Winston Muscat’s Marsaxlokk started the season with a bang hitting five past newly promoted Naxxar Lions in the opening game of the season. As the score suggests Marsaxlokk were by far the better team, even though Naxxar gave them a good run for their money especially in the first half.
But in the second half Naxxar’s resistance faded out completely and Marsaxlokk had a field day with the Naxxar defence at sixes and sevens.
For Naxxar the return to the elite of Maltese football was rather disappointing and they have to improve a lot especially at the back to avoid making a quick return to the Challenge League.
Marsaxlokk had a very good pre‐season obtaining very good results and this was confirmed in yesterday’s opener.
Apart from the five goals scored Marsaxlokk had many other scoring opportunities with player of the match Yuri Messias having a five star performance.
But the whole side performed well with players like Nikolai Muscat, captain Aguirre and Fer‐ nandinho leaving a very good im‐ pression.
In the opening minutes Obonogwu missed a sitter in front of goal when he headed wide from close range following a Gary Camilleri freekick. But the goal was in the air and on fiteen minutes Obonogwu chested well towards Messia who fired home from close range.
Naxxar had an immediate reaction with Drobnjak making a great save off Maicon da Souza to preserve his side’s lead.
On 28 minutes an Aguirre long distance missile was well sdaved by Debono and three minutes a Messias good move with his shot slightly off target.
Just past the half hour a Neil Pace Cocks deflected shot just missed the base of the upright.
Seven minutes from the break Marsaxlokk doubled the score when the Naxxar defence failed to clear a Marsaxlokk freekick and Nikolai Muscat was on hand to first time beautifully home.
Nine minutes into the second half Marsaxlokk made it three when Messias passed towards Gomes Junior who fired past the onrushing Naxxar custodian. Four minutes later Naxxar pulled one back with a perfectly exe‐ cuted move, when their player on the evening, Moreira Da Silva passed towardsServo De Car‐ valho who scored with a low drive from an acute angle.
On 70 minutes Marsaxlokk put the issue beyond doubt when substitute Akinbule fired a scorecher from the heart of the penalty area with the ball rock‐ eting in the the roof of the net. Sixty seconds from the 90th minute Yuri Messias crowned an outstanding performance when he scored his second of the day with a low shot.
Photo: Timmy Cutugno