Effiong’s late double lifts Marsaxlokk into second place

Marsaxlokk 2
Effiong 79, 86;
Ħamrun Spartans 1
Spiteri 7;

The Victor Tedesco Stadium is Ħamrun’s home but it has also become the arena in which runaway leaders Valletta swept into a five-point advantage after seeing all their rivals faltering one after each other.

After going down to the leaders on Monday, Marsaxlokk, needed to make a statement of intent that they were genuine Premier League title contenders, and they did so in an emphatic way after coming from behind to beat the ‘home’ side with a second-half double by former Ħamrun Spartans striker Alfred Effiong.

This was a victory whose resonance counted for more than the three points. Ħamrun are not what they used to be but a victory over them conducted with such thoroughness will encourage Marsaxlokk who are yet to adjust to life as title contenders, feeling that their project is far more developed than their rivals prefer to think.

The result means Patrick Curmi’s men leapfrog Ħamrun and Floriana into second place, five points adrift of Premier League leaders Valletta.

Ħamrun were spirited, but that quality alone will not restore the club to its former standing. The Spartans defended their slim advantage too early in the game, seemingly content to sit back and soak up Marsaxlokk’s pressure.

The game’s opening followed a predictable pattern with Ħamrun assuming control and launching an early attack which yielded a corner after seven minutes.

From the resultant flag-kick, David Camilleri’s cross found Gaetan Spiteri who headed his team in front, despite Ruben Gauci’s efforts to head the ball clear.

Having taken an early lead it was the Spartans who continued to look the more likely side to score, notably when Mark Anthony Bonnici cut inside from the right and his cross found Marcelo Pereira in space but his volley drifted over the bar.

Marsaxlokk’s reaction came from Peter Pullicino who struck a curler just past the upright after 25 minutes.

If the Southseasiders were struggling for momentum in the opening exchanges, that all changed soon after, as they set up camp in opposition territory.

On 35 minutes, Rumen Galabov and Dylan Kokavessis played a one-two on the right-hand side of the area and the Bulgarian defender escaped the attentions of Jovan Vukanic but his powerful shot was well blocked by Camilleri who threw himself at the ball.

Just before half-time, a quick counter attack by Marsaxlokk ended with a low drive from the edge of the box by Trevor Templeman which slipped just wide of the far post.

But Ħamrun posed the first danger after the break when Ryan Fenech wriggled between the Marsaxlokk defence and squared across the face of goal, but Pereira failed to apply the killer touch in front of a gaping net.

In the 64th minute, a 25-metre drive from Massimo Grima forced Gauci to dive full stretch and deflect the ball over the bar.

On the hour mark, Kokavessis was replaced by Gary Caruana. The new entrant was detailed by Patrick Curmi to focus on defensive rather than the attacking duties as Deanov was pushed on the left flank.

The change invigorated the Southseasiders who came closer than before with the Bulgarian striker’s cutter which forced Casha into an excellent save.

That was the crucial moment of the match and gave Marsaxlokk the platform for a much-improved second half. Few moments later, Ħamrun right-back Bonnici produced a crucial last-ditch tackle to block a Galabov shot.

In the 79th minute, Ruben Guerrero Gravata swung in a superb cross and Alfred Effiong rose the highest at the far post to send a fine header into the net.

Marsaxlokk grew in confidence and the Nigerian completed his side’s comeback four minutes from time, when he latched onto a ball from Malcolm Licari and bagged his seventh goal of the season with a fierce diagonal shot that rolled into the back of the net.

Marsaxlokk
R. Gauci-6, C. Mamo-6, G. Sciberras-6, M. Deanov-7.5 (90 K. Polidano), P. Pullicino-5 (71 A Spiteri), M. Licari-5, A. Effiong-6.5, R. Galabov-7.5, T. Templeman-7, D. Kokavessis-5 (58 G. Caruana), R. Guererro Gravata-6.

Ħamrun
I. Casha-5, M.A. Bonnici-6, Rod. Fenech-5, Ryan Fenech-6.5, M. Pereira-4.5 (60’ R. Mangion), G. Spiteri-5 (85 L.J. Agius), J. Vukanic-5, M. Hrubsa-5, D. Camilleri-6, P. Anizoba-4.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Grima, Ryan Fenech, Rod. Fenech, Guerrero, Bonnici.

BOV player of the match: Ryan Fenech (Ħamrun Spartans).