Marsaxlokk made sure of staying in third place as they survived an early scare to beat Gzira United 4-2 at the Centenary Stadium on Sunday.
The Southseasiders, therefore returned to winning ways after the narrow defeat to Hamrun and now lie just four points behind the Spartans. Gzira, on the other hand, are now ninth.
The maroons had a perfect start taking the lead after just forty seconds when off an assist by Thiaguinho from the left, Lucas Macula hit home from close range.
Both sides were reduced to ten men on the 32nd minute after Gzira’s Luis Carlos Riascos Torres and Marsaxlokk’s Armah Ayo Vaikanah were both sent off by referee Malcolm Spiteri following a clash between a number of players.
Marsaxlokk levelled matters five minutes from the end of the first half thanks to a beautiful direct freekick by Leandro Aguirre which beat goalkeeper David Cassar.
Marsaxlokk went 2-1 ahead on the 61st minute when Marcelo Dias floored Sunday Akinbule inside the area and Yuri Messias converted.
On the 75th, Fernandinho was brought down inside the area by Gabriel Bohrer Mentz – a foul which cost the Gzira defender a second yellow card and was therefore sent off; referee Malcolm Spiteri ordered a penalty and Sunday Akinbule converted.
Five minutes later, Gzira reduced the gap thanks to a Farid Romero Zuniga header off a freekick by Thiaguinho.
However seven minutes from time, Marsaxlokk sealed the issue with a fourth goal courtesy of Sunday Akinbule whose diagonal shot from the right beat the Gzira custodian.