Falcone’s late goal ends Marsaxlokk’s Top Six dream

MARSAXLOKK 1

Gomes 27

HIBERNIANS 1

Falcone 81

MARSAXLOKK

M. Drobnjak, K. Micallef, Y. Messias (89 D. Bonnici), J. Arias (89 J. Walker), J. Quitongo (64 R. Holzhauser), L. Dessypris, A. Gomes (80 N. Carvalho), E. Pena Beltre, L. Aguirre, R. Scicluna.

HIBERNIANS H. Sacco, A. Silas (88 Kleiton), A. Attard (69 A. Bruno) K. Shaw, K. Fraga, J. Degabriele (69 B. Kristensen), D. Xuereb ( 79 I. Chukunyere), F. Falcone, G. Bastianos (69 N. Carvalho), P. Nunes, Higor.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Quitongo, Henriques.

Federico Falcone struck in the 81st minute to end the hopes of rivals Marsaxlokk from a Top Six position.

Marsaxlokk looked set for a remarkable ascendancy into the Top tier after losing their first five league matches.

But a point was not enough for Vincenzo Potenza’s side, who came up short at the end of the first phase as they finished in eighth place following Ħamrun Spartans’s dramatic 2-1 victory over the Maroons.

Marsaxlokk looked understandably nervous from the start, Federico Falcone headed the ball against the post, and then Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Marco Drobnjak prodcued a stunning save to prevent Jurgen Degabriele to open the score at the near post with an acrobatic effort.

But Marsaxlokk got themselves in front with their first attack of the game. The clock marked 27 minutes when the Southseasiders won a corner on the right and Leandro Aguirre swung the ball into the area.

With Alex Gomes lurking in the box, the Brazilian striker slotted the ball home after profiting from a defensive mix-up.

Marsaxlokk knew that a goal in the other game between Ħamrun Spartans and Gżira United could plunge them back into the bottom six, but they had enough on their hands coping with a determined Hibernians side.

Just after the break, Giannis Bastianos hit a ferocious drive which was blocked by Drobnjak.

But few minutes later, the joyous atmosphere inside the Marsaxlokk’s stand turned into deathly silence as news filtered that Gżira went 1-0 up against Ħamrun Spartans.

The Paolites were struggling to make any headway and Branko Nisevic made a triple substitution past the hour mark with Degabriele, Ayrton Attard and Bastianos replaced by Miullen Felicio Carvalho, Bjorn Kristensen and Alex Bruno.

On 70 minutes, Falcone headed over the bar from Khevin Fraga’s cross.

Hibernians continued to look dangerous and they got their equaliser on 81 minutes with Bruno Silva crossing for Falcone to head the ball home.

Marsaxlokk were stunned and could not find a second goal and were forced to settle for a point.