Gzira U 0
Hamrun S 0
Gzira U: J. Haber, F. Barbosa, G. Conti, N. Muscat, Z. Scerri, R. Soares, A. Cohen (S. Borg 80'), H. Kone, A. Samb, A. Oyama, J. De Assis.
Hamrun S: E. Bartolo, T. Caruana, J. Ailton Soares (B. Schembri 72'), W. Domoraud, C. Failla, N. Leone, L. Soufiane, M. Criaco, K. Micallef, O. Nikolopoulos, M. Cinquini.
Referee: Alan Mario Sant
As. Referees: Edward Spiteri, Paul Apap
Fourth official: Matthew Degabriele
Yellow cards: F. Barbosa, G. Conti, J. De Assis, N. Leone, L. Soufiane, M. Criaco, K. Micallef.
Player of the match: Jefferson De Assis (Gzira U)
TMI best three: 1. J. De Assis 2. Z. Scerri 3. E. Bartolo
Gizira United dominated for long stretches against a defensive minded Hamrun side, but had to settle for a mere point at the end of the first ninety minutes of the season.
The Maroons led by Giovanni Tedesco against his former club, had the lions' share of the exchanges but in the end had little to show to their credit, apart from some good scoring opportunities.
Gzira were surely the better team in the first half with their goalkeeper Justin Haber never being tested by the Spartans attack. Gzira's attacking trio was more effective in the first half with Jefferson playing a blinder and with Andre Cohen a very valid support to the three strikers. Kone had a rather quite start, playing rather on his own.
Hamrun's new signings failed to impress in the opening part, even though it is still too early to judge. However both Soufiane and Ailton Soares possess speed and technical skills which augurs well for the Spartans.
Gzira had all the attempts in the first half, with the Spartans mainly in their own half, and trying their fast breaks, but Domoraud was well marked by Rodolfo Soares in a very interesting tussle between these two players.
On eight minutes Kone passed towards Jefferson who rounded Cinquiniu but his effort was well saved by Bartolo. Two minutes later Kone tried his luck direct from a freekick with his shot sailing over the bar.
Halfway through the first half captain Andrew Cohen first-timed well but his effort proved to be a central one and Bartolo could easily save. On 24 minutes from a Cohen corner, Bartolo missed his sortie but Kone failed to take advantage hitting wide when well placed.
Three minutes past the half hour Cohen crossed from the right and in nipped Jefferson with his header just missing the crossbar. Gzira continued to dictate and on 43 minutes Oyama passed towards Samb who shot over the bar.
In stoppage time the Maroons had their best scoring opportunity when Cohen passed towards Samb whose effort was brilliantly blocked by Bartolo, but Samb was first on the rebound and passed towards Jefferson whose shot was blocked by Nikolopoulos and then by Cinquini who cleared off the goal line.
On the resumption the Maroons continued to increase the pressure with the Spartans pushed in their own half. However the Spartans never lost their composure and defended well with Nikolopolous and goalkeeper Bartolo in great form.
On 56 minutes a Kone deflected shot slightly missed the upright and on 67 minutes an Amadou low drive hit the base of the upright. Seven minutes later a Jefferson header went wide and ten minutes from time Andrew Cohen made his way inside the box but his shot was easily saved by Bartolo.
Five minutes from time a rare effort from the Spartans with new signing Failla hitting over the bar from a freekick.