Raimy foils Mqabba
Mqabba 1Marsaxlokk 1 Mqabba were close to producing an upset yesterday when with stoppage time being played they led promotion favourites Marsaxlokk 1-0. However, Florent Raimy came to the seasiders' rescue with a goal out of nowhere, a piledriver that...
Mqabba 1
Marsaxlokk 1
Mqabba were close to producing an upset yesterday when with stoppage time being played they led promotion favourites Marsaxlokk 1-0. However, Florent Raimy came to the seasiders' rescue with a goal out of nowhere, a piledriver that flew into the right-hand corner of Kris Calleja's goal.
Following the 4-4 draw against San Ġwann in their previous match, Marsaxlokk were expected to get back to winning ways at Mqabba's expense.
With newcomers Rumen Galabov and David Carabott also in the team, they were the ones who ventured forward most only to fail miserably in front of goal.
In the end, they almost returned home empty-handed had it not been for Raimy's last-gasp equaliser. At least, the point won eventually helped them retain sole leadership.
A Martin Deanov free-kick on 11 minutes beat Calleja but smacked against the post and Marsaxlokk could have taken the lead soon after but John Debattista intercepted an insidious cross inside Mqabba's box to stop Malcolm Licari from reaching the ball first.
Patrick Curmi's side insisted in attack. A Licari drive finished just wide following a defence-splitting pass from Raimy and another Licari attempt at goal, from a Dylan Kokavessis service, fell just wide of target.
On 25 minutes, Licari should have done better in front of an open goal and Marsaxlokk were made to pay dearly for that miss as Mqabba took the lead against the run of play when Mauro Bonnici headed in from a John Paul Muscat centre.
Just before the break, Elliott Navarro almost made it 2-0 but he drove the ball over the bar from just inside the box.
After the restart, Muscat also had a chance to double Mqabba's lead only for his effort to be stopped in style by keeper Glenn Zammit.
Marsaxlokk saw more of the ball in the second half even though Muscat was unlucky not to find the net when he sped past two defenders late on. His shot, however, hit the upright with the keeper beaten.
The points looked safe in Mqabba's bags at this point but then came Raimy's scorcher, surely one of the best goals, if not the best, this season.
More drama followed though as on 94 minutes Zammit produced a superb save to stop a calibrated Claudio Calleja shot from the edge of the area following Vilson Caushi's perfect ball from midfield.
Marsaxlokk: G. Zammit, G. Sciberras, D. Carabott (G. Caruana), M. Deanov, M. Licari, C. Brincat, R. Bajada, D. Kokkavessis (R. Galabov), E. Yantchev, F. Raimy, T. Templeman (L. Grech).
Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, P. Borg, S. Magro (M. Anastasi), M. Gauci (G. Barry), C. Calleja, J.P. Muscat (E. Borg), E. Navarro, J. Debattista, V. Caushi.
Referee: Glenn Tonna.
Man of the match: Florent Raimy (Marsaxlokk).