Gżira United striker Moises Avila Perez looks for a way through.Gżira United striker Moises Avila Perez looks for a way through.

Vittoriosa Stars 0
Gżira United 1

New recruit Josef Mifsud gave Gżira United the three points in the two teams’ opening match of the season as 10-man Vittoriosa succumbed to a goal scored mid-way through the second half, two minutes after Michael Camilleri was sent off.

The Stars had a better opening with some fast and flowing football but Gzira came more into the picture as the minutes ticked by to take the upperhand for most of the match.

In the early stages Vittoriosa played some neat one touch football and on eight minutes it was Mark Barbara who tested Anthony Curmi in the Maroons’ goal with a drive from 20 metres out.

Michael Woods’s side res-ponded on 14 minutes when Anthony Ewurun fought his way past two defenders but hit his shot wide. Two minutes later the Gżira striker went close again with a glancing header that was stopped by keeper Karl Magri.

Vittoriosa, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, threatened themselves midway through the half when a Gilbert Martin effort took a deflection with the ball missing the target by a whisker.

On 33 minutes David Garcia Mitogo nearly broke the deadlock with a superb first-time effort but Curmi was on the right spot to save his fort.

The pace dropped in the second half. Vittoriosa won a free-kick but to no effect as Vittorio Di Maggio shot straight at Curmi.

Then, Camilleri received his marching orders for a second booking and on 66 minutes Gżira protested for a penalty when Ewurun’s cross looked to have come off the arms of a Vittoriosa defender inside the box.

However, two minutes later the Maroons scored the goal that proved to be the winner when central defender Mifsud rose high to head home from a Yanis Tonna corner.

On 72 minutes, goalkeeper Magri made a great save off Moises Avila Perez following a good one two with Ewurun as Gzira did well to administer their lead until the end.

Vittoriosa: K. Magri, K. Scicluna, C. Compagnoli, C. Spiteri, D. Mitogo, S. Grech (O. Rababah), M. Buttigieg, G. Martin, V. Di Maggio (F. Santaguida), M. Camilleri, M. Barbara (K. Sammut).

Gżira: A. Curmi, D. Micallef (S. Meilak), S. Moreno Marin (A. Shennowo), G. Calabretta, D. Vukovic, A. Ewurun, J.P. Scerri, M. Avila Perez, G. Aquilina, J. Mifsud, Y. Tonna (J. Pace).

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.

Man of the match: Anthony Ewurun (Gzira United).

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