Floriana 0
Marsaxlokk 1
Alcorse 82 pen.
Floriana’s young guns were taught a harsh lesson yesterday when they were made to pay the penalty as Julio Alcorse’s 82nd-minute spotkick gave Marsaxlokk their first victory at the expense of the toothless Greens.
Marsaxlokk took to the field knowing that they were the only team who had yet to find the net after three hours of Premier League football following goalless draws in their opening two matches.
The Blues’ goal drought prompted coach Patrick Curmi to shuffle his forward line for the third time. With Julio Alcorse and Dylan Kokavessis on the bench, Alfred Effiong was handed the responsibility of leading Marsaxlokk’s bid to score their first goal and their first victory.
And the Nigerian almost left an instant mark on the match. On 17 minutes, Trevor Templeman set Effiong free on the right flank with a clever pass but the former Qormi striker sent his shot wide.
Forced to renounce to the leadership of Kiril Dzhorov, who received a one-match ban on Friday for his controversial goal celebration in Floriana’s 2-0 defeat of Birkirkara, coach Todor Raykov endured another anxious moment early in yesterday’s game.
Ivan Woods was forced to play most of the match with a bandage around his head after the former Sliema stalwart appeared to have been elbowed by Marsaxlokk’s Emil Yantchev in the 14th minute.
Marsaxlokk had mustered only six shots on goal in their first two games but it was they who created a number of scoring chances in the opening exchanges.
On the hour mark, Floriana goalkeeper Lofti Saidi tipped Martin Deanov’s strong cross-cum-shot over the bar. The Tunisian then had to react quickly to push away Carlo Mamo’s shot from the ensuing corner.
Floriana remained on the back foot as the match progressed. The Blues began the second half in determined fashion.
After Effiong shot narrowly wide, Gareth Sciberras came even closer 10 minutes into the second half. The Malta midfielder lifted a 20-metre shot over the bar.
Yet, Marsaxlokk’s lack of bite allowed Floriana to grow in confidence. After 62 minutes, Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Reuben Gauci parried away Michael Mecerod’s centre but the ball fell to Manolito Micallef whose drive from the edge of the penalty area fizzed just over.
Mecerod’s shot seemed to remind Marsaxlokk that Floriana were still in the game and after a neat move by Kokavessis, that ended with the grounded Malcolm Licari failing to connect properly to his pass, Curmi’s men opened the scoring.
With nine minutes left, Sacha Borg bundled Kokavessis to the ground to concede a penalty. Substitute Alcorse, who had barely been on the field for three minutes, calmly drove the ball past Saidi to give Marsaxlokk their first victory and extend their unbeaten start to three matches.
Floriana: L. Saidi-5, I. Sokolov-5, P. Doffo-5, M. Micallef-6 (68 C. Borg-5), M. Mecerod-6.5, I. Woods-6, D. Pisani-5, J. Borg-5 (86 C. Cassar), R. Darmanin-5 (59 C. Caruana), S. Borg-4.5, T. Farrugia-5.
Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci-6, C. Mamo-6, G. Sciberras-6, C. Brincat-7, M. Deanov-6 (61 D. Kokavessis-6) , M. Licari-6 (90 A. Spiteri), A. Effiong-5.5, R. Galabov-6.5 , T. Templeman-6, E. Yantchev-6.5, R. Gravata Guerero-6 (78 J. Alcorse-5).
Referee Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow cards Effiong; Doffo; Gauci; Caruana; Licari.
BOV player of the match Rumen Galabov (Marsaxlokk).