Marsa 1
Naxxar L 2
Naxxar Lions stopped the negative trend when they beat Marsa with the odd goal in three in a rather low profile match. Naxxar were coming from three consecutive defeats and this win lifts them up in the table to a rather safer place in the table.
For Marsa this was the second consecutive defeat following the derby defeat against Hamrun. The Redblues who were considered among the promotion candidates, are now being cut off from the promotion race, and their position in the table is anything but healthy.
Marsa were without Anthony Evi Parker, who has joined Floriana, and his absence was sorely felt up front. Naxxar needing the points badly were very determined with Bellia very efficient in midfield and with Jerry Ani always dangerous with his runs.
Naxxar had a good start with Ani shooting high from the edge, and with defender Zuccaro heading high from an ideal position, with the Marsa defence completely off-balance. Marsa had a good move on the right flank with Gilbert Martin shooting well over the bar.
On 27 minutes Naxxar took the lead when a Justin Zammit cross shot from more than thirty metres completely deceived golakeeper Rodrick Spiteri with the ball finishing at the back of the net.
Marsa tried to dictate matte2s in midfield but could not come to grips with a well organised Naxxar defence guided by Zuccaro. Naxxar could have doubled the score just before the break when Simon Muscat beat the offside trap, but his shot was well saved by goalkeeper Spiteri.
The second half started with Naxxar scoring the second goal, and it was a gem of a goal with Jerry Ani beating Spiteri from the edge of the area with a grounder.
Marsa pulled one back on 61 minutes with a well executed move on the right flank by substitute Zammit whose cross was met by Daniel Gatt who headed beautifully in. This goal gave Marsa new lease of life but they left their last desperate efforts till the very end, with Zammit testing Cini with a well executed freekick, and substitute Lee Grima was unlucky when he hit the post.