Ten-man Gżira United hold off Mosta’s late charge

MOSTA              1           

Naah 75

GŻIRA UNITED 2           

Correa 35 Atajic 45

MOSTA

C. Mafoumbi-6.5, D. Debono-5.5, J. Ferreira-5.5, C. Ememe-6.5, M. Mifsud-6, J. Bezzina-5.5 (69 M. Attard) (87 N. Agius), D. Naah-6.5, M. Muchardi-6, R. Morisco-6, Z. Brincat-6, J. Ekani-5.5.

GŻIRA UNITED

A. Curmi-6, G. Bohrer Mentz, Steve Borg-6, N. Muscat-6.5, S. Pisani-6.5, M. Davis-6 (88 D. Xuereb), N. Portelli-6, M. Maia-6, R. Correa-6.5, Sacha Borg-6, B. Atajic-6 (78 F. Pinheiro).

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Yellow cards: Muchardi, Correa, Bohrer Mentz, Sacha Borg, Agius

Red card: Bohrer Mentz (G) 82.

BOV Player of the Match: Ricardo Correa (Gżira United).

Gżira United earned three precious points in their bid to maintain pressure on the top two as they defeated Mosta 2-1 despite having a player sent off late in the game.

The Maroons thus bounced back from the mid-week draw against Gudja United.

On the other hand, Mosta were suffering a fourth consecutive defeat to lose further ground in the race for a place in the UEFA competitions this summer. Lying in sixth place, they now lie eight points behind fifth-placed Birkirkara.

The Blues had four changes from the team which lost to Balzan as Dejan Debono, Jeferson Ferreira, Michael Mifsud and new signing Divine Naah were named in the starting line-up in lieu of Tyrone Farrugia, Duane Bonnici, Bojan Kaljevic and Kevin Tulimieri.

On the other hand, Steve Pisani and Bahrudin Atajic were handed their first start for the Maroons with Dexter Xuereb starting on the bench and Jackson Mendoza ruled out through suspension. Leading the team from the bench was Andrew Cohen in the absence of Darren Abdilla.

The Blues had the first attempt at goal after just seven minutes with Christ Ememe testing Curmi with an angled shot which was turned into a corner.

At the other end, a Maxuell header was parried by Mafoumbi on 18 minutes.

Gżira took the lead on 35 minutes.

A cross by Nevin Portelli was blocked by Mafoumbi but off the rebound, Ricardo Correa hit low in the bottom right corner. The goal brought harsh protests by the Blues over the possible offside position of Atajic.

Just before the end of the first half the Maroons doubled the score. Pisani delivered a freekick and Atajic headed home past the Mosta goalkeeper.

On the hour, Sacha Borg went close to increasing the lead, heading just wide off a corner by Pisani from the left.

However, Mosta started to press more and on 62 minutes, a Rafael Morisco effort from outside the area scraped past the post and a minute later, Zachary Brincat hit the upright.

Mosta pulled one back on 75 minutes. Mifsud served Naah from the left and the latter slotted the ball past Curmi.

Eight minutes from time, Gżira were reduced to ten men after Gabriel Bohrer Mentz received a second yellow card for a foul.

The Blues kept piling on the pressure on their opponents in the final stages but the Maroons held on to take home the three points.