Hamrun Spartans first finalists beating Marsaxlokk on penalties

PRE-SEASON SUMMER CUP 2024

6.8.24
Centenary Stadium, Ta’ Qali
1^st Semi-Final

MARSAXLOKK…1
HAMRUN SPARTANS…1
Hamrun Spartans winners after penalties: 3-4
(HT 1-0)

1-0 Nikola Raden 3, 1-1 Luke Montebello, pen, 62

Earlier tonight, champions Hamrun Spartans qualified for the final of the Pre-Season Summer Cup, a quadrangular tournament between the Top 4 teams of the 2023/24 Premier Division. The Spartans, who improved considerably from their disappointing European Cup run, had to swallow an early setback as Marsaxlokk took an early lead, but were awarded a penalty in the second half and also took the spotkicks better in the decisive shoot-out.

Winston Muscat’s side took an early lead through Nikola Raden, blasting home a corner from captain Leandro Aguirre on the edge of the six-yard box. The seasiders created another chance on 13 minutes, when Steve Borg turned an on-target Duane Bonnici header into a corner. Despite having most of the ball possession, the Spartans could only threaten through some setpieces, mainly with corner kicks. Hamrun striker Raphael Lopes curled his long-range free-kick inches close on 43 minutes, which was the closest the Spartans came towards a goal.

Hamrun improved in the second half with Raphael Lopes serving substitute Talison from the edge of the box but his attempt was turned into a corner. Not much later, Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Marko Drobnjak blocked another shot by Talison, with the Malta champions now seriously threatening. In the attack that followed on the other side, Spartans goalkeeper Celio was called back in action, parading a rising shot by Leandro Aguirre.
Just after the hour, Hamrun were awarded a penalty for a handsball incident in the box, with Luke Montebello converting from the spot. Moments later, Montebello crossed precisely from the right wing towards substitute Vitao, who incredibly headed wide from an ideal angle.

Towards the end, it was Marsaxlokk who pushed more to force out a decider, with Celio denying Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre a few minutes before the end of regular time. In a quick counter-attack, Joseph Mbong set-up substitute Ryan Camenzuli who blasted wide from an ideal angle while deep in stoppage time, Steve Borg turned a Karl Micallef header into a corner.

As per the rules of the tournament, the game went straight into penalties after the 90 minutes, with Spartans goalkeeper Celio saving the 11-meter efforts from Leandro Aguirre and Alex Tank, while Hamrun missed just once through Vitao, with Wendell Barros blasting home the decisive penalty.

Tomorrow, Floriana and Sliema Wanderers meet in the second Semi-Final at the same venue, also with a 19h30 kick off time, with the winner meeting Hamrun Spartans on Saturday at the National Stadium.

Images copyright Walter Sargent