GZIRA UNITED -             3

LIJA ATHLETIC -               2

Gzira U: J. Haber, R. Briffa, A. Cohen, N. Okoye, A. Samb (L. Brincat), A. Macedo, S. Diamoutene, Z. Scerri, S. Borg, N. Muscat, G. Muir(S. Ogundare)

Lija A: L. Bonnici, P. Babic, P. Borg (N. Spiteri), D. Scerri (G. Borg), L. Muscat, L. Schembri, R. Kooh Sohna, A. Galea, C. Cassar (A. Sammut), E. Beu, D. Leeflang

Referee: J. Utulu

Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, W. Debattista

4th official: P. Farrugia

Scorers: N. Okoye 8, G. Muir 12, E. Be3u 15 pen, R. Kooh Sohna 30

Yellow cards: R. Briffa, S. Borg, A. Samb, D. Scerri, L. Schembri, A. Macedo Neto, A. Cohen

Player of the match: N. Okoye (Gzira U)

TMI top 3:   1. A. Cohen  2. N. Okoye  3. D. Scerri

Attendance: 170

This was no stroll for Gzira United, against bottom side Lija Athletic, but a blisteringly energetic performance brought them a deserved win at the end, even if they surrendered a two-goal lead to go in 2-2 at halftime.

The Maroons now join Valletta in second place, one behind leaders Balzan and it is hard to rule them out of contention at this stage.

This was a performance to showcase all that is thrilling about Darren Abdilla’s side, from Andrew Cohen’s invention to Ndubisi Okoye’s bite, from the pace in midfield to the relentless press in the second half which left Lija gasping for breadth at times.

Lija remain rooted at the bottom of the standings, having lost eight of their past ten matches, and so it is natural that chins might drop a little. But there were some positives to cling to at the end of this defeat, not least the way they fought from two goals down in the first half.

Many were fearful that Gzira would miss the craft and guile of their suspended midfielder Avila Perez.

The worries however were unfounded when the Maroons were already two goals up within the opening 12 minutes.

Okoye was the game’s outstanding individual in the first half, exhibiting his constant desire to succeed as Gzira opened the scoring after eight minutes. Ndubisi Okoye headed in Samb’s cross from the right. The Maroons stretched their lead four minutes later, Okoye turning provider when he advanced down the left, on a Muscat splitting pass, and crossed low for Gary Muir to tap in.

But Lija responded with enthusiasm to grab a battling draw before halftime.

Photos James Galea

On the quarter hour Erjon Beu was felled by Macedo Neto inside the area to win a penalty which he himself expertly converted.

Gzira looked like losing some of their composure and were punished on the half hour, when caught exposed at the back by Aiden Galea’s through pass, for Rapha Kooh Sohna to advance through the middle and beat keeper Haber.

But Gzira sooned regained control and threatened to take the lead again when Okoye headed the ball towards Cohen who steered the ball against the foot of the post. On 38 minutes Lija keeper Bonnici footed out a close Samb effort.

The second half began at a hectic pace with Gzira pressing forward with purpose, pinning Lija inside their own half as Andrew Cohen grew in influence.

Towards the hour, a Samb cross caused panic inside the Lija area. Keeper Bonnici blocked Cohen’s goalbound effort, until beaten by the Gzira midfielder past the hour. Samb crossed low inside the Lija area and Cohen applied the finish, to put Gzira in front again.

Muir showed profligacy after that when twice shooting on the goalkeeper from promising positions.

On a Cohen cross, Diamoutene headed over the bar.

Okoye missed a glaring chance to kill the game five minutes from the end, denied by the plucky keeper Bonnici.

But , luckily, Lija could summon no more effort to hit back by then.