Marsaxlokk….2
Balzan…………1
Marsaxlokk secured their first victory of the season in the 360 Sports Malta Premier by defeating Balzan 2-1.
This success can be seen as an immediate impact of the coaching change, following the departure of Winston Muscat and the appointment of Vincenzo Potenza earlier in the week.
Balzan went ahead in the 13th minute after Lucas Lopez fouled Dimeji Oluwatobiloba in the penalty area, prompting referee Fyodor Zammit to award a penalty. Udoyes Akpan stepped up and scored, putting Balzan in the lead.
In the 26th minute, Marsaxlokk leveled the score as Yuri Messias received a pass from Nikolai Muscat near the edge of the penalty area and expertly curled his shot past Golovic.
Marsaxlokk secured the decisive goal seven minutes after the second half began when Brazilian striker Alex Tank nodded in a cross from Jal Quitongo, earning Marsaxlokk their first points and victory of the season.
Marsaxlokk: M. Drobnjak, K. Micallef, N. Muscat, Y. Messias (D. Bonnici 88′), J. Arias, J. Quitongo (R. Holzhauser 77′), E. Lopez, A. De Aguiar, E.Pena Beltre (J. Walker 85′), L. Aguirre, R. Scicluna
Balzan: D. Golovic, G. Camilleri (J. Engerer 84′), S. Arab, M. Grima (M. Ahadi 52′), N. Pulis (J. Grech 74′), J. Busuttil, B. Hili (I. Westendorf 45′), D. Awosanya (C. Buschman-Dormund 74′), N. Zerjal, K. Williams, A. Akpan
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
