Marsaxlokk 0
Mqabba 2
Mazitelli 28, Azzopardi 45;
Ten-men Mqabba showed their true mettle as they put Marsaxlokk to the sword to record their first win of the season following goals from Thiago Mazitelli and David Azzopardi.
The 28th-minute opener came after an abysmal mistake by Reuben Gauci in the Marsaxlokk goal. In a game that never touched the heights, Clive Mizzi’s men played for more than one period with ten men, after the first-half dismissal of Mazzitelli, but never showed any signs of fatigue.
The absence of Marsaxlokk duo Clive Brincat meant that Sunday Eboh and Patrick Borg were paired at centre-back, pushing Jonathan Xerri out at right back as Winston Muscat gave the nod to Malcolm Licari to replace the suspended Trevor Templeman.
Mizzi retained the same starting XI that figured in the 2-0 defeat against Sliema Wanderers last month.
Mqabba had the better of a scrappy opening half hour as the Reds looked far more willing to attack. But neither side really created any danger, Bojan Mamic forcing the only real save from Gauci with a rising strike after just 22 seconds.
Mqabba’s relentless running was rewarded on 29 minutes with the opening goal albeit it came in the most atrocious circumstances.
Mazitelli unleashed what looked like an innocuous shot towards goal but Gauci let the ball slip under his legs.
The goal finally triggered a static Marsaxlokk, who until then struggled with their passing and running off the ball, into life. Martin Deanov jinked past Marko Potezika before flighting the ball to the far post, a cross that was headed out by the unmarked Emiliano Lattes.
Mazzitelli soon turned from hero to villain as on 42 minutes he was given his marching orders with a straight red card when the striker lashed out in retaliation to Patrick Borg.
But Muscat’s men were in no shape to take any advantage and the Reds beat the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper again three minutes later this time into the left-hand corner when David Azzopardi unleashed a low drive after being put through by Mamic.
After a dull start to the second half, in which Muscat sent on Jean Paul Farrugia for Xerri in an attempt to cut the deficit, the former Hibernians striker created the first chance on the hour mark when his cross-cum-shot from the right wing posed no trouble to Kris Calleja.
The Southseasiders’ reaction was desperately lacking in imagination, but Calleja suffered another anxious moment minutes later when he was forced to punch away a shot by Obinna Obiefule.
But it was again Farrugia who almost gave his side a lifeline when he ended a chaotic goalmouth scramble with a shot that was blocked by Calleja.
The Mqabba goalkeeper had an even bigger scare after 76 minutes when Farrugia’s close-range shot was somehow kept out by Calleja.
It had been a frustrating night for the Marsaxlokk strikeforce of Obiefule and Farrugia as the latter was denied by a goalline clearance from Pierre Grima.
Marsaxlokk continued to push forward but they were unable to break down the Mqabba defence.
Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci-4, C. Mamo-6, M. Deanov-5, M. Licari-5, C. Campagnoli-7, E. Lattes-5 (72 D. Kokavessis), S. Eboh-5, J. Xerri-5 (46 J.P. Farrugia-6; 83 S. Borg), P. Borg-5, O. Obiefule-6, F. Raimy-5.
Mqabba: K. Calleja-7, P. Grima-6.5, M. Potezica-7, A. Scicluna-6, B. Timotic-6, D. Azzopardi-6.5 (90 J. Paris), T. Mazitelli, C. Calleja-8 (88 R. Duca), M. Bonnici-6, C. Micallef-6, B. Mamic-7 (80 J.P. Muscat).
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow cards: Mamo, Micallef, Potezika, Campagnoli, Paris.
Red card: Mazitelli (M) 42.
BOV player of the match: Bojan Mamic (Mqabba).
Attendance: 487.
07/12/11 Villarreal vs Napoli