Ħamrun Spartans bridged the gap on leaders Floriana to just two points at the top of the YoHealth Malta Premier Closing Round as the Malta champions beat Hibernians 1-0 while Floriana were held to a goalless draw.
Here is a roundup of all the action from Matchday 23 by SportsDesk.
Floriana FC (0 – 0) Marsaxlokk FC
Floriana faced a tricky tie against a Marsaxlokk side who are in rude health of form and started the match as the Greens’ nearest challengers.
Floriana created the best chances with Jake Grech and Mustapha Jah missing their best opportunities.
In the end, the stalemate prevailed.
Hibernians FC (0 – 1) Ħamrun Spartans FC
Ħamrun Spartans needed a second-half goal from Joseph Mbong to see off Hibernians.
It was sweet revenge for the Spartans, who avenged their Super Cup defeat to the Paolites the previous week.
Żabbar St. Patrick FC (0 – 0) Valletta FC
Valletta failed to break down a resolute Żabbar St Patrick side as they had to settle with a goalless draw.
The Citizens dominated the match from start to finish, but their finishing was too wayward and they had to settle for a point.
Birkirkara FC (1 – 1) Sliema Wanderers FC
Sliema Wanderers and Birkirkara shared a point after a 1-1 draw.
Jacques Bayo put the Citizens ahead in the second half, but the Blues kept fighting and Gustavo Alcino headed home the equaliser from another corner action.
Mosta FC (0 – 1) Tarxien Rainbows FC
Tarxien Rainbows boosted their hopes of avoiding the bottom two places in the Closing Round with a crucial 1-0 win over Mosta at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
An own goal by Jake Vassallo proved decisive in this balanced encounter and handed all three points to Jacques Scerri’s side, who have now moved out of the bottom two places.
Tarxien took the lead in their first serious attack on 17 minutes when Junior Erico’s shot came off Mosta’s skipper Jake Vassallo with the ball finishing behind goalkeeper David Akpan.
Mosta fought back and just past the half-hour mark when Joaquim Fernandes hit a thumping drive that brought the best out of Tarxien goalkeeper Andrea Cassar with the aid of the crossbar.
A minute from the break, Mosta were awarded a penalty when Petar Panic brought down Prince Emmanuel inside the area.
But from the spot, Fernandes’s shot was brilliantly kept out by Cassar as the Rainbows held on for a crucial win.
Naxxar Lions FC (4 – 2) Gżira United FC
Gżira United suffered their third successive defeat after they fell to Naxxar Lions 4-2.
The Lions surged into a two-goal lead through efforts by Vitinho and Gabriel Costa.
Gżira fought back, and goals from Maxuell Maia and Andre Pena Da Costa restored parity. Louis Pahama restored Naxxar’s lead and then controversy hit the match as Gżira’s Stasa Bastic had a goal controversially chalked off for a dubious foul by Maxuell Maia.
Naxxar recovered and went off to seal the point with another strike from Pahama.
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