Mqabba 0
Gżira United 5
Gżira United scored three times in the opening half on their way to a crushing victory over Mqabba in the final match from the first round of the Division One championship.
New signing John Nwoba made an instant impact for the Maroons as the towering forward established a great understanding with team-mate Steve Meilak against an Mqabba side who were always second best.
The win lifted Gżira to fourth place on 22 points, level with Vittoriosa Stars and four adrift of leaders Pembroke.
After a quite opening, Gżira threatened on 22 minutes when Nwoba served Gianluca Calabretta who turned past two defenders but his effort was saved by Brandon Debono.
Mqabba responded five minutes later when Guilheime Suares de Freitas headed inches wide from a Joseph Fenech cross.
The Maroons forged ahead in the 33rd minute when Meilak picked Yanis Tonna who dribbled past his marker before sliding the ball past goalkeeper Debono.
Four minutes later Nwoba was fed in the box by Moises Avila Perez, and the bustling striker found no difficulty in beating Debono in a one-on-one situation.
Five minutes before the break Alistair Camilleri headed on to the Gżira bar after a Claudio Calleja drive was deflected by a defender.
On 43 minutes Gżira made the game safe with a fine goal.
Nwoba and Meilak combined with the latter beating Debono with a low drive.
The Maroons added a fourth on 55 minutes when Eduardo Njodo found Avila Perez who immediately fed Nwoba who tucked the ball home.
Five minutes from time Darren Abdilla’s side made it 5-0 when Gomes handled the ball inside the area and a penalty was awarded.
Avila Perez made no mistake from the spot.
Mqabba: B. Debono, A. Cassar, M. Bonnici, R. Gomes, C. Micallef, G. Guedes de Freitas, C. Calleja (L. Vella), K. Cutajar, E.J. Goodman (G. Galea), J. Fenech, A. Camilleri (J. Callus).
Gżira: A. Curmi; S. Moreno Morin, D. Scerri (J. Pace), G. Calabretta, D. Vukovic, S. Meilak, M. Avila Perez, J. Mifsud, J. Nwoba, E. Ndjodo (A. Ewurun), Y. Tonna (R. Dalli).
Referee: Stefan Pace .
Man of the match: John Nwoba (Gżira).
Standings
P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
Pembroke | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 12 | 26 |
Gudja Utd | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 27 | 12 | 25 |
St Andrew’s | 13 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 26 | 20 | 25 |
Vittoriosa | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 15 | 22 |
Gżira Utd | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 17 | 22 |
St George’s | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 18 | 20 |
Melita | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 20 |
Fgura Utd | 13 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 19 |
Lija Athletic | 13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 | 21 | 18 |
Rabat Ajax | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 17 | 17 |
Mqabba | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 25 | 14 |
Msida SJ | 13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 13 |
Żurrieq | 13 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 27 | 10 |
Birżebbuġa | 13 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 31 | 6 |