MOSTA 3
Chibuzor 26, Machado 53, Brincat 68
GŻIRA UNITED 4
Da Costa 38, 40; Virgens 48, Riascos 61
Gżira United claimed their first victory of the season, defeating Mosta by the odd goal in seven to mark a winning start for new coach Darren Abdilla.
Abdilla took the reins of the team following the departure of Clive Mizzi in his first match of his third spell at the club, to try and revive his team’s fortunes.
And the Gżira players truly delivered after edging out Mosta in a seven-goal thriller that lifted them outside of the relegation zone and left the Blues rooted at the bottom of the standings with four points, level with Naxxar Lions.
In his first match back in charge, the former Floriana mentor Abdilla made four changes to the side that lost to Żabbar St Patrick, handing a start to David Xuereb, the returning Jork Becerra, Eduardo Colombo, and Andrew Borg.
At the other end, Mosta’s coaching duo of Mario Muscat and Joe Grech rewarded the players who impressed during the second-half comeback against Floriana.
Quelmer Herrera, Gianluca Sciberras, and Joao Victor were all promoted to the starting line-up.
Gżira United began brightly and nearly took the lead on 20 minutes when Fabricio Virgens played in Andre da Costa, whose low drive was well saved by Mosta goalkeeper David Udoh.
Three minutes later, Giancarlo Goncalves went close with a low effort that skimmed just wide of Colombo’s near post.
It was Mosta who found the breakthrough on 26 minutes.
Goncalves delivered a precise cross from the right that Prince Chibuzor controlled with his chest before firing past Colombo to put Mosta ahead.
However, Gżira responded swiftly.
Johan Bonilla Calderon squared for Andre da Costa, who slotted past Akpan to pull his team level.
Just two minutes later, the pair combined again as Bonilla Calderon fed the Brazilian forward, who prodded the ball home to complete a rapid turnaround and hand Gżira the lead.
The start of the second half signalled the opening of the floodgates.
Just two minutes after the restart, Andre da Costa turned provider, teeing up Fabricio Virgens, who struck a superb first-time effort into the top corner to put Gżira 3-1 ahead.
Mosta, however, responded swiftly.
Prince Chibuzor broke down the left flank and delivered a dangerous low ball into the area, where Daniel Machado timed his run to perfection and tap home from close range, cutting the deficit once again.
But Gżira continued to show their attacking intent.
On 63 minutes, from a well-delivered Clayton Failla free-kick, Luis Riascos rose highest to meet the ball and power
a header into the top corner to restore the Maroons’ two-goal cushion.
Yet Mosta refused to back down. Their substitutes made an immediate impact, with Charles Chibuike swinging in a precise cross for Zachary Brincat, who calmly slotted past the goalkeeper to make it 4-3 and set up a tense finale.
As the clock ticked down, Mosta pushed hard for an equaliser.
In the 79th minute, Sunday Okereke burst past his marker on the right and squared the ball across the face of goal, and Brincat met it with a low shot, but a Gżira defender made a crucial block to preserve the lead.
Despite late pressure from Mosta, Gżira held firm to seal an entertaining and hard-fought victory – marking a positive start to Darren Abdilla’s third spell in charge.
