Lucas Macula (right) of Gżira United tries to move past Mġarr United's Jurgen Grech. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
GŻIRA UNITED 2-0 MĠARR UNITED Kyle Spence, Thaylor 90.
GŻIRA UNITED D.Zarkov, C. Filho, G. Bohrer, Thaylor, Z. Scerri, M. Dias, K. Spencer, F. Zuniga (63 A. Borg), B. Borg (70 Lucas), T. Espindola, J. Mendoza ( 63 J. Silva).
MGARR UNITED J. Chircop St John, PK. Farrugia (90 L. Portelli), M. Borg Bartolo, J. Camilleri, J Grech, J. Suda (82 K. Arai), A. Borg, C. Saint Edisindor, JP. Zammit, R. Camilleri, M. Attard.
Referee: Alex Johnson.
Mġarr United’s fairytale FA Trophy run ended at the quarter-final stage as Gżira United put aside their own problems to eliminate the third-tier side 2-0 at the Centenary Stadium.
It took a labouring Gżira until the 81st minute to lead through substitute Kyle Spence but the 1973-finalists made their superiority count with a second goal courtesy of Thaylor in injury time.
Gżira dominated the first half, with Jackson Mendoza hitting the foot of the post after 25 minutes.
The Maroons tried to impose themselves, forcing a series of flag-kicks, seven in all, which, however, failed to yield anything tangible.
In the 75th minute, Macula hit the woodwork again with a firm header from Marcelo Dias’s cross. But the Brazilian redeemed himself at the death when he prodded the ball behind Jacob Chircop St John.
In the dying minutes, Kyle Spence set up Thaylor to wrap up the qualification for the Maroons.
