Marsaxlokk win to pile more misery on struggling Birkirkara

BIRKIRKARA              0

MARSAXLOKK           1         

Dodo 59

Marsaxlokk earned another three points as a goal towards the hour handed them a narrow win over Birkirkara.

For the Southseasiders, this was their second successive win while handing Birkirkara a second consecutive defeat.

For Gianluca Festa’s side this was the eighth defeat in nine matches, which confirms the negative patch the Stripes are going through.

For Marsaxlokk, Danish forward Rasmus Linden made his debut as he was preferred to Nevin Portelli. Another new signing, James Kirby, was included as a substitute late in the game.

Birkirkara, on the other hand, had Jan Busuttil replacing Shaun Dimech but the former sustained an injury and was replaced by Dimech just past the half hour.

The two teams shared the exchanges in the opening minutes and although Marsaxlokk were pushing a bit harder, Birkirkara went close on 23 minutes with Kemar Reid hitting just wide from the edge of the area.

Four minutes later, Birkirkara goalkeeper Matthew Grech blocked a fine Leandro Aguirre freekick from the right. 

A minute from the end of the first half, Marsaxlokk were unlucky not to take the lead.

Linden hit the crossbar with a fine shot from outside the area and the ball eventually reached Ulises Arias whose effort ended just over.

Birkirkara showed better ideas in the opening minutes of the second half but Marsaxlokk were soon in command.

In fact, Marsaxlokk managed to take the lead on 59 minutes with Dodo hitting past goalkeeper Grech from close range. 

The Stripes’ reaction was quite sterile and in the remaining 30 minutes, the Southseasiders controlled without particular difficulty to take home the three points.

BIRKIRKARA

M. Grech, M. Morello, S. Viveros, A. Garzia, K. Reid, J. Busuttil (32’ S. Dimech)(73’ K. Fenech), A. Coppola, R. Santos, J. Vrcic, D. Makoma, J. Bayo (87’ G. Acheampong).

MARSAXLOKK

M. Calleja Cremona, W. Silva, O. El Hasni, E. Pepe, N. Muscat (90’ J. Ghio), R. Linden (77’ D. Simkus), U. Arias (90’ E. Attard), J. Corbalan, Dodo (90’ J. Kirby), J. Minala (90+6’ J. Vella), L. Aguirre.

Referee: Glen Tonna

Yellow Cards: J. Minala, R. Santos, D. Makoma, R. Linden, A. Garzia, A. Coppola, U. Arias