Gzira U. 2
St Andrews 1
Gzira U.: J. Haber, N. Muscat, Z. Scerri, R. Soares, A. Cohen (L. Brincat 90), J. Corbolan, E. Zarate Bilbao, J. Pereira (C. Gatt Baldacchino 78), F. Barbosa, T. Veronese, H. Garba
St Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Satariano, T. Blagrove, M. Grima (J. Farrugia 66), K. Atkinson, K. Reid, A. Borg, J. Walker (A. Friggieri 83), M. Davis, N. Mclaren (K. Magro 46), M. Woo Ling
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst refs: D. Sultana, T. Zammit
4th official: D. Portelli
Scorers: H. Garba 12, A. Cohen 69, M. Woo Ling 74
Yellow cards: R. Soares 6, N. Mclaren 18, J. Corbolan 51, J. Walker 55
Player of the match: H. Garba
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Cohen; 2. H. Garba; 3. M. Calleja Cremona
Attendance: 160
Gzira United were back at the top of the standings yesterday evening thanks to a narrow victory over St Andrews.
Strikes from Haruna Garba in the first half and Andrew Cohen on the changeover saw them through. A goal from Matthew Woo Ling was not enough for a fighting St Andrews side to save a point.
The Maroons now have 31 points, one above Hibernians and three over Valletta. But Hibernians and Valletta have a match in hand. St Andrews remained in 9th place on 14 points.
Apart from the injured Samb, Gzira also had Sacha Borg and Roderick Briffa ruled out through suspension. On the positive side, they had Haruna Garba back from suspension.
The Saints had Brown, Martin and McFarlane missing through suspension. Veteran skipper Joseph Farrugia started the match on the bench.
In this very entertaining encounter, the first half was more or less balanced with Gzira, perhaps, enjoying slight superiority in midfield.
They managed to open the scoring early through the returning Garba, but then they failed to convert the chances they created.
The same applies to the Saints who gave as much as they got. Yet, when they had the chances, they failed to capitalise and by the end of the half, they were a goal in arrears.
In the second half, St Andrews saw more of the ball, but Gzira also had their opportunities with Calleja Cremona denying them on some occasions.
When the Saints got back into contention with a 74th minute goal, they went all out in search of an equaliser, but in so doing, they left their back door wide open, although the Maroons missed some easy chances.
In the 4th minute, a Corbolan cross was missed by Haruna Garba; the ball was cleared out to Cohen whose low effort was turned to corner by Calleja Cremona.
Gzira opening the scoring on the 12th minute when Nikolai Muscat advanced into the Saints area following a defensive lapse and passed to the unmarked Garba who had no difficulty in planting the ball into the net.
In the 19th minute, Muscat crossed low into the Saints area, but a Jorge Pereira shot was well saved by Calleja Cremona.
On 28 minutes, the Saints replied through a Woo Ling freekick from which Satariano headed over the bar.
In the 35th minute, Calleja Cremona was called upon to save an angled Corbolan shot.
The Saints went close to an equaliser on 34 minutes, when off a Woo Ling freekick, the ball was missed by everyone, but it hit the upright and was eventually cleared.
A minute later, Garba received a clearance to advance into the Saints area, but his effort was well saved by goalie Calleja Cremona.
Soon after, at the other end, Mclaren set Kevaugh Atkinson who advanced unhindered towards the Gzira goal. But the onrushing goalie Justin Haber managed to block his effort.
In the 48th minute, Cohen set Garba in the Saints area, but the latter's shot was saved by Calleja Cremona.
On 55 minutes, Calleja Cremona excellently turned to corner a Cohen dangerous freekick.
In the 58th minute, St Andrews missed another good opportunity to level matters. Martin Davis excellently set Kemar Reid through the Maroons defence, but the latter hit the ball well over the bar.
In the 69th minute Gzira doubled their lead when Garba crossed low into the area. Calleja Cremona could only touch the ball and Cohen had all the time at his mercy to hit home.
Five minutes later, the Saints were back in the match as they reduced the gap. Martin Davis crossed low for Matthew Woo Ling to hit home.
On 79 minutes, Haruna Garba went close once again for Gzira as his effort went just past the left upright.
In added time, Calleja Cremona had to rush out of his charge to stop a Garba incursion.