GŻIRA UNITED       2         

Disic 54; Riascos 72

MELITA          2         

Motta 8; Sanchez 45

GŻIRA UNITED

G. Mangano, E. Pepe, A. Borg, T. Aldama, Macula (89’ J. Minala), L. Riascos, S. Sno (83’ D. Barbosa), S. Denic, K. Zammit, T. Espindola, N. Disic.

MELITA

A. Lubik. A. Simanca, JP Attard, Andre, A. Borg Olivier (78’ K. Mohnani) M. Bovenkamp (61’ G. Barone), D. Xuereb, K. Bondin (78’ N. Cutajar), C. Sanchez, H. Motta, S. Martinez (40’ C. Gyamfi).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Pepe, Aldama, Bovenkamp, Bondin, Zammit.

Red cards: Barone (M) 90, Disic (G) 90.

Gżira United came back from two goals down to rescue a point against Melita.

Clive Mizzi’s side managed to take a two-goal lead by the end of the first half but the Maroons fought back in the second half to score twice and level matters.

The Maroons had three changes from the team that defeated Naxxar as they could not count on the injured Gabriel Bohrer Mentz while Joseph Minala and Diogo Barbosa started on the bench. Enrico Pepe and Luis Riascos were back while new signings Nikola Disic was handed his debut.

On the other hand, Aldair Simanca and Jean Pierre Attard were preferred to Gareth Barone and Karl Mohnani for Melita.

Gżira went out in search of an early goal and after just three minutes, they had a Stefan Denic effort, off a cross by Andrew Borg from the right, deflected into a corner.

Five minutes later, Melita forged ahead. Marc van de Font Bovenkamp delivered a freekick from the left and Henrique Motta headed home.

The Maroons replied through Lucas Macula, who despite being surrounded by three players, had a powerful shot blocked by Aleksander Lubik and a minute later, a curling shot by Denic ended just wide.

Gżira maintained the pressure and a corner from the right by Thiaguinho was blocked by Lubik on 29 minutes.

Five minutes later, Thiaguinho went close again with a good move on the left which saw him enter the area, having his close-range shot blocked once again by the Melita custodian.

However, two minutes in added time, Melita doubled the score. Andre concluded a good run on the left flank with an assist for Camilo Sanchez who controlled the ball before slotting past Mangano.

The Maroons were even more determined in the second half and on 52 minutes, Macula had a fine cross-shot from the left turned into a corner by Lubik.

From the resulting corner, Thiaguinho’s cross created havoc inside the area but the ball was cleared into safety by a defender. 

Gżira reduced the gap on 54 minutes.

Luis Riascos served Nikola Disic inside the area and the latter pulled to the left and rounded a defender before slotting the ball past Lubik. 

Disic tried his luck with a powerful shot from outside the area a minute later but his attempt ended off-target.

Melita replied with a great header by Motta, off a corner by Borg Olivier, with Mangano turning the ball into a corner.

Gżira levelled matters on 72 minutes. Thaylor provided the assist from the right and Luis Riascos slotted the ball past Lubik.

Melita were reduced to ten men on 90 minutes after substitute Gareth Barone was sent off for denying an obvious scoring opportunity as he brought down Thaylor Aldama as he was heading into the area.

Six minutes in added time, Gżira also ended in ten men after having Disic sent off by referee Malcolm Spiteri.