Gżira United 1
Birżebbuġa SP 1
Birżebbuġa SP and Gżira United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in an exciting match with both sides playing a physical and tactical game.
Gżira must have finished happier with the point though having kept the southerners at a distance at the wrong half of the standings. In fact, for Patrick Curmi’s side a draw wasn’t enough despite interrupting a run of three defeats in a row.
The Maroons went close on a number of occasions but found goalkeeper Ivan Casha in fine form.
The first real threat came from Shennowo as his effort was saved by the Saints goalkeeper.
On 15 minutes Alfred Effiong was foiled by the Saints custodian with a fine save. From the rebound, Shennowo drove the ball wide.
The Maroons continued to dominate and a Dino Cachia effort finished just over on 19 minutes.
Casha made the save of the day as he succeeded in keeping out Simon Shead’s effort from close in from a Jeffrey Chetcuti free-kick.
Then, it was Birżebbuġa who ventured forward but Michael Camilleri’s effort was stopped by Gżira keeper Simon Agius.
Birżebbuġa forged ahead five minutes before the break when Vinicius Pereira Dos Santos lobbed the ball over Agius despite being tightly marked by a defender.
Gżira were shocked and after the break Pereira Dos Santos’s shot, following a Mead Mifsud corner, was neutralised by Agius.
Mifsud was then through to reach Pereira Dos Santos’s pass but Agius rushed out to close the angle.
Gżira started to see more of the ball and on 79 minutes a Ryan Deguara long-range effort flew past a stranded Casha and hit the back of the net via the woodwork.
Now it was the Maroons who were dictating matters.
Shead beat Casha but Kevin Borg was on the spot to clear off the line and late on Gzira had appeals for a penalty turned down.
Gżira: S. Agius, R. Deguara, P. Grima, A. Xuereb, J. Chetcuti, A. Shennowo (N. Corito), Y. Tonna, D. Cachia (J. Hussey) , S. Shead, S. Meilaq, A. Effiong.
Birżebbuġa: I. Casha, K. Borg, M. Pullicino, P. Camilleri, R. Mintoff, F. Peplow, M. Rizzolo Brisolla (R. Duca), G. Tanti (T. Mazzitelli), M. Mifsud, V. Pereira Dos Santos, M. Camilleri (K. Spiteri).
Referee: Gordon Barbara.
Man of the match: Simon Shead (Gzira United).