Out of the U*BET FA Trophy already, Marsaxlokk yesterday shifted all their attention on the Premier League, well aware that their only route to European participation next season is through the runners-up spot.
In so doing, they beat inferior Floriana, reduced to ten men at the start of the second half, with two first half goals, to climb into second place, five points adrift of leaders Valletta and two above third placed Birkirkara.
But this was an abysmal match, bereft of excitement and real goalmouth action, and forgotten long before the floodlights were turned off.
Both sides were missing some regulars. Marsaxlokk were without Conceicao, Templeman and the still injured Alcorse. Floriana had Simon Agius, Manolito Micallef and Mauro Brincat starting on the bench while Krsteski and Cassar were not even included in their squad.
The first 20 minutes were totally barren and immediately after that we were treated to a Marsaxlokk opener that deserved a more glamorous stage. Floriana keeper Micallef failed to grasp the ball on Licari’s deep cross from the left as he rushed off his line. The clearance fell to Kevin Sammut, who scored with a spectacular volley from some 20 metres out, the ball hitting the underside of the bar.
That goal put Marsaxlokk firmly in command as Floriana were unable to recover. Enjoying more of possession, but hardly penetrative, the champions doubled their lead four minutes before the break. Madzar’s effort on a Frendo corner from the left was blocked by the Floriana defence but Carlo Mamo hit in the loose ball to score his second consecutive goal in as many matches.
Floriana were lucky not to concede further derision in the final minutes. A Camenzuli rasping free kick skidded off Micallef’s arms and into a corner and from Frendo’s flag kick Licari’s headed effort was held out by the stretched keeper.
Floriana put in Micallef and Brincat for the second half, but after only two minutes, defender Ciantar was sent off for a second bookable offence, following a lunging tackle on Frendo.
Marsaxlokk tried to exploit their numerical superiority but looked profligate in front of the Floriana goal. Madzar was the main culprit as he twice fluffed open chances in front of a gaping goal. On an inviting Sammut cross he shot incredibly off target and then on 69 minutes he drove the ball against the foot of the post on another teasing cross by Frendo.
Floriana kept fighting gamely though and Micallef finally demanded a decent save from the inoperative keeper Debono with a low drive but they remained disturbingly short of penetration.
As the match progressed in more scrappy fashion, Marsaxlokk could idle, conserving their energy for a different test against Sliema Wanderers later this week.
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Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, C. Mamo, C. Magro, W. Camenzuli, P. Pullicino, J. Pace, C. Frendo (S. Wellman), K. Sammut (S. Tellus), A. Madzar, M. Barbara (S. Scicluna), M. Licari
Floriana: J. Micallef, J. Briffa, M. Sevasta, S. Eboh, C. Ciantar, T. Cilia, Z. Levniac (M. Brincat), J. Borg (D. Pisani), Y. Bolasie (M. Micallef), C. Caruana, R. Darmanin
Referee: K. Azzopardi Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, E. Spiteri 4th official: C. Lautier
Scorers: K. Sammut, C. Mamo
Yellow cards: P. Pullicino, C. Ciantar, S. Eboh, M. Brincat
Red card: C. Ciantar
Player of the match: Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk)
TMI top three: 1. C. Frendo 2. K. Sammut 3. P. Pullicino