GŻIRA UNITED 1
Davis 70
TARXIEN RAINBOWS 1
Plut 90
Gżira United were heading towards their first victory of the season after a Martin Davis goal had handed them the lead.
However, an opportunistic effort by Tarxien Rainbows forward Vito Plut denied the Maroons and earned the Rainbows a valuable point in their second outing of the season.
Gżira dominated proceedings but failed to make their pressure count and for sure coach Darren Abdilla won’t be satisfied by the Maroons’ slow start to the season with just one point after two games.
Tarxien, on their part, managed to make amends for their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Balzan in their opening league game.
Winston Muscat’s side produced a disciplined performance and this time their resilience managed to pay dividends to salvage a point.
Gżira made their intentions clear from the early stages as they pushed forward in numbers in search of an early lead.
Their first goalscoring opportunity arrived on the 10th minute when Jefferson attempted a header on goal but failed to hit the target.
On 16 minutes, Gabriel Bohrer let fly a long-range effort that forced Daniel Fernandes into action as the Tarxien custodian diverted into corner.
Moments later, Nikolai Muscat saw his show go wide after a solo effort that led him into a suitable shooting position as Gżira kept looking for the first goal of the game.
Tarxien’s first chance of the game dropped onto the feet of Matthew Tabone but his conclusion sailed over the bar.
Gżira were on the forefront once again, this time through Davis whose firing shot was blocked by Fernandes.
Late in the first half, Jefferson attempted a shot from the edge of the area but could not direct the ball into the net.
In the closing stages of the first half, Jefferson tried his luck from a free-kick but once again Fernandes proved fundamental for Tarxien as the opening 45 minutes ended in a goalless stalemate.
After the break, Davis fired a shot from the edge of the area but the ball sailed over the bar.
It was the Jamaican who put the Maroons one up, when he fired a low drive that went past Portuguese goalkeeper Fernandes.
Tarxien tried to stage a reaction and their efforts paid dividends late into stoppage time when Plut had the better off his Gżira marker to lob the ball past an ongoing Justin Haber to the celebrations of the Rainbows clan.
