Late Gudja goal denies Gżira

GŻIRA UNITED                     1         

Scerri 53

GUDJA UNITED         1         

Nagamatsu 79

GŻIRA UNITED

D. Zarkov-5.5, G. Bohrer-6, L. Tabone-6 (85 C. Gauci), N. Muscat-6.5, S. Pisani-5.5 (61 B. Borg), Z. Scerri-6.5 (72 J. Mendoza), M. Dias-6, L. Riascos-6 (85 R. Correa), T. Kolega-5.5 (71 T. Espindola), M. Cosic-5.5, Jefferson-6.

GUDJA UNITED

G. Zammit-6.5, J. Bolanos-6, A. Prates-6, J. Mintoff-5.5 (75 N. Tabone), V. Plut-6, A. Azzopardi-6 (58 T. Nagamatsu), J. Arthur-6, N. Micallef-6, H. Vella-6, M. Muchardi-6, N. Navarrete-6 (90 J. Attard).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow Cards: N. Micallef, L. Tabone, G. Bohrer, N. Muscat.

BOV Player of the Match: Zach Scerri (Gżira United).

Gżira United and Gudja United earned a point apiece in a 1-1 draw in a rather lacklustre encounter.

The Maroons, therefore, missed two important points in their bid to close even further the gap with leaders Ħamrun Spartans. Gudja, on the other hand, collected another point in their bid to stay among the top six.

Gudja coach Andrea Agostinelli had to deal with the absence of the suspended Karl Micallef who was replaced by John Mintoff. Gżira, also, had one change from the team which defeated Santa Lucia in their previous outing as Luke Tabone stepped in for Maxuell Maia.

In the opening minutes, the two teams did show some initiative and Gżira threatened with a cross from the right by Nikolai Muscat for Jefferson on 6 minutes but his close range effort was blocked by Zammit. One minute later, Gudja hit back as Ayrton Azzopardi stole the ball off Marko Cosic but his fine attempt from outside the area was neutralised by Darijan Zarkov.

However, shots at goal turned out to be few and far in between and in fact, for the rest of the first half, the two goalkeepers were not tested.

Eight minutes in the second half, Gżira, finally, managed to break the deadlock. Luis Riascos served Marcelo Dias on the right flank and off the latter’s cross, Zach Scerri slotted the ball past goalkeeper Glenn Zammit.

Gudja’s reaction was rather timid and the Maroons seemed to be heading towards victory.

However, eleven minutes from time, Gudja levelled matters. Andre Prates sent Vito Plut through on the left; the latter entered the area and squared low for substitute Tatsuro Nagamatsu who hit home from the edge of the goal area.

Gżira hit back with a freekick by substitute Jackson Mendoza from the left but Glenn Zammit blocked his attempt on 84 minutes. Six minutes later, a Gabriel Bohrer freekick was saved in two attempts by the Gudja custodian.

One minute in added time, a freekick by Matias Muchardi for Gudja was parried by Darijan Zarkov but four minutes later, Gżira almost notched the winner when off a cross from the left, Jefferson had a close-range header turned into a corner by Glenn Zammit.