Swallows hopes take another nosedive

Gżira United 1
Dingli Swallows 1

Dingli’s chances of avoiding the drop took another nosedive yesterday as they failed to beat a below-par Gżira who had Kyle Gerada in goal and the experienced Simon Agius on the bench.

The Maroons saw more of the ball but were rarely dangerous up front. They relied mostly on their flank players but the final pass was poor. In the end, they should still be satisfied to have kept Dingli at a distance as defeat would have meant serious trouble for Gżira.

On 20 minutes, Steve Meilaq’s half volley from a corner was saved by Dunstan Zarb in the Dingli goal.

Gordon Camilleri’s side continued to do all the running but it was Dingli who went close to opening the score when from a quick counter attack Etienne Farrugia tried his luck from just outside the box but his effort flew wide.

Gżira had a Sunny Ogbemudia shot also going wide before Dingli stunned the Maroons on 57 minutes when Farrugia hit home following a Jonathan Sapiano cross from the left wing.

The Maroons looked nervous and rather erratic in their reaction. Ogbemudia hit badly from a good position after a neat move that involved various players.

Gżira were close to an equaliser 20 minutes from time but Ogbemudia’s header hit the upright and from the rebound Yanis Tonna saw his effort stopped by keeper Zarb.

However, the Maroons managed to draw level on 77 minutes when Ogbemudia beat Zarb from inside the box following a Meilaq pass.

Gżira pressed hard for a winner but their series of floating crosses inside the Dingli box proved futile.

Gżira: K. Gerada, A. Xuereb, J. Chetcuti, J.B. Gatt (J.P. Vella), P. Grima, A. Shennowo, S. Ogbemudia, Y. Tonna (V. Brincat), S. Meilaq, S. Shead, L. Camilleri (N. Al Nafoori).

Dingli: D. Zarb, A. Portelli (R. Vella), K. Pace, C. Muscat, E. Grech, J. Sapiano, J. Pace, J. Anyanwu (D. Cilia), I. Bawuah, E. Farrugia, L. Micallef.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Man of the match: Steve Meilak (Gżira United).