Pietà Hotspurs 1
Gżira United 3

Despite playing without influential striker Raphael Kooh Sohna, who is nursing a fractured arm, Gżira continued to show their true potential as they made it four wins in a row after beating Pietà Hotspurs 3-1, at the Centenary Stadium, yesterday.

John Roland Emeka scored from close range after 14 minutes as the Maroons conceded their first goal of the season. However, Pietà’s joy was short-lived as Gżira drew level two minutes later thanks to Rene Louis Zome. He hit home from an acute angle.

Gżira continued to show the better ideas but Pietà’s rearguard rarely panicked even under pressure.

On the half hour, Yanis Tonna blasted his shot inches wide from outside the Hotspurs box.

Pietà went close when Mead Mifsud drove his shot just wide after some good work by Emeka.

But Darren Abdilla’s Gżira side should have gone ahead on 36 minutes when Moises Avila Perez caught keeper Miguel Montfort out of position but shot straight at Karl Micallef who was on the line guarding his goal.

However, the Maroons’ pressure paid off on 38 minutes. Kyle Cesare was floored in the box but the referee played the advantage rule and Giuseppe Muscat scored from close in.

Gżira held the initiative and on 42 minutes Zome dribbled past Christian Grech before chipping the ball over the keeper and into the net.

On resumption a Mifsud cross nearly deceived the Gżira keeper who tipped the ball away for a corner. At the other end, a Jonathan Bondin delivery reached Christian Caruana but his header was tipped away by Montfort.

On 65 minutes the Pietà rearguard was caught napping as Tonna released Zome whose shot from inside the area finished high.

The Maroons went close to adding another goal when substitute Karl Pulò dashed through but found Jason Gorskie well positioned to clear his effort off the line.

Pietà: M. Montfort, K. Micallef, C. Grech (G. Sultana), N. Pace Cocks, D. Agius, M. Mifsud (J. Scicluna), J. Emeka, K. Cesare (A. Mizzi), T. Bartolo, A. Rasheed, J. Gorskie.

Gżira: A. Curmi, D. Scerri, A. White, B. Farrugia (C. Caruana), M. Avila Perez, J. Bondin, J. Pace, Y. Tonna (K. Pulo), L. Martinelli, G. Muscat, R. Zome (S. Shead).

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Man of the match: Moises Avila Perez (Gżira United).

Standings