Marsaxlokk secure first victory
ŻABBAR ST PATRICK 1-2 HIBERNIANS
Vinicius 45 (Ż); Jurgen Degabriele 69, Federico Falcone 80 (H).
The Tony Bezzina stadium is Hibernians’ home but yesterday, it could have become a land of conquer for their rivals, had not they come from behind to beat Zabbar St Patrick with a second half rally.
Vinicus steered the ball past Nino Sanches just before half-time to give Zabbar a shock lead before half-time. But Jurgen Degabriele brought Hibs back into the game. Substitute Federico Falcone scored the winning goal for his side.
Those two second-half goals also ensured Branko NIsevic’s side remained in the top six.
Even so Hibs were made to work hard for the three points by a muscular Zabbar side, who have gained some momentum after their recent victory over Balzan and draw against Naxxar Lions.
Hibernians were without Higo Gabriel suspended and Alex Bruno was on the bench but it did not stop Branko Nisevic’s side virtually dominating possession for the entire first half.
Miullen Carvalho, predictably, was the major threat as St Patrick without Strahinja Jovancic, out due to suspension, were forced to mount a lengthy rearguard action.
With Matthew Grech injured, promising goalkeeper Luca Camilleri was given his chance to shine. He was well-protected until he was forced into a fine diving save from Ayrton Attard’s low drive. On 23 minutes, Camilleri was again called into action when he punched away Bjorn Kristensen’s volley. Before the match, the Hibernians captain was presented with a commemorative shirt for making his 400 appearances with the Paolites.
Despite those scares Zabbar showed plenty of spirit and took the lead just before half-time. Diogo Tavares was a constant his pace on the right flank. But it was Vinicius on the other side who hit a diagonal shot behind Nino Sanchez.
Hibs’ frustrations continued after the break with Attard forcing another smart save from Camilleri and then Rodrigo Fraga struck the underside of the bar, before Camilleri push the ball into a corner.
Their breakthrough came on 69 minutes when Alfred Silas floated a cross from the right to Jurgen Degarbiele who scored his second goal of the season.
The Paolites were camped in the St Patrick territory and on ten minutes from time, substitute Federico Falcone crowned a period of fierce pressure with a close-range header that beat the excellent Camilleri.
At death, Marcelo Barros could have saved the ball for St Patrick when Sanches, the Hibs goalkeeper dropped the ball into his path, but the Brazilian striker could not find the back of the net.
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MARSAXLOKK 2-1 BALZAN
Yuri 27, Alex Tanque 52 (M); Undoyen Akpan 12 pen. (B).
Marsaxlokk has finally put their miserable start to the season to one side to see off strugglers Balzan and end a turbulent week with their first Premier League win of the season.
Last week, Winston Muscat was relieved of his duties and replaced by much-travelled coach Vincenzo Potenza. The change in guard at Marsaxlokk seems to have done the tricks and the Southseasiders garnered their first points of the season.
It was just the reward Marsaxlokk deserved on the back of a spirited and ambitious approach that belied their stricken position in the table.
For Balzan, however, it was another devastating defeat, the third in six matches. Entire seasons can change on pieces of good fortune and Marsaxlokk’s may well have done just that on Saturday at the Tony Bezzina Stadium when Alexander Akpan Udoyen wasted a glorious opportunity at death.
Despite having had little to shout about this term, the Marsaxlokk fans were in good voice early on as they aimed to spur on their side now under the helm of Potenza.
Inside the first five minutes, Jai Quitongo hit a rising shot which was tipped over the bar by Danilo Golovic, the Balzan goalkeeper.
But Alexander Akpan Udoyen’s fifth goal of the season after just 12 minutes soon changed the mood at the Tony Bezzina stadium. Dimeji Oluwatobiloba was hauled down by Lucas Lopes in the box and from the ensuing spot kick, the Sierra Leone striker sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
It was a hammer blow to the Southseasiders who had competed well in the opening period.
However, on 26 minutes, Marsaxlokk equalised when Yuri Messias was fed by Nikolai Muscat on the edge of the box and curled his shot behind Golovic.
Muscat led the way. Just before half time, he forced Golovic into a smart save at his near post.
It lifted Marsaxlokk’s spirits after the break and it took Alex De Aguiar Gomes just seven minutes to head home the lead, connecting to Jal Quitongo’s cross after the Balzan rearguard failed to clear the danger.
On 67 minutes, Leonardo Aguirre wasted a glorious to make the game safe for Marsaxlokk. Messias created havoc inside the Balzan area with a mazy run, before he set up the Argentine wingback who blazed across the face of goal.
In the 80th minute, Messias thought he had put the ball in the net again when his effort looped over Golovic but Nikola Zerjal cleared it off the line.
At death, Drobnjak made a vital block on Akpan as he came face-to-face with the goalkeeper. But there was to be no denying Marsaxlokk victory. The three points will ensure that Potenza had a winning start on the Marsaxlokk bench.
