YoHealth Malta Premier 2025/26, MD22
Marsaxlokk…2
Hibernians….1
Marsaxlokk defeated Super Cup winners Hibernians to move into second place in the YoHealth Malta Premier standings, now sitting just one point above Ħamrun Spartans following Matchday 22 of the closing round.
Marsaxlokk started brightly and threatened as early as the sixth minute when Arias delivered a corner from the left that almost caught goalkeeper Branescu off guard, forcing him to tip the ball away. The match soon settled into a competitive rhythm, with Pepe receiving the first yellow card of the game for Marsaxlokk in the 17th minute.
The Southseasiders continued to press, and in the 24th minute Arias unleashed a powerful strike from outside the area on the left, once again testing Branescu, who produced another fine save. Marsaxlokk’s persistence paid off a minute later when Rasmus Dupont Linden collected the ball centrally, dribbled past Silva dos Santos and Branescu, and calmly finished into the net to give his side the lead.
Hibernians attempted to respond, with Halabaku trying his luck from the left on 29 minutes, but his effort was comfortably gathered by Calleja Cremona. However, Marsaxlokk doubled their advantage in the 30th minute when Linden struck again. This time, he advanced from the left and finished clinically from inside the box to make it 2-0. During the same move, Hibernians captain Kristensen picked up an injury and was forced to leave the pitch, replaced by Ellul.
Marsaxlokk maintained control for much of the remainder of the first half. El Hasni received a yellow card in the 40th minute, while moments later Akinbule tested Calleja Cremona from a dangerous free kick at the edge of the box, only for the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper to produce another solid save. Hibernians nearly pulled one back in stoppage time of the first half when Halabaku delivered a cross from the left towards Debattista, but the latter failed to finish. Nunes Silva was also booked just before the interval.
At the start of the second half, Hibernians made a change with Hernandez replacing Debattista. Despite increased effort, they struggled to break down a well-organised Marsaxlokk defence. Nunes Silva attempted a shot from the right in the 56th minute but fired well over, while Aguirre was booked for protesting two minutes later.
Marsaxlokk remained dangerous on the counter. In the 62nd minute, Arias almost added a third following a swift move, but his effort from the right went narrowly wide. Two minutes later, Soares struck from a central position, with his shot deflecting off a Hibernians defender and onto the post. In the same phase, Branescu momentarily lost control of the ball, with Arias nearly capitalising.
Both sides made a series of substitutions as the match progressed. Hibernians introduced Attard and Diakite in the 67th minute, while Marsaxlokk responded with Christie-Davies and Kirby for Soares and Linden in the 70th. Nisevic made his final change for Hibernians in the 77th minute, bringing on Mendonca for Halabaku, while Marsaxlokk coach Potenza later introduced Caruana for captain Muscat and made further late adjustments.
Hibernians managed to reduce the deficit in stoppage time when a high ball from the left found Nunes Silva, who headed past Calleja Cremona in the 91st minute. They nearly snatched a dramatic equaliser seconds later from a corner, but Nunes Silva’s header sailed just over the bar.
Marsaxlokk held on to secure a crucial victory that lifts them into second place in the table, underlining their strong form in the closing round.
Player of the Match: Rasmus Dupont Linden (Marsaxlokk)
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
