Maxuell Maia propels Gżira United past Sirens

GŻIRA UNITED          1           

Maxuell 7 pen.

SIRENS                0

GŻIRA UNITED

D. Zarkov-6, G. Bohrer-6.5, L. Tabone-6, N. Muscat-6, S. Pisani-6 (62 J. Mendoza), Z. Scerri-6, M. Dias-6, T. Kolega-6, M. Cosic-6.5, M. Maia-7 (72 L. Ribeiro), J. De Assis-6.5.

SIRENS

M. Grech-6.5, K. Sano-6, R. Tachikawa-6, A. Borg-6, J. Walker-6.5, A. Vaikainah-5.5, P. Bento-6, I. Kolev-5.5, D. Jackson-5.5, S. Sessegnon-5.5, A. Vella-6 (78 A. Cini).

Referee: Emanuel Grech.

Yellow cards: Cosic, Sessegnon, Scerri, Vaikanah, Tabone

BOV Player of the Match: Maxuell Maia (Gżira).

A Maxuell Maia penalty proved enough for Gżira United to earn the three points as they defeated Sirens 1-0.

The Maroons, therefore, moved back in second place, three points ahead of Birkirkara as they registered a fourth win on the trot, scoring 12 and conceding none in the process.

Sirens, on the other hand, remain tenth as they suffered a fourth defeat in five matches. The St Paul’s Bay side have only one point to show from their last five matches,

Sirens side had three changes from their last outing as Ivan Kolev, Degran Jackson and Andreas Vella were preferred to Marcelo Pereira Muniz, Alex Cini and former Gżira player Ricardo Correa.

On the other hand, for Gżira, Darijan Zarkov was back in goal while Luke Tabone was preferred to Jackson Mendoza who was included as a substitute.

The Maroons had a perfect start, taking the lead on seven minutes.

Toni Kolega sent Jefferson through on the right and as the latter was about to serve Maxuell, he was floored by goalkeeper Matthew Grech. Referee Emanuel Grech ordered a penalty and Maia duly converted.

On 14 minutes, the Sirens goalkeeper turned into a corner a Maia effort off a Steve Pisani corner.

And from another Pisani corner kcik, Maia headed just over the bar. 

However from then onwards, shots at goal were few and far in between and it was only towards the end of the first half that they threatened once again.

In fact, two minutes from the end of the first half, Gżira went close with a Luke Tabone header, which was saved by Grech.

Five minutes in the second half, Maxuell had a shot from outside the area turned into a corner by the Sirens custodian.

Five minutes later, the same Brazilian striker had a shot from inside the area neutralised by Grech.

The Maroons kept their opponents under control without particular difficulty.

However, eight minutes from time, Sirens went close to equalising. Paulo Vyctor Bento had a freekick from just outside the area which was blocked by Zarkov and the Brazilian took the  rebound and tried his luck with a powerful shot which was again saved by the Gżira goalkeeper.