Gżira United get back to winning ways after edging Żabbar St Patrick

ŻABBAR SP               1         

Minala 28og

GŻIRA UNITED                    2         

Mendoza 5, Thiaguinho 42

ŻABBAR ST PATRICK

L. Camilleri, B, Gambarte, Z. Grech, J. Pisani, D. Tavares, G. Zammit (55 A. Iervolino), V. De Paiva (78 S. Ilic), J. Pedro (59 J. Micallef), D. Jovicic, M. Santos, D. Oliveira.

GŻIRA

G. Mangano, G. Mentz, J. Minala (70 L. Riascos), E. Pepe, T. Aldama, F. Chouaib (90 K. Tulimieri), L. Macula, D. Barbosa (82 B. Borg), K., Zammit, T. Espindola, J. Mendoza.

Referee; Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: Zammit, Jovicic, Mendoza, Minala, Iervoino, Camilleri.

Gżira United returned to winning ways as they defeated Żabbar St. Patrick 2-1.

The win lifts the Maroons’ morale after earning just two points from the previous four matches, therefore boosting their chances of avoiding the two bottom spots as they move three points ahead of Naxxar, five ahead of Balzan and six ahead of Melita.

On the other hand, more was expected from Żabbar, especially during the second half considering that they were already trailing by one goal.

Żabbar welcomed back Vinicius De Paiva after serving a one-match ban.

The Brazilian was handed a start along with Gianluca Zammit but Wallace Bonilha, Strahinja Jovancic, Kristian Keqi and Justin Haber were still unavailable.

The Maroons, on the other hand, had Joseph Minala and Jackson Mendoza deputising for Andy Borg and the suspended Shaquill Montell Sno.

Gżira had a perfect start, taking the lead after five minutes. They had a throw-in from the right and the ball reached Jackson Mendoza who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Luca Camilleri with a shot from the edge of the area.

Żabbar replied with a Jurgen Pisani effort from outside the area ending just wide on 13 minutes.

However, on 28 minutes, the Saints levelled matters.

Diogo Tavares delivered a corner from the left and Minala was unlucky to see the ball bounce onto him and into the net for an own goal.

Gżira regained the lead on 42 minutes.

Faysal Chouaib provided the assist from the left and Espindola controlled the ball before beating Camilleri with a great rising shot into the top left corner.

The Maroons held the initiative in the second half with Żabbar struggling to penetrate the Gżira rearguard.

On 57 minutes, Thaylor Aldama concluded a good run on the right flank by rounding a defender and testing Luca Camilleri who managed to turn the ball into a corner.

On the hour, Mendoza hit the side netting with a freekick from the left.

Żabbar’s reaction consisted of an angled shot by Diogo Tavares from the left which was neutralised by goalkeeper Giulio Mangano four minutes from time. In added time, Gżira could have sealed the issue with another goal but there was no one to connect off Lucas Macula’s inviting pass from the right.