Hamrun Spartans down Sliema to claim BOV Super Cup with two second-half strikes

Photos by Domenic Aquilina

BOV Super Cup Final

13.12.2024, National Stadium, Ta’ Qali

Hamrun Spartans…2

Sliema Wanderers...0

63' Lopes Silva Raphael, 79' Luke Montebello (HMR)

 

Hamrun Spartans clinched the BOV Super Cup for the seventh time in their history with a fine victory over Sliema Wanderers. Both goals came in the second half with Sliema also ending up with ten men after their captain Freire Bernardo was sent off.

In-form Hamrun Spartans were looking to claim the first silverware of the season against a resurgent Sliema Wanderers side in a keenly contested BOV Super Cup final. Coach Alessandro Zinnari was looking to build on last weekend’s excellent win over Floriana whilst Paul Zammit was also looking to continue the Blues’ unbeaten run and claim another trophy.

The opening minutes were quite entertaining with Sliema having their first opportunity after seven minutes when a Steve Pisani free-kick was acrobatically punched for a corner by Henry Bonello. Pisani had another good chance on 17 minutes but he lifted his shot well over the bar from just outside the box.

Hamrun reacted with their first opportunity on 19 minutes when Luke Montebello tried his luck from outside the area only for his effort to end up just over. The Stripes’ first shot on target came on the half-hour mark when a stinger by Ryan Camenzuli was well saved by Emeka in the Sliema goal.

Sliema responded on 34 minutes when a counter released Adam Magri Overend who saw his low shot saved by Bonello for a corner. The rest of the half continued with not too much going on as both sides appeared finely balanced.

The second half saw Hamrun start strongly with an effort by Lopes Silva that went just wide on 53 minutes. 10 minutes later, the Spartans took the lead with a brilliant move that saw Lopes Silva lose his marker, enter the box and slam an unstoppable effort past Emeka Kelvin. A minute later it was almost 2-0 but Barbosa da Rocha was stopped by the Sliema defence.

The Spartans continued creating chances and a free-kick by Camenzuli severely tested Emeka who tipped over the bar. Matters worsened for Sliema on 77 minutes when their captain Freire Bernardo was sent off for a second yellow card. Just two minutes later, it was 2-0 for Hamrun when Montebello smashed home from a loose ball and practically sewed up the cup for the Spartans.

Hamrun Spartans FC: Henry Bonello (GK), Daniel Letherby, Luke Montebello, Talison Luis Barbosa, Joseph Essien Mbong, Freitas Da Silva, Marques Da Rocha Barbosa, Emerson Marcelina (Kean Scicluna 83'), Ryan Camenzuli, Raphael Lopes Silva.

Sliema Wanderers FC: Kelvin Agu Emeka (GK), Jean Borg, Adam Magri Overend (Neil Frendo 85'), Vito Plut, Myles Beerman (Jonata de Oliveira Bastos 74'), Gustavo Alcino, Matos Da Silva Wescley (Awad Mohamed Abdulahi 60'), Freire Bernardo Murillo Henrique, Geoffrey Edwin Acheampong, Simon Zibo, Steven Pisani (Nicholas Strickland 85').

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele

Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Vasil Vasilev

Fourth Official: Alex Johnson

BOV Player of the Match: Raphael Lopes Silva (HMR)