Birkirkara's Leandro Lacunza (left) in a duel with Duane Bonnici. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
MARSAXLOKK 0
BIRKIRKARA 2
Maxuell 15 pen.
Coppola 51
MARSAXLOKK
M. Drobnjak; Jefferson, K. Micallef (81 D. Bonnici), N. Muscat, P. Nonato, Yuri (84 J. Ghio), J. Arias, L. Dessypris (18 E. Pena Beltre), A. Gomes, L. Aguirre, R. Scicluna.
BIRKIRKARA
G. Volpe; M. Morello, A. Sandona, P. Gaitan (72 S. Dimech), P. Mbong (84 A. Zammit), K. Zammit, A. Satariano, L. Lacunza, N. Micallef (68 N. Cross), A. Coppola, Maxuell (72 O. Siafa).
A goal in each half handed Birkirkara their second win of the season as they now moved on the seven-point mark after their opening three league games.
On the other hand, Marsaxlokk, one of last season’s surprise package, remain without a single point after falling to defeat in all their three outings so far.
Birkirkara’s forward Maxuell was again on the scoresheet and he has now netted five times in just three outings, topping the league’s scoring charts.
Birkirkara’s only change for this match was Manuel Morello for Maycon, while Marsaxlokk made two changes. Jefferson and Alex Gomes were given the nod at the expense of Enmy Pena Beltre and Nikola Raden.
Early on, Marsaxlokk’s Yuri tested Giacomo Volpe with a long-range effort before the Birkirkara backline cleared the danger away.
Alex Gomes followed up with a header from inside the small area but goalkeeper Volpe found no trouble in blocking his effort.
Momens later, Jose Arias tried his luck but could not beat the Birkirkara goalkeeper with his strike from outside the area.
Birkirkara’s first chance came through Maxuell who misfired his effort from point-blank range but won a penalty, nonetheless, after suffering a late tackle.
From the spot, the Brazilian forward converted the penalty to grab his fifth goal of the season.
Minutes after going one goal down, Marsaxlokk were dealt another blow when Lucas Dessypris had to be subbed off after picking up a knock.
He was replaced by former Birkirkara wingback Pena Beltre.
Marsaxlokk came close to level terms through Patrick Nonato just to be denied by a brilliant Volpe save to preserve Birkirkara’s one-goal lead.
Marsaxlokk tried to get back quickly into the tie through Nikolai Muscat but the midfielder’s shot failed to beat Volpe.
After the break, Birkirkara doubled their lead through Alessandro Coppola. The towering defender stunned Marko Drobnjak with a low-curved freekick as the Stripes could not have wished for a better start to the second half.
Midway into the second-half, Birkirkara introduced forward Oscar Siafa, who has 13 appearances with Equatorial Guinea and was making his Stripes debut.
Just moments after coming off the bench, midfielder Shaun Dimech tried to extend Birkirkara’s lead with a low drive just to go wide.
At the other end of the field, Volpe blocked another effort by Yuri as Marsaxlokk tried to stage a late rally to try and rescue this match but to no avail.
