Marsaxlokk see off Balzan to go top of Premier League

BALZAN 0

MARSAXLOKK 3

Messias 13 pen, 73; De Aguiar 68

BALZAN

D. Golovic, N. Kerkez (81 Pulis), S. Arab, T. Caruana, B. Hili, D. Oluwatobiloba, L. Jankovic (81 I. Westendorf), L. Lukovic, V. Llorens Blasco (83 G. Farrugia), T. Repo (81 J. Grech), A. Akpan Udoyen (68 J. Busuttil).

MARSAXLOKK

M. Calleja Cremona D. Torres, K. Micallef, J. Ailton, N. Muscat, Y. Messias (90 N. Galea), J. Arias (90 T. Cremona), M. Adamec, L. Dessypris (79 S. Kukhianidze), A. De Aguiar (72 JC Corbolan) L. Aguirre.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: Hili, Adamec.

Missed penalty: Akpan (B) 50.

Marsaxlokk moved to the top of the Premier League standings with a comfortable victory over Balzan at the National Stadium.

More importantly, this victory puts Vincenzo Potenza’s side five points clear of seventh-place Melita and gives them some breathing space in a bid to avoid a Bottom-6 placing.

Balzan, however, are in big trouble. They remain on three points, coming from two consecutive defeats in which their defence shipped six goals without scoring.

Moreover, the manner of this defeat will have given their coach Daryl Willard little cause for optimism.

Balzan were shambolic in defence, toothless in midfield and lacked a cutting edge in attack while also missing a penalty.

Marsaxlokk made two changes with Duvan Torres and Dodo coming on for Enmy Pena Beltre and Sergo Kukhianidze.

Willard made no fewer than four changes to his line-up. The most notable was the omission of Jan Busuttil, with the others losing their place being goalkeeper Dylan Ciappara, and Rafael Floro and Henry Stanic who were serving suspension.

In a tight opening period, Balzan gave a good account of themselves but still found themselves a goal behind on 14 minutes.  

Tristan Caruana was adjudged to have brought down Alex de Aguiar inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Balzan goalkeeper Danilo Golovic was unable to stop a weak penalty by Yuri Messias.

The goal gave Marsaxlokk the confidence to push forward. On 36 minutes, a sweeping move from the Southseasiders ended with Ulises Arias curling a shot into the low corner which was pushed away by Golovic.

Balzan made a storming start to the second half. Udoyen Akpan wasted a great opportunity to restore the equilibrium when Victor Blasco was hauled down by Martin Adamec. But from the spot kick, the British player saw his effort saved by Matthew Calleja Cremona.

And there was no way back for them when Dodo squared a ball for De Aguiar to prod the ball home as Marsaxlokk went further ahead.

The rout was completed five minutes later, when Messias latched onto a long pass and fired the ball past Golovic.