Saints outclass Marsa
San Gwann 4Marsa 0\nSan Gwann found little difficulty in disposing of a poor Marsa side whose performance yesterday at the Centenary Stadium was surely their worst of the season. While San Gwann will surely reap benefits from their new signing Igor...
San Gwann 4
Marsa 0
\nSan Gwann found little difficulty in disposing of a poor Marsa side whose performance yesterday at the Centenary Stadium was surely their worst of the season.
While San Gwann will surely reap benefits from their new signing Igor Stefanovic, Marsa rarely looked dangerous up front with the usual hardworking trio of Gilbert Martin, Ibrahim Tarik and Miguel Corbolan being marked out of the game.
The Saints' attacking tandem of Joseph Achokwu and Stefanovic immediately clicked off and on this form they will surely be a headache for any opponents in Division One.
In the initial stages of the match, San Gwann went all out in search of an early goal with Ilir Pelinku's side looking happy to sit back and defend.
San Gwann took the lead in the 19th minute when a Stefanovic free-kick was headed home from close range by Achokwu. Ten minutes later the Saints doubled their tally when Stefanovic dribbled his way into the Marsa area but his run was illegally halted in the area by Jonathan Buttigieg. Chris Agius completed formalities from the spot-kick.
Marsa tried to get back into the match and in the 32nd minute a Johan Zammit free-kick was fumbled by the San Gwann goalkeeper Chris Cini, but Martin failed to connect and the chance was lost.
A minute before the break, Marsa went close again with another Zammit free-kick with Lee Grima just missing the target.
San Gwann could have practically sealed the issue on the stroke of half-time when Stefanovic's inch-perfect cross found Achokwu, but the Nigerian was unlucky to see his shot hit the crossbar.
On the change of ends a Daniel Gatt free-kick was saved by the San Gwann custodian.
The Saints were dangerous in the 77th minute when a Jeffrey Farrugia cross was headed wide by Karl Sciberras in front of goal.
Three minutes later, Grima went close for Marsa but his effort just missed the target.
San Gwann hit a third six minutes from time when Clint Gatt beat the offside trap before serving the unmarked Achokwu who rifled the ball home.
The Saints wrapped up the issue in time added on when substitute Renato Caruana rounded Cordina to tap the ball home.
San Gwann: C. Cini, A. Gatt, J. Farrugia, A. Gambin, G. Magri, C. Agius, J. Achokwu, C. Cuschieri, I. Stefanovic (R. Caruana), K. Sciberras (A. Saliba), C. Gatt (R. Briffa).
Marsa: J. Cordina, R. Bonnici, J. Buttigieg, M. Scicluna (D. Vella), J. Zammit, K. Camilleri, L. Grima, M. Corbolan, G. Martin, K. Farrugia (J.P. Zammit), I. Tarik (D. Gatt).
Referee: Paul Caruana