Muric strikes late as Floriana rescue point against Ħamrun Spartans

Floriana came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Ħamrun Spartans, with substitute Robert Muric scoring 16 minutes from time to deny the Spartans their first victory of the VBET Malta Premier League campaign.

Ħamrun had started the match strongly and took a deserved lead through Marcelo after 17 minutes. Floriana gradually grew into the game, however, and eventually found the equaliser in the second half.

The result gives Ħamrun their first point after consecutive defeats against Mosta and Birkirkara, while Floriana dropped their first points of the campaign after opening the season with wins over Birżebbuġa St Peter’s and Sliema Wanderers.

Floriana made one change from the side that defeated Sliema, with Kenan Dervisagic replacing Tomislav Gudelj.

Ħamrun coach Marco Amelia made three changes, handing starts to Rafael Compri, Jake Grech and Damir Ceter. Ante Coric was among the substitutes, while Ryan Camenzuli and Lucas Villela were unavailable.

The Spartans suffered an early setback when Saliou Thioune was forced off with a muscle injury after just seven minutes. Gonzalo Virano replaced him, making his first appearance for Ħamrun since joining the club during the summer.

Ħamrun dominated the opening stages and came close in the 10th minute when Emerson Marcelina headed just wide from Marcelo’s corner.

Seven minutes later, the Spartans took the lead.

Ognjen Bjelicic delivered a precise pass to Marcelo on the right, and the Brazilian advanced into the penalty area before calmly slotting the ball past Floriana goalkeeper Guilherme Cioletti.

Floriana responded with greater attacking intent. On 25 minutes, Paul Mbong delivered a corner from the left and Tomislav Gudelj, who had just replaced Yassine Jbira, headed narrowly wide.

Owen Spiteri then headed over from another Mbong corner, before Myles Beerman tested Ħamrun goalkeeper Celio with a long-range effort that was comfortably dealt with.

Five minutes before half-time, Dervisagic was denied by Celio after being played through by Federico Varela.

The Ħamrun goalkeeper was called into action again moments later, producing a good save to keep out Carlo Zammit Lonardelli’s header from Gudelj’s cross.

Ħamrun had chances of their own before the interval. Vincenzo Polito headed wide from Jake Grech’s cross, while Marcelo sent Ceter through in added time. Ceter attempted to round Cioletti, but the Floriana goalkeeper blocked his effort.

Floriana continued to threaten after the restart. Five minutes into the second half, Gaston Romano’s low effort following a cross from Zammit Lonardelli and a pass by Mbong went narrowly wide.

Ħamrun almost doubled their advantage in the 54th minute when Virano found substitute Marcello Trotta inside the area, but Trotta’s powerful effort was saved by Cioletti.

Marcelo then missed an excellent opportunity to score his second. Served by Grech from the left, he had time to control the ball but sent his effort over the bar from a promising position.

He was replaced shortly afterwards by Shaisen Attard.

Floriana came close to levelling in the 66th minute when Gudelj found himself unmarked in front of goal, but his effort struck the crossbar.

The equaliser finally arrived in the 74th minute.

Varela delivered a free-kick from the left and substitute Robert Muric was left unmarked in the area. He made no mistake, firing a low shot past Celio to make it 1-1.

Floriana pushed for a winner during the closing stages. Seven minutes from time, Varela sent Gudelj through, but Celio blocked his effort for a corner.

Gudelj went close again moments later after being supplied by Varela, but his angled shot was once again dealt with by the Ħamrun goalkeeper.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Beerman cut inside from the left and attempted an angled effort, but the ball took a deflection off Gudelj and went wide.

Neither side could find a winner, with the points ultimately shared after an evenly contested encounter.