Valletta 1
Falzon 23
Marsaxlokk 2
Scicluna 32 og; Pereira 56
What goes around comes around. Much to Valletta's disappointment, this old saying held true yesterday as, five days after they delighted in title rivals Hibs' failure to beat Sliema, the champions slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Marsaxlokk.
Coming from five wins on the trot, Valletta were seen as favourites to make it six and close in on the title but they came unstuck against a fired-up Marsaxlokk team who were good value for their victory.
Marsaxlokk's success yesterday enabled them to reclaim fourth spot from Sliema but more importantly, it ensured that the title issue will be decided in today week's final-day clash between Valletta and Hibs.
Valletta's performance fell short of expectations yesterday, the Citizens looking jittery at the back and lacking in flair in midfield and up front.
Paul Zammit's team remain one point ahead of Hibs but the latter will return to the summit if they beat Birkirkara tomorrow.
Andrew Hogg returned to guard Valletta's goal after recovering from the knee injury he sustained in the 2-1 defeat of Hibs.
Marsaxlokk coach Patrick Curmi limited himself to one change from the team that threw away a 2-0 lead in drawing 2-2 with Birkirkara. Winger Chris Camilleri was preferred to Malcolm Licari.
Camilleri and Marcelo Pereira took up wide positions in Marsaxlokk's attack in which Julio Alcorse was the central striker.
The two teams' tactical configuration was more or less the same as Valletta's Zammit also favoured a fluid attack with Doding Priso afforded the liberty to roam and Dyson Falzon and Roderick Briffa probing for openings on the wings.
Inside the opening seven minutes, Alcorse advanced unimpeded on the left but his weak effort was easily dealt with by Hogg.
Alcorse had profited from the open space left by Luke Dimech who lay on the turf after picking up an injury. The defender was back on his feet after receiving treatment.
As Valletta struggled to find their usual fluency, Marsaxlokk warmed to the task of heaping more pressure on their opponents.
On one occasion, Camilleri nipped behind the backtracking City defence on the left but his effort was off target.
Marsaxlokk would come to rue Camilleri's miss as midway through the first half, Valletta broke the stalemate. Priso sent in a seemingly innocuous cross but William Camenzuli stumbled, leaving the path clear for Falzon to drill a shot past Reuben Debono.
Referee Paul Caruana provoked the wrath of the two sets of fans in the space of seconds. Marsaxlokk were irked by Caruana's failure to sanction Priso's challenge on Renato Conceicao. From the same action, Priso served Gilbert Agius who sped into the box where Camenzuli dispossessed him with a sliding tackle. Valletta protested for a penalty but Caruana turned a blind eye to their pleas.
The score became 1-1 on 32 minutes. Pereira cut in from the right and delivered a cross-shot, prompting Kenneth Scicluna to lunge towards the ball in an attempt to clear. Much to Scicluna's frustation, his intervention only served to skew the ball past the wrong-footed Hogg and into the far corner of the net.
Valletta survived an almighty scare in the dying moments. After a corner had been partially cleared by Valletta, the ball came to Kevin Sammut who dinked it back into the penalty box where Brian Said got behind the opposing defenders but his low shot hit the post.
Valletta's below-par showing in the first half moved coach Zammit into making a half-time substitution. Briffa made way for Ian Zammit.
The second half had just got underway when Valletta again betrayed signs of uneasiness in defence as Pereira gunned for goal. The Brazilian appeared to have been pulled from his shorts by Steve Bezzina as he was about to shoot but Caruana failed to spot the foul. Pereira's final effort sailed wide.
Eleven minutes into the second half, Marsaxlokk moved ahead. Pullicino played another cross over the Valletta defence and towards Pereira who, capitalising on Bezzina's slip, strode forward before driving his shot through Hogg's legs and into the net.
Valletta looked stunned. Their reaction produced a fine move involving Priso and Zammit. The latter passed to Falzon who aimed for goal but Said slid in to take the power out of his shot and Debono blocked.
With 18 minutes left, Valletta had a glorious chance to equalise when, amid a goalmouth melee, the ball fell kindly to Falzon but Conceicao blocked the City winger.
With 16 minutes remaining, Zammit threw on Seba Monesterolo for Falzon. Valletta protested for a penalty when Gilbert Agius appeared to have been floored by Conceicao but Caruana saw nothing wrong. Five minutes time, Marsaxlokk had the ball in the net when Alcorse's shot was deflected by Hogg and Licari headed in but the latter was in an offside position.
In the dying stages, a shot by Monesterolo was blocked by Debono.
Curmi's men should really have put their opponents to sword at the death when, in a sweeping counter-attack, Sammut served Alcorse who blasted high.
Valletta
A. Hogg-5.5, J. Grioli-5, K. Scicluna-5.5, L. Dimech-5, S. Bezzina-4, R. Briffa-5 ('46 I. Zammit-5.5), E. Agius-5.5, J. Pace-6, G. Agius-6, D. Priso-6, D. Falzon-6 ('74 S. Monesterolo).
Marsaxlokk
R. Debono-6, C. Mamo-7, G. Sciberras-6.5, R. Conceicao-7, B. Said-7, K. Sammut-7, P. Pullicino-7, J. Alcorse-6.5, C. Camilleri-5.5, W. Camenzuli-7, M. Pereira-7 ('74 M. Licari).
Referee: Paul Caruana.
Yellow cards: Pereira; Said; Mamo; Pace; Licari.
BoV player of the match: Marcelo Pereira (Marsaxlokk).