Birkirkara, Gżira United fire blanks in drab encounter

BIRKIRKARA              0

GŻIRA UNITED         0

BIRKIRKARA

M. Martinez, M. Morello, L. Cordova, S. Marjanovic (60 F. Sasere), K. Reid, J. Busuttil (60 S. Dimech), L. Lacunza, N. Micallef, G. Acheampong (90 L. Delicata), S. Makoma, L. Macula.

GŻIRA UNITED

E. Colombo, G. Mentz, A. Mentz, M. Maia, C. Failla, L. Riascos, J. Becerra, M. Van De Font Bovenkamp (66 Andre), J. Bonilla, F. Bonilha, F. Virgenis.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Yellow card: Acheampong, Macula, Martinez, Bonilha.

Birkirkara and Gżira United were forced to settle for a point after a drab goalless draw.

The match failed to meet its expectations as neither side showed quality in the final third of the pitch with scoring chances few and far between.

Gżira United were the more enterprising side, particularly in the second chance but their forwards lacked the much-needed cutting edge to make the most of their fast transitions.

On the other hand, Birkirkara failed to fire as they struggled to break down a resolute Gżira defence and for the second successive outing have failed to find the opponents’ net.

The first half was devoid of scoring opportunities as both sides tried to play with high intensity, but their distribution of the ball in the final third left much to be desired, with the result that both sets of goalkeepers were rarely tested.

It was Gżira United who created the first real chance of the match on 31 minutes.

The Maroons were awarded a central free-kick, and Maxuell Maia’s inswinger was brilliantly pushed away by Birkirkara goalkeeper Miguel Martinez.

The other major opportunity came Birkirkara’s way just before the half-time whistle when Lucas Macula’s shot was deflected into the path of Kemar Reid, whose first-timer was cleared off the line by Clayton Failla.

After the break, Gżira United looked more dangerous and in the opening minutes pegged Birkirkara into their own half.

On 53 minutes, Felix Bonilha did well to create space for himself on the edge of the area, but his shot flew wide off target.

Six minutes later, a Failla delivery from a corner created havoc in the Birkirkara defence, but Bonilha fired well over.

Gżira remained the more dangerous side and on 64 minutes, Maxuell Maia saw his shot finish just wide.

At the other end, substitute Shaun Dimech powered forward with the ball falling to Manuel Morello, who fired just wide.

Eighteen minutes from time, Gżira came close to breaking the stalemate when, in a quick transition, Bonilha fed the sprinting Maia, who fired an angled drive that flashed wide as the stalemate prevailed.