Gzira U. 1
Birkirkara 1
Gzira U.: J. Haber, Z. Scerri (N. Muscat 68), R. Soares, J. Corbolan (J. Domoraud 81), C. Gatt Baldacchino, E. Zarate, R. Briffa, G. Conti, S. Borg, J. Mengolo, H. Garba
B'Kara: K. Naumovski, D. Chapoval, M. Guillaumier (J. Pereira 62), M. Andelkovic, L. Montebello, J. Bezzina, K. Zammit (C. Failla 74), E. Ferreira, N. Vukanac, T. Agius, T. De Souza (C. Attard 16)
Referee: S. Pace
Asst refs: L. Portelli, W. Debattista
4th official: F. Zammit
Scorers: L. Montebello 55, J. Mengolo 59
Yellow cards: E. Ferreira 4, R. Soares 9, M. Guillaumier 52, S. Borg 85, J. Domoraud 90
BoV Player of the Match: J. Mengolo
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Mengolo, 2. L. Montebello, 3. H. Garba
Attendance: 648
Gzira United and Birkirkara shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw yesterday - a result that satisfied neither team, although Gzira remained third.
Luke Montebello scored for Birkirkara on 55 minutes, but Justin Mengolo equalised for the Maroons four minutes later.
Gzira now have 35 points, two more than fourth placed Hamrun and four over Balzan and Sliema. Birkirkara have dropped to 7th place on 30 points.
Gzira's new coach Jesmond Zerafa opted to leave veteran midfielder Andrew Cohen on the substitutes bench.
On the other hand, Birkirkara had goalie Andrew Hogg missing from the line-up, probably because of an injured hand.
In the first half, Birkirkara started like a house on fire as they went out in search of an early goal.
But Gzira came back strongly and it was the Maroons who created the better scoring chances.
The Maroons held the initiative for most of the time as the Stripes appeared to be too slow in their build up and error prone in their passes.
In the second half, the match took a new lease of life when Montebello gave Birkirkara the lead, but Gzira responded quickly to score an equaliser after just four minutes.
Till the end, Gzira remained the better team on the field of play but missed the chances which they created, having to content themselves with a point.
The Stripes committed several errors with their passing in midfield and attack leaving much to be desired. At the end they must have been relieved to have taken a point which keeps them also in contention for 3rd or 4th place, though they have to show considerable improvement if they are to compete successfully.
The Stripes went out on attack and on 4 minutes, it was Gzira goalie Haber who saved his fort turning to corner a dangerous Ferreira header.
Gzira replied on 21 minutes through a Mengolo shot that was blocked to a corner.
Soon after, the Maroons also went close when a Roderick Briffa corner had Naumovski in great difficulty, twice clearing the ball from over the goal line.
As Gzira insisted, it was Garba who tested Naumovski, but the Stripes goal saved on deck. And moments later, the Birkirkara goalie did well to intercept a dangerous low cross from Corbolan.
In the 36th minute, Mengolo dribbled his way past three Stripes defenders, but Vukanac managed to clear in extremis to corner.
Early in the second half, it was again Gzira who went close when off a Conti header, it was Mengolo who had a header going just wide.
But it was Birkirkara who broke the ice on 55 minutes when following a long action in the Gzira area, it was Luke Montebello who fired into the net. It was his first goal since returning to the side after a long suspension.
Their joy was, however, shortlived as Gzira took only four minutes to equalise. From a Corbolan low cross, it was Mengolo who hit home from close in.
Five minutes later, Corbolan set Garba on the edge of the area, but the latter's fine volley missed the target. And moments later, it was Naumovski who saved the day for the Stripes with an excellent save, turning to corner a good Conti effort.
On 71 minutes, Gzira threatened once again through Zarate who bustled his way past some Birkirkara players before firing a shot just over the bar.
In the 86th minute, Mengolo went close to score the winner for Gzira, but his shot hit the crossbar and went dead.