Naxxar L 2

Gzira U 2

Gzira United came tweice from behind to grab their first point of the season with a 2-2 draw against Naxxar Lions.

To be fair the first half was a drab affair, but the match improved a lot in the second half, with Naxxar again taking the lead, but Gzira hit back thanks an Effiong great goal from a freekick.

On 27 minutes Naxxar forged ahead when Ewurun Chimizie pounced on a Gzira defensive blunder and crossed towards the unmarked Darren Falzon who easily slotted home.

Two minutes from the break Gzira drew level with a well executed move, with Steve Meilak heading home in style a Seguino cross from the left.

Gzira almost took the lead in the remaining seconds when Alfred Effiong powered his way inside the area but his effort was well saved by Azzopardi.

Gzira piled up the pressure at the start of the second half but Naxxar re-took the lead almost against the run of play. A Darren Falzon cross was handled inside the box by Karl Saliba and referee Adrian Azzopardi pointed to the penalty spot and Andre Rocha Da Silva made no mistake against Simon Agius.

The Maroons were rewarded on 70 minutes when their best player Alfred Effiong fired home direct from a freekick to give Gzira the first point of the season after two successive defeats.

Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi; L. Micallef, J. Vella, M. Del Negro, S. Eboh, V. Bellia P. Doffo, A. Rocha Da Silva (I. Serino Junior), A. Ewurun, D. Falzon, J. Debono (G. Camilleri)

Gzira U. :S. Agius, K. Cassar, P. Grima, A. White, J. Chetcuti, D. Cachia, J. Hussey, R. Deguara (Y. Tonna), A. Effiong, C. Garcia Suguino (S. Shead), S. Meilak

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi