Marsaxlokk widen gap in fourth place after beating 10-man Santa Lucia

SANTA LUCIA 0

MARSAXLOKK 3

Messias 73 pen., Gomes 76, Akinbule 88

SANTA LUCIA

F. Da Paz Silva, M. Ellul, D. Letherby (77 G. Virano), S. Pisani, O. Temitope, T. Nagamatsu (77 G Mensah), J. Pisani, A. Mrdja, F. Moracci (62 A. Piazza), S. Xerri, Evandro.

MARSAXLOKK

M. Calleja Cremona, Weder, K.Micallef (63 J. Walker), N. Muscat (88 A. Vaikainah), Y. Messias (88 S. Boakye), D. Bonnici, L. Aguirre, N. Raden, R. Scicluna (81 D. Dall’Oca), S. Akinbule (88 A. Obonogwu), J. Gomes.

Referee Matthew De Gabriele

Yellow card Temitope, Muscat

Red card Ojo Abraham Temitope (Santa Lucia) 43

Marsaxlokk consolidated the fourth spot after hitting three quick goals late in the second half to dispose of ten-man Santa Lucia at the Centenary Stadium on Friday.

Their win materialised with three late goals from their forward trio – Yuri Messias, José Gomes and Sunday Akinbule after Santa Lucia played with 10 men for an entire half.

In fact,  Winston Muscat’s troops took control of the game following the first-half dismissal of Ojo Abraham Temitope as Marsaxlokk came out with purpose in the second half.

Santa Lucia had the better of the early chances when Daniel Letherby tried to hit home, launching himself at Mattias Ellul’s cross, only for his attempted flying header to be blocked by the onrushing Matthew Calleja Cremona.

On 36 minutes, a well-struck Steve Pisani free-kick bounced out. Yet just before half-time, Santa Lucia were left feeling aggrieved that referee Matthew Degabriele sent off Temitope on a double yellow card for a reckless challenge on Messias.

Marsaxlokk came out strong after the interval, with Akinbule going close with a low drive. Shy the hour mark, Messias showed his class with a mazy run that took him past two defenders but he dragged his shot wide.  A few moments later, the Brazilian striker unleashed another low drive which Francisco Da Paz Silva got down sharply to save.

At the other end, Aleksa Mrdja flashed a shot narrowly wide with Calleja Cremona seemingly beaten. After 73 minutes, José Junior Gomes cleverly controlled the ball on the edge of the box and as the ball trickled past his marker, Mattias Ellul caught the Brazilian striker’s leg and brought him down in the area. From the ensuing spot kick, Messias buried the ball behind Da Paz.

Gomes grabbed the second three minutes later. The nippy striker went past a static Santa Lucia defence to hit a rising shot behind Da Paz.

Marsaxlokk controlled and the result never looked in doubt after the interval. Two minutes from time, Akinbule slammed home his free-kick.