Gzira Utd. 1
Tarxien R. 1
Gzira Utd. : J. Haber, N. Muscat (S.Domoraud 64’), R. Soares, A. Cohen, J. Corbalan, E. Zarate (Z. Scerri 64’), R. Briffa, S. Borg, J. Mengolo (C. Gatt Baldacchino 87’), F. Barbosa, H. Garba
Tarxien R. : A. Cassar, M. Botta, D. Zerafa, M. Spiteri, M. Paolucci ( L. Grech 90’), G. Aquilina, D. Falzon, S. Radovanovic (D. Vassallo 90’), A. De Barros, J. De Paixao ( A. Nilsson 80’)
Referee: Etienne Mangion
Asst refs: Alan Camilleri, Duncan Sultana
4th official: T. Farrugia Cann
Scorers: A. Cohen 81’, D. Falzon 90’
Yellow cards: Paolucci, Mengolo, Zarate, De Barros, Falzon, Borg, Corbalan
Player of the match: Andrea Cassar (Tarxien R.)
A last minute goal scored by Darren Falzon gave Tarxien a point from a difficult match against Gzira United. The latter thus failed to keep the top spot and Hibernians are now sole leaders.
This was a great setback for the Maroons who were favourites to gather the maximum points from this match. But they faced a stubborn Tarxien side marshalled by an impressive goalkeeper Cassar who was also voted as the BOV Player of the match.
Tarxien had Andre Scicluna serving a one match ban whereas new recruit Juan Gill Cruz wasn’t included by coach Jose’ Borg.
Gżira, on the other hand, could field new recruits Justin Mengolo made his debut for the Maroons though they had Samb missing once again.
Andre Scicluna was serving a one-match ban for Tarxien but they failed to include in their starting line up.their latest recruit Juan Cruz Gill.
Though still unbeaten Gzira had won only two from their last five matches held in draws by Pieta, Valletta and Mosta.
Tarxien had lost three out of their last four matches, lying tenth on 15 points. Moreover in their last two outings they failed to find the opponents net.
In the first round, Gżira defeated Tarxien 4-1.
It was Tarxien who were first to see a sight of goal when in the 8th minute a Radovanovic cross shot hit the woodwork. Seven minutes later it was the Maroons turn to pass from the same fate when off a Mengolo cross Corbalan’s fierce shot hit the crossbar.
In the 21st minute a Cohen free kick was saved with some difficulty by goalkeeper Cassar. Gzira were now in total control and in the 29th minute Haruna Garbamade his way past the Rainbows rearguard but his shot from the left flank was saved by Cassar.
And two minutes later Borg advanced on the left with Cassas partially saving his shot, the ball falling into Corbalan’s path but the latter completely misjudged his shot.
On the change of ends the Maroons kept on dictating matters but found it difficult to make the break. In the 50th minute Cassar saved well on Mengolo. And just past the hour a shot on the turn by Haruna Garba was saved once again bu Cassar.
Gzira kept piling on the pressure though Tarxien had the occasional chance once of them materializing eighteen minutes from the end when a Darren Falzonfree kick was saved by Haber.
The Maroons responded immediately and five minutes later Cassar was once again the saviour when he blocked Cohen’s free kick. With Gzira finally breaking the stalemate on 81 minutes. A Juan Corbalan cross was headed home by Andrew Cohen to the delight of their supporters who were kept on the edge for so long.
But when Gzira thought that they had made it Tarxiendrew level. It was the 90th minute when Darren Falzonheaded past Haber. In all fairness the Maroons were robbed of the maximum points since they dominated the match from the word go.