Gzira Utd.                0
Sirens                      1

Gzira Utd.: J. Haber, F. Barbosa, G. Conti, N. Muscat, R. Soares, J. Corbalan (A. Cohen 46'), C. Gatt Baldacchino, H. Kone, A. Samb, A. Oyama, J. De Assis

Sirens: D. Cassar, R. Grech, W. De Oliveira, R. Dos Anjos, E. Okoye, A. Borg, I. Adeshina (L.Sciberras 90'), R. Romao, R. Memezes, T. Espindola, F. Cheveresan

Referee: Ishmael Barbara

Asst refs: Luke Portelli, Darko Stankovic

4th official: Trustin Farrugia Cann  

Scorers: Flavio Silva Cheveresan 75'   

Yellow cards: Borg, Kone, Grech, Samb

Red Card: Kone

Player of the match: Emmanuel Okoye (Sirens)  

TMI Top 3:  1.   E.Okoye                    2.      J. de Assis               3.    D. Cassar

Gzira succumbed to their first defeat of the season when they lost to in form Sirens in the first match played at the National Stadium. This was rather a sour note for the Maroons who have now been overtaken in second place by the same Sirens.

Gzira went into this match still unbeaten and on a run of five consecutive wins averaging four goals per match.Sirens were aiming at returning to winning ways following a goalless draw with Valletta in their last outing.

Zachary Scerri was missing through suspension for Gzira with their opponents having no selection problems for this direct encounter.

The match resulted in a balanced affair with Gzira being slightly better in the first period and Sirens holding the upper hand in the second forty five minutes.

Just six minutes had elapsed when Gzira went near. Gatt Baldacchino took hold of a throw in finding Jefferson de Assis who passed towards Corbalan but the latter was unlucky in hitting the crossbar.

Sirens responded on eleven minutes when a low drive by Wellington was saved by Haber. The Maroons goalkeeper was once again on the alert when he tipped onto a corner an Okoye cross shot.

On 18 minutes a Nikolai Muscat free kick was palmed into a corner by the Sirens goalkeeper. And six minutes from the end of the first half Haber was once again in the thick of action saving a good shot by Okoye.

Two minutes from the break Kone supplied a perfect cross which was met by Jefferson de Assis but his header was turned onto a corner by Cassar.

In the 51st minute Wellington presented  Memezes with a good opportunity but the Brazilian blasted his shot well over the bar.

On the hour mark Gzira threatened when a Kone shot from the edge of the area was partially blocked by Cassar, the ball went into Samb's path who crossed into the area but Adrian Borg was on hand to head to ball into safety.

Gzira were now increasing their tempo and on 69 minutes Jefferson de Assis played the ball into Oyama's direction only for his shot to hit the crossbar and finally cleared away by the Sirens rearguard.

But it was Sirens who forged ahead fifteen minutes from time when in their first real attack of the second period Emmanuel Okoye made his way on the left flank sending a cross which was headed by Flavio Silva Cheveresan past a stranded Haber.

Gzira were finding it difficult to break their opponents organized defensive plan and on 84 minutes they went near when off a Kone corner Cohen headed just over the bar.

A few seconds later Gzira protested harshly for a penalty when Espindola tackled Samb in the area with the match official  booking Amadou Samb for protesting.

In stoppage time a a Kone shot from inside the area hit the side netting. And Samb had his effort cleared off the line by Dos Anjos.

Hamed Kone was sent off for a second bookable offence to bring to an end a miserable afternoon for the boys from Gzira.