Marsaxlokk returned to winning ways as a brace by Yuri Messias handed them a 2-0 win over a Birkirkara side reduced to nine men in the final stages at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.
A win which puts Marsaxlokk alone in third place, three points clear of the Stripes.
Birkirkara failed to repeat the fine performance they had against Balzan last week to suffer a second defeat in three matches.
Marsaxlokk took the lead on the 36th minute when he concluded a good move by beating Jovan Pajovic and Daniele Mariani on the run before hitting the ball home past goalkeeper Marcel Zapytowski.
Six minutes from time, Enrico Pepe received a second yellow card in just five minutes’ time to leave his side in ten men.
Two minutes in added time, Ali Diakite handled the ball inside the area and was sent off by referee Matthew De Gabriele and from the penalty spot, Yuri Messias sealed the issue with a second goal.
