Marsaxlokk gain valuable point against Gudja United

MARSAXLOKK 1           

Bonanni 41

GUDJA UNITED               1           

Nagamatsu 30

MARSAXLOKK

M. Drobjnjak-6, T. Vella-6 (89 P. Sammut), K. Keqi-5.5 (64 T. Fonseca), C. Bonanni-6, P. Xuereb-6 (64 D. Agius), S. Ferraris-6.5, J. Aguilar-6, L. Aguirre-6.5, R. Scicluna-6, S. Moracci-6, D. Vukovic-6 (80 A. Attard).

GUDJA UNITED

J. Pisani-6, A. Prates-6, T. Nagamatsu-6 (90 S. Attard), V. Plut-6, J. Arthur-6, N. Micallef-6 (73 N. Tabone), K. Micallef-6.5, H. Vella-6, M. Muchardi-6, N. Navarrete-5.5, F. Zuniga-6.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow Cards: F. Romero, R. Scicluna, Ferraris.

BOV Player of the Match: Karl Micallef (Gudja United).

Marsaxlokk earned another precious point in their bid to steer further away from the danger zone as they held Gudja United to a 1-1 draw.

The result enabled Pablo Doffo’s side to extend their positive run to four matches and move tenth, one point ahead of Sirens.

For Gudja, this result hardly made any difference as they remain seventh as they continued to lose the pace with the top six teams. In fact, they trail Hibernians and Balzan by five points although the latter teams have a game in hand.

Gudja had goalkeeper James Pisani deputising for Glenn Zammit while Juan Bolanos was ruled out by suspension. Marsaxlokk, on the other hand, could not count on Oscar Carniello.

Marsaxlokk had the first attempt at goal on 10 minutes with a Santiago Ferraris free-kick ending just over.

Gudja replied with a cross by Karl Micallef from the right from which Vito Plut headed wide eight minutes later.

Gudja took the lead on the half-hour. Micallef delivered a cross and Tatsuro Nagamatsu headed home past goalkeeper Marko Drobnjak.

Marsaxlokk tried to react and went close to equalising with a Terence Vella header off a corner by Aguirre on 39 minutes.

However, four minutes from half-time, Marsaxlokk levelled matters.

Santiago Moracci provided the assist from the right and Claudio Bonanni slotted the ball past goalkeeper James Pisani.

In added time, the Southseasiders threatened once again with a Leandro Aguirre freekick which was turned into a corner by Pisani.

In the second half, Marsaxlokk showed greater determination, especially in the early stages. 

On 70 minutes, substitute Tiago Fonseca concluded a good solo effort with a diagonal shot which ended just wide.

Three minutes later, a cross-shot by Aguirre was parried by Pisani.

Gudja replied with a Plut effort ending just wide on 75 minutes and then it was Aguirre who tried his luck with a cross-shot which was neutralised by the Gudja goalkeeper.