Marsaxlokk made another step forward towards their first ever championship title on Saturday as they overcame Floriana by a solitary goal to extend their lead at the top to six points over second placed Msida.
It was the southern seasiders’ 11th victory in 13 matches and the side continues to set the pace at the top of the standings.
Floriana’s defeat means that they remain firm favourites for the Relegation Pool, as they still have a five-point gap to close in their remaining five matches.
Msida drew 1-1 against Valletta, but considering that they played most of the second half with just nine men, then, I must say this side is no fluke at all and they are just confirming their potential.
As for Valletta, they missed a good opportunity to remain in the hunt as they missed two precious points.
In the meantime, Sliema obtained the sixth positive result under new coach Ray Farrugia, beating champions Birkirkara by a solitary goal to move back in contention for the title.
On the other hand, Birkirkara’s defeat means that the chances of retaining their title have taken a big nosedive.
Marsaxlokk once again contented themselves with a slender marginal win over Floriana with Daniel Bogdanovic deciding the encounter with his ‘usual’ goal early in the second half.
But it was enough for Marsaxlokk to continue dictating matters at the top with the only five points they have missed so far coming from their matches against Birkirkara – a first round defeat and a second round draw.
The Greens are now in a desperate position, five points behind Birkirkara. At present, it looks as if they will again have to play in the Relegation Pool for a second consecutive time, unless they improve and start winning important points, while hoping that Birkirkara continue slipping.
The Stripes missed a good chance to save a point from the match against Sliema – they deserved much better than a defeat, in fact – as they missed a last-gasp penalty through Etienne Barbara which would have enabled them to save a point.
Not that it would have done much to improve their plight. But after this defeat, their morale has taken a further dip and they will also have to roll up their sleeves if they wish to avoid the Relegation Pool.
Sliema are back in contention. Slowly but surely, the side is gaining momentum under Farrugia and I bet they will be the main challengers to Marsaxlokk in the second phase, when ‘Zazu’ will also have others players available, among them Giglio, Mattocks, Turner, Anonam and Zvoboda.
The Blues have not been impressive in their performances but they are achieving what is important in football – the result – and that makes their followers happy.
Msida must be commended for their brave effort against Valletta. Having two players sent off within three minutes in the early stages of the second half was no joke against a team including a striking combination of Sebastian Monesterolo and Gilbert Agius.
The Saints had taken the lead in the first half, albeit with a somewhat strange goal, and in the second half, they were forced to retreat in defence, suffering just an equaliser and emerging with goalie Omar Borg as their great hero as he saved a last-minute penalty to earn a precious point for his side.
Valletta missed a good chance to stay with reach of the top trio as they should have taken advantage of their numerical superiority.
Yet, the citizens flopped and it was the second consecutive match in which they failed to win. Is this perhaps a sign that Paul Zammit’s squad is not well equipped to cope with such eventualities?
The final match between Pieta and St George’s ended in a somewhat expected goalless draw – but it only went on to show why these two teams will be playing in the Relegation Pool, come the second phase.
It was a pathetic performance between two poor sides who were unable to offer the few spectators present with something to shout about.
Best player
Ivan Woods (Sliema W.)
The Sliema and Malta striker is my pick this week after a most impressive performance in the second half of the match against Birkirkara on Friday night.
After a quiet first half in which he was well under control by the Birkirkara defence, he sprang to life in the second and often had the Birkirkara defenders in difficulty before eventually he got that ball from veteran Joe Brincat to score his usual goal which, at the end, proved to be the winner.
It was evident that Woods was the man that made the difference between the two sides in a match which could have gone either way.
The scorers
MARSAXLOKK (33): D. Bogdanovic 15, A. Schembri 5, H. Doda 5, K. Sammut 5, C. Mamo, S. Bajada, I. Azzopardi (Floriana) og
MSIDA SJ (27): I.Babatunde 8, D. Nwoke 10, O. Zongo 3, P. Fenech, R. Baldacchino 2, T. Farrugia, D. Cachia, P. Pullicino,
VALLETTA (29): S. Monesterolo 15, G. Agius 6, K. Magro 2, B. Nisevic 2, D. Zarb, E. Uzeh, I. Zammit, D. Falzon
FLORIANA (21): T. Cilia 4, W. Gomes 4, M. Micallef 3, A. Mifsud 4, C. Caruana 3, C. Cassar 2, I. Azzopardi
HIBERNIANS (26): T. Scerri 10, A. Cohen 6, N. Chukunyere 3, P. C. Doffo 2, T. Caruana 2, U. Nwoko, A. Xuereb, M. Bartolo
BIRKIRKARA (23): J.P. Mifsud Triganza 8, E. Barbara 6, G. Mallia 2, A. Paradiso, M. Calascione, L. Galea, MA Bonnici, H. Sbai, M. Galea, W. Camenzuli
SLIEMA (25): I. Woods 11, A. Muscat 4, R. Bajada 3, M. Galea 2, Z. Zvoboda 2, O. Anonam, J. Chetcuti, M. Scerri,
MARSA (7): A. Ewurun 2, E. Yantchev 2, B. Zammit, D. Cucciardi, V. Bellia
ST GEORGE’S (7): L. Mizzi 3, S. Sciberras, E. do Nascimento, L. Pace, R. Conceicao
PIETA H. (6): D. Theuma 2, A. Decesare 2, A. Debono, D. Kokavessis
Next matches
Saturday 6 January
(at Ta’ Qali national stadium)
4pm Hibernians-Pieta H.
6pm Msida SJ-Marsaxlokk
Sunday 7 January
(at Hibs Ground)
1pm Marsa-Floriana
3pm St George’s-Valletta