Gudja United 0
GŻira United 0

Gudja United got what they wanted from this game, a point.

Right from the outset they played a defensive-minded game leaving few spaces for the Gżira forwards.

The Maroons held most of the possession but could not find a way past Gudja goalkeeper Matthew Xerxen who was in great form.

The game started on a slow pace but as time went by Gżira started to dominate proceedings, creating several goalscoring opportunities.

After eight minutes, Renie Forace picked Simon Shead but his header was pushed away by Xerxen.

Gudja tried to respond but struggled to create any danger to the Gżira rearguard.

On 20 minutes, Forace’s header was cleared off the line by Steve Agius while three minutes later a Deguara free-kick was pushed to a corner by Xerxen. From the resulting corner, Tasic turned well but his shot was again blocked by Xerxen.

On 26 minutes a Christian Cassar header finished inches wide as Gżira continued to put pressure on the Gudja defence.

On 37 minutes a Ryan Deguara cross-shot just missed the target while six minutes before the break substitute Yanis Tonna was foiled by Xerxen.

On resumption, Gżira continued from where they left off in the first half and on 52 minutes a Deguara first time effort finished inches wide.

On 65 minutes a melee inside the area saw Deguara’s drive being partially saved by Xerxen before the Gudja defence cleared away.

On 74 minutes Xerxen pulled off another top-drawer block off a Tasic free-kick.

Gżira finished the match with ten men when Bjorn Bondin was shown a second yellow card as the Maroons had to settle for a point.

Gudja : M. Xerxen, R. Buhagiar, C. Farrugia, A. Scigliano, F. Scozzese, K. Azzopardi, D. D’Agostino, M. Brincat, S. Agius (G. Chircop), R. Dalli, A. Ewurun (M. Groves).

Gzira : F. Tabone, B. Bondin, R. Forace S. Pace, N. Tasic, C. Cassar, R. Deguara (S. Bonello), M. Kotyza (E. Polanco), S. Shead (Y. Tonna), S. Meilak, J. Ogunnupe.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Man of the match: Matthew Xerxen (Gudja).