Marsaxlokk 2

Vittoriosa Stars 2

Still reeling from the exit of the FA Trophy by Vittoriosa Stars, Marsaxlokk yesterday might have faced the same opponents with some caution, having failed to beat them so far this season.

At the end, they had to fight hard to preserve a draw, after twice trailing the Stars and with Rumen Galabov, returning from suspension, sent off for two cautions by the hour.

This point moves them closer to a top-six finish and puts more pressure on the teams behind them, Hamrun Spartans, Qormi and Sliema Wanderers.

Marsaxlokk missed the industry of their two suspended midfielders Pullicino and Templeman.

Vittoriosa failed to make the best of all their opponents’ mishaps and twice surrendered their lead in an enjoyable second half.

Marsaxlokk made the more assertive start, with players running all over the field. Mamo, playing in an advanced role in midfield, delivered the embarrassment from the left. Deanov exchanged the ball with Effiong but his effort was footed into safety by keeper Agius.

But all the promise of early fireworks soon evaporated into the chilly air at the Victor Tedesco Stadium as Vittoriosa started to venture more into enemy territory, although lacking penetration.

They took the lead on 21 minutes. Leighton Grech ran down the right flank. His cross was missed by the entire Marsaxlokk defence and the ball fell to the unmarked Jorge Santos to blast it in from inside the area.

Marsaxlokk lost some of their composure as Effiong did not find too much support up front.

Towards the half hour, the Marsaxlokk Nigerian forward fell inside the area as he was challenged by Wellman, who cleared the ball into a corner. Surprisingly, keeper Agius, who tried to stop the ball from crossing the line, was injured when he fell badly. It took him some minutes to recover but eventually was substituted by the young Jean Vella three minutes before the interval.

Marsaxlokk pulled a leveller hardly five minutes after the resumption. Deanov played an intelligent pass forward to Alfred Effiong who beat the keeper with a low diagonal shot.

Marsaxlokk almost replicated three minutes later. Effiong was again released by Deanov but this time keeper Vella tipped the ball over the bar.

To their credit, Vittoriosa were not demorilised. They missed two chances in quick succession through Silva and Leighton Grech before the match took a twist in their favour on the hour.

Galabov, who had been already cautioned, fouled Silva outside the area and was dismissed for a second booking. Jorge Silva whipped the ensuing free kick at the top right hand corner to give his side the upperhand for the second time in the match.

But equilibrium was restored four minutes later. Effiong headed a Deanov free kick towards the middle for Florent Raimy to toe poke the ball from close range.

Vittoriosa even tried to exploit their numerical superiority and threatened further. Edison had his powerful shot from outside the area saved by keeper Gauci into a corner on 65 minutes and then Maccari headed Ryan Grech’s free kick over the bar.

Vittoriosa put in Alan Tabone for the innocuous Ewurum for the last quarter hour. But they were unable to trouble the Marsaxlokk rearguard any further and had to settle for a draw that leaves them rooted to the bottom.

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, M. Licari (S. Eboh), A. Spiteri, R. Galabov, E. Yanchev, F. Raimy, G. Sciberras, G. Caruana (R. Guerreiro), C. Mamo (R. Darmanin), M. Deanov, A. Effiong

Coach: P. Curmi

Vittoriosa S: S. Agius (J. Vella), C. Micallef, M. Maccari, K. Sammut, J. Chetcuti, L. Edison, R. Grech, J. Santos, A. Ewurum (A. Tabone), S. Wellman, L. Grech

Coach: W. Muscat

Referee: K. Azzopardi

Asst.refs: K. Borg, T. Debono

4th official: G. Tonna

Scorers: J. Silva 21, 61, A. Effiong 50, F. Raimy 64

Yellow cards: A. Spiteri, R. Galabov, F. Raimy, J. Silva, M. Deanov, G. Sciberras, R. Guerreiro

Red card: R. Galabov

Player of the match: J. Silva

TMI top 3: 1. J. Silva 2. M. Deanov 3. F. Raimy

Attendance: 249