Marsa claim victory in relegation battle

Marsa Zabbar SP 4 2

Marsa obtained a valuable victory in the direct relegation clash, deservedly beating Zabbar in an entertaining match. Marsa are now a mere point behind the same Zabbar, and four points above Melita who are now in a desperate position.

Needing the victory at all costs, Marsa went all out on the attck from the initial whistle and after some attempts at goal they took the lead on 17 minutes when De Fex Marriaga passed towards Luka Mijic who beat Grech with a grounder.

Strangely enough Zabbar were timid in their approach and failed to react, with Marsa continuing to pile the pressure. In the final minutes of the first half the Zabbar custodian charged out of position to block Mark Gauci who was heading for goal.

But on 42 minutes Marsa doubled the score again through Luka Mijic’s low shot and just before the break a Mark Gauci deflected shot almost finished at the back of the net.

Nine minutes into the second half Zabbar were back in business when Shalon Diacono beat Galea with a good shot. But Zabbar’s joy was shortlived as two minutes later Marsa re-established their two goal cushion when Rafael De Fex Marriaga headed home from close range.

There was more to come as after another two minutes Zabbar again pulled one back when Christian Stewart first-timed beautifully home a Diacono cross from the left. Marsa however kept their cool and the control of the match with De Fex Marriaga going close again with eight minutes to go.

Sixty seconds later Zabbar were reduced to ten men when their top scorer Kurt Borg was sent for a second booking. In stoppage time Marsa put their minds completely at rest with a fourthy goal scored by substitute Dylan Pirotta after a fast break.

W. Galea, E. Grech (M. Busuttil), N. Micallef, A. Caruana (R. Mercieca), V. Stanic (D. Pirotta), J. Farrugia, M. Camilleri, P. Lapira, R. de Fex Marriaga, L. Mijic, M. Gauci.

J. Grech, K. Borg, D. Pace, S. Cesare, C. Magro (C. Camilleri), C. Stewart, S. Diacono, D. Micallef, D. Aquilina, A. Pulis, N. Silva Canas.

Jude Ameen Utulu