Gżira United, Melita share spoils in Bottom Six finale

Gżira United and Melita ended their Closing Round commitments with a a 2-2 draw.

Melita, therefore, collected their first point in the Closing Round and will now fully focus on the relegation play-out where they would be facing Naxxar Lions.

With nothing, except for pride at stake, both coaches opted to hand a number of fringe players some playing time. In fact, Giovanni Tedesco handed goalkeeper Jake Badawi his debut while Sean Schembri was named in the starting line-up for the first time. Kurt Zammit was back after serving a one-match ban while Manuel De Filippis and Shaquill Montell Sno were also handed a start.

Melita, on the other hand, had Julian Abela and Ensell Attard making their first while Benjamin Cassar and Kurt Bondin also returning to the starting line-up.

The Maroons managed to take the lead on 12 minutes. Shaquill Montell Sno delivered a cross from the right and Lucas Macula headed the ball home past goalkeeper Gosef Mizzi.

Melita equalised two minutes later. Kurt Bondin intercepted a pass between two Gżira defenders, serving Ensell Attard who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jake Badawi.

This goal enabled Melita to gain greater confidence and Benjamin Cassar concluded a good run with a shot from outside the area which just missed the target on 19 minutes. Marc Van De Font Bovenkamp then had a long-distance effort ending just wide on 32 minutes.

Melita made it 2-1 on 33 minutes. Matthew Debattista pressed a Gżira defender, gaining possession and serving Ensell Attard who slotted the ball past Badawi for a carbon-copy of the first goal.

The Maroons hit back with a fine solo effort by Andrew Borg which was parried by Mizzi and then Macula had a header off a Jackson Mendoza freekick from the right ending just over the bar. Just before half-time, Faysal Chouaib had a shot from the edge of the area, neutralised by Mizzi.

Gżira went in search of the equaliser in the second half and after just one minute, Brooklyn Borg tested Gosef Mizzi with a shot from outside the area. An angled shot by Macula from the left was neutralised by the Melita on 65 minutes and ten minutes later, a Kevin Tulimieri effort, served by Thaylor Aldama, was deflected into a corner.

Melita hit back with a Colling Gyamfi effort which was parried by Badawi on 79 minutes but one minute later, Jean Pierre Attard came to the rescue clearing off the goal line a goal-bound effort by Lucas Macula.

However, seven minutes from time,  Gżira equaliser. Thaylor Aldama delivered a cross from the right and Kevin Tulimieri slammed the ball home past Mizzi.