Marsaxlokk 1
Naxxar Lions 3
Naxxar Lions are back on top of the Division One standings with an easy victory over Marsaxlokk.
For the Lions, who have a one point advantage over Vittoriosa Stars, this was their second success over the southerners who are practically out of contention for an immediate return to the Premier League.
After only five minutes Naxxar midfielder Andrea Rocha Da Silva was foiled by Omar Borg while three minutes later the Marsa-xlokk goalkeeper was at it again when he tipped away Anderson Ribeiro’s curling drive.
On 15 minutes the Lions protested heavily for a penalty when an Angus Buhagiar cross looked to have hit the arm of a defender in the area but the referee waved play on.
Winson Muscat’s side took the lead on 34 minutes when Ribeiro hit home from close in after Gilbert Camilleri’s shot was partially blocked by Borg.
Marsaxlokk almost equalised five minutes later when Sunday Eboh miscued his clearance and Andre Grabowski’s shot hit the upiright.
Naxxar doubled their lead on 53 minutes when Camilleri headed home from a Buhagiar delivery.
Marsaxlokk responded on 72 minutes when a Ryan Xuereb drive finished just wide.
A minute later the Lions put the game to bed when Ribeiro was released by Buhagiar and beat Borg with a firm drive.
Marsaxlokk should have pulled a goal back on 85 minutes when Mark Brincat headed wide in front of a gaping goal.
However, the southerners did manage to reduce the arrears four minutes from time when Kurt Drago nodded the ball into the path of Grabowski who hit home from close in.
But the Lions were long home and dry.
Marsaxlokk: O. Borg, M. Brincat, K. Scicluna, M.P. Clarke, D. Fava (P. Paris), G. Caruana, D. Micallef (R. Xuereb), R. Mangion (D. Grech), D. Attard, D. Da Silva Silveira, A. Grabowski.
Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, J. Vella, K. Drago, A. Buhagiar (D. Falzon), S. Eboh, G. Camilleri (V. Bellia), P. Doffo, A. Rocha Da Silva (A. Ewurun), L. Micallef, M. Briffa, A. Ribeiro.
Referee: Karl Frendo Cumbo.
Man of the match: Anderson Ribeiro (Naxxar).
Standings
P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
Naxxar Lions | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 35 | 14 | 34 |
Vittoriosa | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 20 | 33 |
Pietà Hotspurs | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 16 | 30 |
Lija Athletic | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 29 | 25 | 29 |
Gudja United | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 28 | 20 | 26 |
Marsaxlokk | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 28 | 23 | 26 |
St Andrew’s | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 29 | 26 | 24 |
Gżira United | 16 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Żejtun Cor. | 16 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 18 |
Dingli | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 35 | 12 |
Birżebbuġa | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 38 | 9 |
Mqabba | 16 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 34 | 5 |