gojokovic’s inswinger flashed past the upright.

Eleven minutes from time, Ante Rosero burst inside the area but was denied by young Ħamrun goalkeeper Mathias Debono, who had just replaced Jonathan Debono.

Sta Lucia did pull a goal back in stoppage time when Ante Rosero intercepted a poor backpass by substitute Miguel Tabone to fire home.