Gżira United too good for Żabbar SP to seal last 16 place in FA Trophy

GŻIRA UNITED 4

Gauci 25, Bohrer 60, Jefferson 84, Kabar 90

ŻABBAR SP 0

GŻIRA UNITED

D.Zarkov (85 K. Zammit), G. Bohrer (70 N. Muscat), M. Cosic, L. Tabone, S. Pisani (85 H. Kabar), T. Kolega, C. Gauci, N. Portelli (70 Z. Scerri), JP Attard, M. Gauci (36 A. Pavic), Jefferson.

ŻABBAR ST PATRICK

L. Lagana, C. Magro, S. Radovanovic, G. Zammit, T.Agius, M. Ciantar (57 P. Chircop), F. Gusman (80 K. Cassar), MA. Borg (57 K. Tanti), D. Fava (68 C. Camilleri), K. Aquilina (68 R. Benhamed), D. Oliveira Souza.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic.

Yellow card: Bohrer.

Gżira United gained a routine win over National Amateur League side Żabbar St Patrick to set up a last-16 round tie against Gudja United.

Croatian striker Toni Kolega sprinkled a little piece of magic on a comfortable victory over Żabbar St Patrick. The Croatian striker failed to put his name on the scoresheet but assisted his team-mates to secure a game in which they proved too good for Żabbar.

The Maroons were high on confidence after two consecutive wins in the Premier League, upsetting Ħamrun Spartans and Balzan in the previous encounters.

But Żabbar’s seven-game unbeaten run in the Amateur League stretched back to the start of December.

The Saints weathered the storm and Terence Agius waste a rare shooting chance when a weak clearance went straight to him on the edge of the area.

Gżira took the lead in 25th minute, when Clive Gauci cleverly flicked the ball into an unguarded net after Liam Lagana had parried Jefferson’s shot.

Two minutes from the break, Gżira were found wanting when Kenneth Aquilina swung the ball into the box and slack marking from Gabriel Bohrer allowed David Souza Oliveira to slice a shot wide.

After the break Toni Kolega looked set to score when he lifted the ball over Lagana but Mark Anthony Borg made a great block to clear the ball off the line.

On the hour mark, Gżira eased their nerves with a second goal when Bohrer headed a Steve Pisani corner home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Gauci should have ensured a comfortable finish for Gżira when Kolega charged down the left to present his strike partner with a simple tap-in at the far post but he skied his shot wide.

But the Maroons responded with Jefferson who hit an eye-catching flying-header past Lagana from Kolega’s cross.

At death Kolega capped another impressive performance by squaring the ball for youngster Hytem Kabar who ghosted into the box to collect the Croatian forward’s pass before firing home.