360sports Malta Premier 2024/25 Closing round
Marsaxlokk……………..3
Żabbar St Patrick……1
Marsaxlokk thwarted Żabbar St Patrick’s opportunity to climb to second place in the league table and moved out of the relegation zone with a crucial victory in this round.
The match began with a balanced display from both sides, each attempting to mount attacking threats. In the seventeenth minute, Marsaxlokk coach Vincenzo Potenza was forced to make an early substitution, with Kukhianidze replacing the injured Quitongo. Two minutes later, an irregular action from Adamec resulted in the first yellow card of the match for Marsaxlokk.
In the twenty-third minute, Marsaxlokk created an excellent chance when Aguirre delivered a long cross from the left, met by Pena Beltre, whose pass to Messias saw the latter attempt an overhead kick that went over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Żabbar St Patrick had a dangerous opportunity from a left-sided free kick, but Jovicic failed to convert from close range.
Żabbar St Patrick broke the deadlock in the thirty-first minute when Keqi capitalised on a pass from Jovicic, penetrating Marsaxlokk’s defence to score. However, Marsaxlokk equalised in the thirty-eighth minute following a defensive error by Żabbar. Arias pounced on the loose ball and was brought down by goalkeeper Grech, resulting in a penalty. Messias confidently converted the spot kick in the fortieth minute.
Żabbar St Patrick launched a counterattack in stoppage time, which saw Marsaxlokk defender Torres receive a yellow card for a foul on Oliveira. Just before the half-time whistle, Aguirre’s well-taken free kick was not capitalised on by any Marsaxlokk players.
Marsaxlokk emerged for the second half with an aggressive approach, pressing high in search of a lead. Żabbar St Patrick nearly regained the advantage in the fifty-fifth minute when Ilic’s low cross from the right found Tavares, whose effort struck the upright.
In the sixtieth minute, Jovicic received a yellow card for an irregular challenge, and five minutes later, Żabbar coach Parisi made a triple substitution, introducing Grech, Mendonca, and Barros in place of Jovicic, Keqi, and Tavares, respectively. Marsaxlokk’s Messias tested Grech with a powerful shot in the sixty-seventh minute, but the Żabbar goalkeeper was equal to the challenge.
Marsaxlokk made further substitutions, bringing on Walker for Ghio in the seventy-fourth minute and Gomes replacing Adamec five minutes later. Their persistence paid off in the eighty-first minute when Gomes converted from a corner, with the ball ricocheting off him and into the net.
Two minutes later, Gomes doubled his tally after a defensive lapse by Żabbar and an assist from Messias, sealing the victory for Marsaxlokk. Żabbar made a double substitution in the eighty-fourth minute, with Etim Akpan and Gatt replacing Micallef and Ilic.
Marsaxlokk remained dominant until the final whistle, securing three vital points in their fight to move up the table.
Player of the Match: Alex de Aguiar Gomes (Marsaxlokk)
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Marsaxlokk Line-Up:
Calleja Cremona Matthew (GK), Torres Quinones Diver Duvan (45+ YC), Muscat Nikolai, Ghio Jake (74’ Walker Jacob), De Jesus Messias Yuri, Arias Jose Ulises, Adamec Martin (19’ YC, 79’ De Aguiar Gomes Alex), Quitongo Jai (17’ Kukhianidze), Lopez Dessypris Lucas Emanuel, Pena Beltre Enmy Emanuel, Aguirre Leandro (C).
Żabbar St Patrick Line-Up:
Grech Matthew (GK, C), Micallef Jake (84’ Etim Akpan Izaak), Gambarte Brian Ariel, Ilic Stefan (84’ Gatt Sean), Pisani Jurgen, Regala De Figueiedo Tavares Diogo Joao (65’ Barros Santos Marcelo), Jovancic Strahinja, De Paiva Vinicius, Keqi Kristian (65’ De Sa Mendonca Joao Pedro), Jovicic Dorde (60’ YC, 65’ Grech Zachary), Oliveira Souza David.
