Valletta 1
Gzira 1
Valletta: H. Bonello, J. Caruana, S. Borg, R. Camilleri, S. Malano, K. Nwoko, E. Pena Beltre, J. Zerafa (J. Borg 77), R. Saleh (A. Monticelli 30), R. Muscat, M. Fontanella (B. Kaljevic 80)
Gzira U.: J. Haber, R. Soares, A. Cohen (N. Muscat 84), J. Corbolan, E. Zarate, R. Briffa, G. Conti, S. Borg, J. Mengolo (Z. Scerri 74), F. Barbosa, H. Garba
Referee: F. Zammit
Asst. Refs: R. Vella, D. Sultana
4th official: M. Apap
Scorers: S. Borg 3 pen., J. Mengolo 56
Yellow cards: J. Caruana, J. Corbolan, R. Camilleri, S. Borg
BoV Player of the Match: J. Mengolo
TMI Top 3: 1. H. Bonello, 2. J. Mengolo, 3. J. Zerafa
Attendance: 1,402
Valletta were yesterday evening held to a draw by Gzira leaving Hibernians as the league's leaders, one point ahead of their rivals.
In a very entertaining match, Valletta took the lead through a third minute penalty from Steve Borg. Gzira scored their equaliser on 56 minutes through Justin Mengolo, after Andrew Cohen had missed the target, seeing City goalie Bonello saving his penalty kick.
The result sees Hibernians on top with 52 points, followed by Valletta on 51. Gzira remain 3rd on 46 points.
Valletta had coach Danilo Doncic missing as his assistant, former star player Gilbert Agius took over for this match. The Citizens also had midfielder Miguel Angel Alba ruled out through suspension. Moreover, they missed the services of Selah midway through the first half following an injury. He was replaced by Monticelli.
Gzira coach Jesmond Zerafa had central defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
The two teams were in search of the three points. The Citizens needed them to regain the sole leadership, while the Maroons wanted to consolidate their third placing apart from getting back within striking distance of the leading duo.
In the first half, Valletta had a perfect start when they were awarded a penalty after only three minutes. But they failed to make the most of that lead and suffered a lot to contain Gzira's pressure in search of an equaliser.
In fact, it was goalkeeper Henry Bonello who saved the day for them on at least two occasions, one of them a miraculous save from a Mengolo close range header.
The Maroons created a lot but failed to convert at least one of their chances as the Citizens retained their slender lead at the interval.
In the second half, Gzira came out once again on attack and missed a good chance to equalise after being awarded a controversial penalty. Bonello thwarted Cohen from the spotkick.
But they soon made amends when Mengolo beat City's offside trap to score a deserved equaliser.
From then on, Valletta started moving forward with more urgency, but Gzira were well organised at the back inspired by the good handling of goalie Haber and a solid Rodolfo Soares as they kept the Citizens at bay.
Valletta were in the lead on the 3rd minute when a cross by Zerafa from the left appeared to hit Roderick Briffa's arm and referee Fyodor Zammit pointed to the dreaded spot amidst some hot protests from the Gzira players. Steve Borg made no mistake from the spotkick.
Gzira's reply arrived in the 12th minute when off a cross by Haruna Garba, Justin Mengolo had a shot deviated to corner. Soon after, it was Corbolan who tested Bonello with a shot from the edge of the area, but the City goalie palmed the ball away.
Gzira protested hotly for a penalty when Corbolan was involved in a tackle with Joseph Zerafa, but the official, close to the action, waved play on.
Immediately afterwards, Corbolan forced his way into the City area on the right and crossed low but Haruna Garba missed a good chance hitting well over the bar from two metres.
In the 36th minute, as Gzira insisted, Bonello had to rush out of his charge to clear in extremis before Garba after a long ball from the Maroons' defensive lines.
A minute later, Zarate set Garba in the City area. The striker rounded Bonello but Steve Borg saved Valletta by clearing the ball to corner before Garba could hit the ball into the empty net.
In the 41st minute, from a Cohen freekick, Bonello again rescued the City fort with an excellent save to corner off a close range header by Mengolo.
Early in the second half, Gzira again threatened through Mengolo who bustled his way into the City area, but his shot was deviated onto the side rigging for an abortive corner.
The Maroons were awarded a highly controversial penalty in the 52nd minute when Jonathan Caruana was deemed to have floored Garba in the area. But from the resultant penalty kick, Cohen's effort was excellently saved by the City's super star on the day, goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
The Maroons made amends in the 56th minute when Zarate perfectly set Mengolo who advanced unhindered to dribble round Bonello before planting the ball in the net to make it 1-1.
On 65 minutes, Valletta went close when off a Zerafa cross, a close range header by Kyrian Nwoko was excellently turned to corner by Haber.
Valletta were now all out on attack and Zerafa kicked the ball high from a good position on 71 minutes.
In added time, Gzira almost snatched all the three points with a Garba shot that went inches wide of the target.