Marsaxlokk put five past champions Birkirkara

Alfred Effiong was the star of the day for Marsaxlokk as he scored four goals. It was a match totally dominated by Marsaxlokk and they had no problem penetrating Birkirkara’s under pare defence.

Marsaxlokk took the lead on the 32^ndminute when Trevor Templeman delivered a pass to Effiong who beat Manuel Bartolo to put the ball at the back of the net.

Birkirkara got back in the game when on the 40^thminute a shot by Terence Vella was deflected by a Marsaxlokk defender to beat goalkeeper Reuben Gauci.

On the final minutes of extra time in the first half Marasaxlokk took the lead again when Alfred Effiong was on target again when controlled the ball inside the area to have a shot blocked, but he managed to regain possession to give Marsaxlokk a 2-1 lead.

It was Marsaxlokk’s game now as in the first two minutes of the second half Kokavessis put them ahead 3-1.

Effiong was on target again when on the 56^thminute he beat defender Ryan Harding to shoot low past goalkeeper Bartolo. It was not 4-1 in favour of Marsaxlokk.

Birkirkara managed to squeeze in another goal when on the 62^ndminute a fantastic shot from Paul Fenech beat Marsaxlokk’s goalkeeper Reuben Gauci.

The final goal of the match came from Alfred Effiong again when on the 75^thminute he put the match totally out of reach for Birkirkara when he concluded after receiving  a pass from Reuben Guerreiro to make it 5-2.

B’KARA FC- M.Bartolo, S. Zahra (T.Paris), R. Harding (K.Pulo), N. Vukanac, T. Vella, T. Cilia, J. Zerafa, P. Fenech, A. Buhagiar, M. Galea, E. Lattes

Booked – Zahra, Harding

M’XLOKK FC - R. Gauci, C. Mamo, M. Deanov (S.Eboh), P. Pullicino, M. Licari (J.Alcorse), A. Effiong, R. Galabov, T. Templeman, D. Kokavessis (G.Caruana), R. Guerreiro, C. Brincat

Booked – Templeman

Goals – Effiong 32 min., 45 min., 57 min., 75 min., Kokavessis 47 min.( M), Vella 39 min., Fenech 62 min (B)

Referee – Paul Caruana

BOV Player of the Match - Alfred Effiong (M’Xlokk)