Two goals by Ulises Arias enabled Marsaxlokk to beat Valletta 2-1 in a match from the VBET Malta Premier Opening Round league phase at the Centenary Stadium on Friday. A win which enabled the Southseasiders to move top of the table with seven points, one ahead of Birkirkara, Floriana, Mosta and Valletta.
For the Citizens, this was the first defeat after two wins in the first two matches.
Valletta had Ermin Bicakcic, Alex Tanque and Keyon Ewurum replacing Brandon Paiber, Diogo Tavares and Bruno Gomes. Marsaxlokk, on the other hand, had no changes to the team which had defeated Hibernians.
The Southseasiders managed to take the lead on 11 minutes when Ulises Arias received a pass by Rasmus Linden and rounded two players before trying his luck with a shot from outside the area which beat goalkeeper Adilson Maringa, the latter deceived by a slight deflection by a defender.
Four minutes from the end of the first half, Marsaxlokk made it 2-0 when Leandro Aguirre served Ulises Arias who exchanged the ball with Dodo before beating the Valletta goalkeeper with a diagonal shot from the left.
Valletta pulled one back on 84 minutes with Roko Prsa placing the ball at the back of the net with his shoulder following an assist by Radic.