Linden double propels Marsaxlokk past Hibernians and into second place

MARSAXLOKK 2

Rasmus 24, 28

HIBERNIANS 1

Nunes 90

MARSAXLOKK

M. Calleja Cremona, Weder, O. El Hasni, E. Pepe, N. Muscat (79 T. Caruana), R. Linden (71 J. Kirby), JC Corbalan (86 J. Ghio), J. Ulises ( 86 E. Attard), Dodó (71 I. Christie-Davies), L. Aguirre, D. Simkus.

HIBERNIANS

C. Branescu, A. Silas, K. Shaw, B. Kristensen (31 M. Ellul) , M. Debattista (46  R. Hernandez), D. Xuereb  (46 C. Attard), K. Halabaku (76 Cleiton), P. Nunes, Mailson , S. Akinbule, Charleston. 

Referee: Sloban Petrovic

Yellow card: El Hasni, Aguirre,

The Southseasiders took a significant step towards securing their place in the Top 6, stealing a march on direct rivals Hibernians as they moved up to second in the league standings.

The contest was effectively settled just before the half-hour mark, when Danish striker Rasmus Linden struck twice in quick succession to tilt the balance decisively in his side’s favour.

Pedro Nunes pulled one back with a close-range header, but it was too little too late for the Paolites, who came crashing back down to the ground after their famous Super Cup victory over Ħamrun Spartans on Tuesday.

Marsaxlokk made the brighter start, stretching the Hibernians backline from the flanks. Jose Arias on the left and Juan Carlos Corbalan on the right repeatedly drove forward, pinning the Paolites deep and forcing a series of corners.

Domantas Simkus came closest in the opening stages, his effort flashing narrowly wide of Constantin Branescu’s far post.

Hibernians restored Mailson and Kevin Halabaku to the starting line-up following their decisive contribution in the Super Cup triumph over Ħamrun Spartans.

The Paolites retained their three-man defence, with Charleston and Kurt Shaw operating as central stoppers while captain Bjorn Kristensen acted as a sweeper just behind them.

It was Marsaxlokk who struck first.

On 24 minutes, Nikolai Muscat carved open the defence with a perfectly weighted through ball for Rasmus Linden. Clean through on goal, the forward kept his composure and slotted low past Branescu to give his side a deserved lead.

Linden proved a constant menace.

Four minutes later, he burst past Kristensen on the right and drilled a diagonal shot into the far bottom corner to double the advantage.

The Hibs captain was injured in the same passage of play and had to be replaced by Matthew Ellul, bringing a premature end to his evening.

Five minutes before the interval, Oualid El Hasni handled the ball just outside the area. From the resulting free-kick, Sunday Akinbule forced a smart save from former team-mate Matthew Calleja Cremona.

The Paolites should have reduced the deficit moments before the break. Halabaku squared invitingly for Matthew Debattista, but with the goal at his mercy, the attacking midfielder missed the ball completely, allowing Marsaxlokk to head into half-time firmly in control.

On 63 minutes, Marsaxlokk almost made it 3-0 when Dodó hit the foot of the post, Arias took the rebound, but was blocked by the goalkeeper Branescu.

Deep into stoppage time, Pedro Nunes pulled one back for Hibernians with a close-range header, but the response arrived too late to alter the outcome.