Spartans go top as Floriana slump to Marsaxlokk defeat
Akinbule 84
MARSAXLOKK
M. Calleja Cremona, Weder, K. Micallef, N. Muscat, Y. Messias (90 Obonogwu), D. Bonnici, L. Aguirre, N. Raden R. Scicluna, S. Akinbule, F. Gomes (86 J. Ghio) FLORIANA
G. Kitanov, O. El Hasni, K. Reid, U. Arias (60 J. Grech), Matheus (70 C. Rovas), D. Vella, O. Spiteri (K. Nwoko), M. Valadzko, A. Kouro, A. Garzia (60 C. Zammit Lonardelli), W. Furtado.
Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.
Yellow cards: Raden, Garzia, Weder, Aguirre, Akinbule.
Red card: Akinbule (M) 89.
Floriana’s title challenge suffered a major blow when they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Marsaxlokk to lose their top placing in the Premier League standings at the expense of Ħamrun Spartans.
Sunday Akinbule scored the allimportant goal six minutes from time to hand Marsaxlokk three priceless points that seals a topfour finish for the southerners.
On the other hand, the result has thrown the title race wide open ahead of next week’s direct clash between the two rivals Ħamrun Spartans and Floriana.
Ħamrun, buoyed by their 4-1 win over Santa Lucia earlier in the day, will head into the match with a one-point lead at the top with Floriana having no other option but to win Saturday’s titanic clash if they are to regain control in the title race.
Floriana came out strongly and it was Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona who denied them the lead after 11 minutes.
Willy Furtado stormed inside the area and his shot was pushed away by the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper. Matheus was first on the rebound but the Brazilian was again denied by Calleja Cremona.
On 26 minutes, Marsaxlokk were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Maksim Valadzko looked to have used his arm to stop Fernando Gomes’ shot but
Montebello 16; Paintsil 45 Jonny 47 pen.; Eder 90 pen. Piazza 64
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
F. Marchetti, S. Borg, L. Montebello (75 C. Rutjens), J. Mbong, Elionay, Eder, O. Bjelicic, J. Corbalan (5 R. Camenzuli), S. Paintsil, N. Krstic, Jonny (90 G. Vella). SANTA LUCIA
Celio, M. Ellul (52 P. De Oliveira), D. Letherby, A. Bradshaw (72 T. Nagamatsu), J. Pisani, S. Pisani (53 Evandro), A. Mrdja, G. Virano, S. Moracci (59 G. Mensah), A. Piazza, S. Xerri (53 D. Xuereb).
Referee Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow cards Moracci, De Evandro, Elionay, Virano.
Oliveira,
referee Trustin Farrugia Cann waved play on.
Three minutes later, Furtado hit a fine inswinger that was pushed away by Calleja Cremona.
Marsaxlokk were defending solidly giving little room for the Greens forward to manouvre.
On 41 minutes El Hasni shot from the distance but the ball flew over.
After the break, Floriana started to dominate the match but for all their possession they failed to create openings.
Instead Marsaxlokk came close on 58 minutes when Duane Bonnici motored his way through and fed Yuri Messias. The Brazilian evaded two players but fired wide.
A minute later, Bonnici sent a dangerous cross towards Fenandinho but the Brazilian failed to connect with the ball.
Fourteen minutes, from time Valasko almost scored for Floriana but his dipping header finished just wide.
With Floriana pushing for a winner they left themselves exposed at the back and were made to pay by Marsaxlokk.
The clock marked 84 minutes when Calleja Cremona’s long kick found Messias who immediately played in Akinbule and the Nigerian hammered the ball into the net.
A minute from time, Marsaxlokk were reduced to ten men when Akinbule picked up a second yellow card for a clash with El Hasni.
Floriana threw caution to the wind and laid siege on the Marsaxlokk goal but could not beat the excellent Calleja Cremona as the southerners held on to the win.
Ħamrun Spartans maintained their winning momentum as two first-half goals put them on their way to a comfortable victory over relegation-threatened Santa Lucia.
The Spartans failed to sparkle early on and Santa Lucia almost struck after five minutes when Alessio Piazza’s cross found Santiago Moracci who fired wide.
In this action the Spartans lost Juan Corbalan to an injury and was replaced by Ryan Camenzuli.
Ħamrun scored with their first attempt on goal on 16 minutes. Jonny broke free on the right and his low cross was met by Luke Montebello who saw his first effort skittle past Celio.
Buoyed by this opener, the Spartans started to assert their dominance with long spells of possession but were still finding it difficult to create danger.
The Spartans finally added a second goal in the first minute of stoppage time when Krstic put
Eder in space on the left and his cross was met by Seth Paintsil who fired home.
Ħamrun Spartans took just 80 seconds into the second half to put the game to bed when Eder was floored inside the area by Jurgen Pisani and from the spot Jonny made no mistake.
Sta Lucia were regaled with a consolation goal on 64 minutes when Krstic lost the ball just outside the area, Gabriel Mensah fed Piazza who fired home.
In stoppage time, Gabriel Vella replaced Jonny and the young striker immediately left his mark when he was brought down in the area by Virano.
Referee Fyodor Zammit pointed to the spot and showed Virano his second yellow card.
Eder stepped up for the kick and his effort beat Celio to seal the Spartans’ win.
In the other match, Gżira United and Birkirkara cancelled each other in a goalless draw at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.
The final stalemate did little to help either side’s cause as Birkirkara slipped six points behind Marsaxlokk.
On the other hand, Gżira United picked up a valuable point which, however, need another
GŻIRA UNITED
D. Zarkov, G. Bohrer, T. Aldama, Z. Scerri (76 A. Borg), M. Dias, L. Ribeiro, F. Romero, Z. Cassar, J. Mendoza, K. Spence (86 B. Borg), T. Espindola. BIRKIRKARA
M. Zapytowski, E. Sarpong (85 K. Fenech), E. Pepe, K. Zammit, E. Pena Beltre (60 A. Diakite), S. Zibo, A. Coppola, P. Mbong (85 A. Zammit), N. Micallef (46 M. Maia), A. Satariano, A. Ciolacu.
Referee Matthew De Gabriele.
Yellow cards: K. Zammit, T. Espindola.
SLIEMA WANDERERS
R. Al Tumi, J. Borg, D. Kouao, M. Beerman, Murilo (57 E. Agius), N. Frendo, J. Arthur G. Acheampong, M. Awad (85 N. Strickland), L. Micallef (69 D. Kondrakov), V. Plut (85 J. Engerer). NAXXAR LIONS
M. Debono, J. Moura, F. Barbosa, R. Cassar, Maicon, Y. Ito, N. Pace Cocks, N. Micallef, Elizeu, Pablo, R. Blandon.
Referee: Andrea Sciriha.
Yellow card Cassar. one for mathematical certainty of their Premier League survival.
Naxxar Lions will all but play in the top-flight next season after grinding a goalless draw against Sliema.