MELITA 1
Borg Olivier 56
MARSAXLOKK 3
Lopez 37, 67; Messias 52
MELITA
G. Mizzi, G. Barone (89 A. Messina), M. Cachia, J.P. Attard, K. Mohnani (70 M. Debattista), Andre, A. Borg Olivier (89 A. Aquilina), M. Bovenkamp (89 J. Micallef), J. Yepez, N. Cutajar (70 D. Xuereb), K. Bondin.
MARSAXLOKK
M. Drobnjak, N. Muscat, Y. Messias (81 J. Walker), D. Bonnici (81 J. Ghio), U. Arias (90 K. Dimech), J. Quitongo (90 S. Cassar), L. Lopez, A. Aguiar (90 A. Barbara), E. Pena Beltre, L. Aguirre, R. Scicluna.
Referee: Ezekiel Barbara.
Yellow cards: Mizzi, Drobnjak, Lopez, Cachia, Scicluna, Barone.
Marsaxlokk extended their positive run to eight matches with a third win in four matches as they defeated Melita 3-1.
The Southseasiders were a better side and although Melita tried to make a reaction after conceding the second goal, Marsaxlokk never looked in danger of losing any points.
This win enables Enzo Potenza’s side to move six points clear of Melita in the Bottom 6 table. For the latter, this was their third successive defeat.
Michael Cachia, Marc van de Font Bovenkamp and Nick Cutajar were named in the starting line-up for Melita as they lacked Andre Simanca and Henrique Motta, both suspended, while Matthew Debattista was among the substitutes.
Marsaxlokk also had three changes as Lucas Lopez, Duane Bonnici and Jai Quitongo replaced the suspended Karl Micallef and the unavailable Raphael Holzhauser and Nikola Raden.
Hardly forty seconds had passed that Andre received a pass inside the area and rounded the goalkeeper but as he was about to conclude from close-range, he slipped.
Alex De Aguiar was unlucky to hit the upright with a freekick from the right on 25 minutes. Melita replied with a fine freekick from the right by Alan Borg Olivier which was turned into a corner by Drobnjak.
Marsaxlokk managed to take the lead on 37 minutes.
Yuri delivered a corner from the left and Lucas Lopez rose high to head the ball home past goalkeeper Gosef Mizzi.
Two minutes later, the Southseasiders missed an excellent opportunity to double the score. Yuri pounced on a through ball but with the goalkeeper at his mercy, he lobbed the ball over.
Seven minutes into the second half, Marsaxlokk doubled the score.
Jai Quitongo’s effort from just inside the area was blocked by Ulises Arias with the ball reaching Yuri Messias who slotted the ball past the Melita custodian.
Melita pulled one back on 56 minutes as Borg Olivier’s fine attempt from the edge of the area gave Drobnjak no chance.
Jai Quitongo concluded a good run on the right flank for Marsaxlokk on 64 minutes with an angled shot which was deflected onto the upright and into a corner but following a swift counter break, Andre headed just over the bar off an inviting cross by Nick Cutajar from the left.
However, Marsaxlokk extended the lead on 67 minutes.
Yuri Messias delivered another corner from the left and Lucas Lopez headed home from close range.
Jesus Yepez headed just wide for Melita off another cross by Cutajar from the left on 70 minutes but ten minutes later, Marsaxlokk went close to adding another after Messias concluded a good move with a shot which, however, ended high.
