Lack of conviction and commitment by Marsaxlokk, back in action after a five-week break, lead to a humiliating defeat against rampant Valletta yesterday, in a game too one-sided to be called a contest.
With Sebastian Omar Monesterolo rediscovering his scoring touch, netting four goals before halftime, Valletta had their work finished early and could idle, conserving their resources for a different test against Floriana next week.
In fact Marsaxlokk looked utterly poor and were convincingly outclassed and outfought by more superior and resilient opponents.
Monesterolo opened his account after only ten minutes, picking Bezzina’s inviting cross from the byeline on the right before shooting low past keeper Debono.
On 21 minutes Zammit, starting the match instead of Falzon, ran down the right flank, crossed towards the middle for Monesterolo to drill an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area.
Within 26 minutes Valletta were three up and Monesterolo notched his hat trick pouncing on a Templeman clearance to shoot low past the stranded Marsaxlokk keeper.
With the champions looking mostly bystanders and Valletta toying with their opponents, the fourth goal, two minutes before halftime, came as little surprise. The irrepressible Zammit again sparked the movement, putting Monesterolo clear with an intelligent flick for the Argentine forward to shoot past a helpless Debono.
The Marsaxlokk supporters’ frustration was evident as they removed all streamers and banners during halftime, and many made an early exit from Ta’ Qali.
Coach Talbot made three changes, dropping Camenzuli, Templeman and Frendo for the second half and although Marsaxlokk came up with a couple of tame efforts from Pullicino and Barbara, Valletta kept piling the goals. On 55 minutes, from a Giglio corner, Heiner Backhaus beat Debono with a back header, the German’s first league goal for Valletta.
On 68 minutes, Ian Zammit beat Tellus with his splendid dribble inside the area and the keeper with an angled drive to make it 6-0 shortly before making way for Falzon.
And just before the end, Frank Temile, who had squandered several chances,
completed Marsaxlokk’s humiliation, scoring Valletta’s seventh, after being put clear by Monesterolo, for his side’s biggest league win so far this season.
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