Naxxar Lions 2
Marsaxlokk 0
Two early goals paved the way for Naxxar Lions to register their third win of the season that lifted them to joint-second in the Division One standings.
Winston Muscat’s side were in command for most of the match and it was only late on that Marsaxlokk threatened on a couple of occasions.
The southerners rarely were in the fray and after losing 1-0 to Nadur in the FA Trophy last week, they again failed to live up to their expectations.
Naxxar Lions forged ahead after only 56 seconds thanks to an Angus Buhagiar first-time effort from just outside the area.
The move started when Ivanilson Serino Junior spinted well from the right flank, crossed for Daren Falzon, the ball took a deflection off a defender, with the 25-year old Buhagiar burying the ball home with a low drive.
Three minutes later the Lions continued to push forward and Anthony Ewurun was brought down in the box by Matthew Clarke. Referee Paul Caruana did not hesitate to point to the spot and book Clarke in the process.
From the spot, Pablo Doffo coolly sent Omar Borg the wrong way to put the Lions two goals up.
The game died down after Naxxar’s double strike as Muscat’s men looked happy to control proceedings whilst Marsaxlokk’s reaction looked feeble and they never troubled Julian Azzopardi, the Lions goalkeeper.
Two minutes before the break it was Naxxar who came close to scoring a third when Falzon’s drive from the edge of the area nearly sneaked in but was deflected for a corner by a defender.
Naxxar again came out strongly in the second half and were unlucky not to increase their lead when on 48 minutes Falzon pounced on to a Mattia Del Negro pass, and hit the post from just inside the area.
Moments later a Sunday Eboh header, from a Doffo corner, was saved by Borg.
Marsaxlokk had to wait until the 54th minute to test Azzopardi and this came following a Mangion free-kick which forced the Lions goalkeeper to push the ball over the bar.
Marsaxlokk were unlucky eight minutes from time when Clarke headed on to the crossbar from a Dylan Micallef free-kick with Azzopardi well beaten.
More misery was in store for Marsaxlokk as a minute before the end, Andre Grabowski was sent off after receiving a second yellow card following a foul on Andre Rocha Da Silva.
Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, J. Vella, L. Micallef, S. Eboh, P. Doffo, V. Bellia, I. Serino Junior (A. Rocha Da Silva), M. Del Negro, A. Buhagiar (G. Camilleri), A. Ewurun, D. Falzon.
Marsaxlokk: O. Borg, T. Farrugia, J.C. Vella, K. Scicluna, M. Clarke, A. Grabowski, D. Da Silva Silveira (D. Grech), W. Chircop (D. Micallef), R. Mangion, G. Caruana, D. Attard
Referee: Paul Caruana.
Man of the match: Daren Falzon (Naxxar Lions).