GZIRA UNITED 3            

NAXXAR LIONS 1

Gzira U: A. Curmi, G. Muir, C. Gatt Baldacchino, A. Macedo Neto, S. Borg, M. Avila Perez, R. Briffa (N. Muscat), A. Cohen (Z. Scerri), J. Corbalan (S. Tounkara) , N. Okoye, A. Samb

Naxxar L: C. Nicht, S. Fenwick, R. Grech (A. Buhagiar), M. Micallef, D. Falzon (O. Borg), R. Cassar, J. Debono (M. Fenech), O. Ndoye, A. Cascaval, A. Mendy, Y. Messias

Referee: E. Grech

Asst.refs: D. Sultana, C. Francalanza

Additional asst.refs: T. Farrugia Cann, J. Utulu

4th official: S. Attard

Scorers: A. Samb 21, 51, Y. Messias 58, N. Okoye 87

Yellow cards: R. Grech, O. Ndoye, A. Marcelo Neto, A. Samb, R. Briffa, M. Avila Perez, M. Micallef, A. Mendy

Red card: C. Nicht

Player of the match: A. Samb (Gzira U)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Samb  2. A. Cohen  3. Y. Messias

Attendance: 227

Gzira failed to recapture the form of a month ago. A defeat and two draws since mid October have brought a dip in their confidence as they also lost the league's primacy.

Admittedly, Andrew Cohen's energetic presence was significant and inevitably bolstered Gzira's collective but there was no real rhythm as the Maroons were not at their most fluent in the first half.

Samb provided their main danger in attack and not surprisingly, he headed his side ahead towards the half hour, following a Cohen cross.

It was his 12th league goal of the season.

But otherwise, the Naxxar keeper Nicht  was only called to keep out Cohen's curling shot after ten minutes and then to thwart Samb in another Gzira attack late in the half.

Naxxar kept men behind the ball, compressed the space between the lines and looked to punch on the counter attack or on set pieces.

They presented themselves with a couple of early shots from a distance that kept the Gzira keeper Curmi on alert. Falzon twice had efforts going slightly over and Micallef's low drive after 21 minutes forced Curmi into a save.

Naxxar's best chance fell two minutes before halftime. Messias' low blistering drive was turned into a corner by the Gzira goalkeeper.

If Naxxar tried to have more invention after the restart, they were afflicted by Gzira's second goal on 51 minutes. It was a quality passing move that doubled the Maroons' lead. Cohen's through pass put Corbolan clear inside the Naxxar area, and he played a square pass to Samb to slot the ball in from close range.

Naxxar were expected to buckle but instead, Yuri Messias hit one back short of the hour

Gzira showed lack of creativity even after Cohen was replaced by Zach Scerri on 73 minutes.

But the Lions’ hopes of clinching an equaliser at least, were dashed when their keeper Nicht was sent off on 78 minutes, after handling the ball outside the penalty area when trying to stop Samb’s progression towards goal.

Omar Borg replaced him in the Naxxar goal and he was soon called to block Okoye’s effort inside the area.

But Okoye was sharper and on target three minutes from time to score Gzira’s assuring goal with a low finish.

Naxxar Lions coach resigns

It was confirmed after the defeat against Gzira United, that Naxxar Head Coach Stuart Watkis had resigned from his position due to personal reasons.

The Management of Naxxar Lions thanked Mr Watkis for his hard work and endeavor whilst at the club and wished him well.