First-half goals from Joseph Minala and Dodo earned Marsaxlokk a 2–1 victory over Żabbar St Patrick, keeping them two points behind the VBET Malta Premier leaders.

Mario Fontanella reduced the deficit late on, but Enzo Potenza’s side held firm to secure the win. Żabbar suffered their fourth defeat in seven matches and remain joint third from bottom.

Żabbar threatened first, with Thomas Mellilo’s seventh-minute effort from the right turned behind by Christoffer Mafoumbi. Ten minutes later, the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper blocked Vinicius Mendonca’s shot from the edge of the area before Nicolas Lancioni fired the rebound over.

Marsaxlokk took the lead in the 23rd minute through a Minala penalty. Referee Joseph Scerri awarded the spot-kick after reviewing a possible handball by Lancioni from Nikolai Muscat’s free-kick.

The Saints almost equalised in the 34th minute when Pah Franck Gouhon headed narrowly over from a free-kick.

Instead, Marsaxlokk doubled their advantage two minutes later. Patrik Mohorovic failed to control a back-pass, allowing Dodo to intercept and finish into the net.

Żabbar continued to create opportunities after the interval. Mafoumbi turned Joao Mafra’s well-struck free-kick behind in the 56th minute, while substitute Jake Micallef shot wide three minutes later after Mendonca intercepted a pass from the goalkeeper and supplied him inside the area.

Marsaxlokk responded through Rasmus Linden, whose header from a Matias Garcia cross was saved by Mohorovic in the 66th minute. Leandro Aguirre then sent a free-kick over the bar.

Mohorovic kept Żabbar in contention with another save six minutes from time, turning behind a powerful Ulises Arias effort after the midfielder was picked out by Semir Smajlagic.

Fontanella gave the Saints hope in the 87th minute, finishing from close range after being supplied by Stefan Jovancic following a free-kick from the right.

Marsaxlokk resisted the late challenge and nearly restored their two-goal cushion in stoppage time, when Mohorovic pushed Redon Mihana’s powerful shot behind.

Match details

Competition: VBET Malta Premier
Result: Marsaxlokk 2 Żabbar St Patrick 1
Half-time: 2–0
Scorers: Joseph Minala 23’ (penalty), Dodo 36’ (Marsaxlokk); Mario Fontanella 87’ (Żabbar).

Marsaxlokk: C. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni, E. Pepe, N. Muscat, U. Arias (W. Silva 90+1’), R. Linden (S. Smajlagic 71’), Dodo (D. Simkus 79’), J. Corbalan, M. Garcia (R. Mihana 71’), J. Minala (T. Caruana 79’), L. Aguirre.
Coach: Enzo Potenza.

Żabbar St Patrick: P. Mohorovic, K. Brucic, N. Lancioni (N. Agius 69’), J. Mafra, M. Jovicic (A. Agyeman 46’), J. Pisani, P. Gouhon (C. M’Mombwa 46’), S. Jovancic, Z. Leonardi, V. Mendonca (M. Fontanella 63’), T. Mellilo (J. Micallef 55’).
Coach: Adolfo Sormani.

Referee: Joseph Scerri.
Yellow cards: Nikolai Muscat (Marsaxlokk); Z. Leonardi, Jake Micallef (Żabbar).