Birkirkara 1
Gzira U. 3
Birkirkara: A. Hogg, M. Vella (M. Guillaumier 76), R. Briffa, F. Falcone, C. Attard, C. Prado, O. Carniello, M. Alba (M. Mifsud 64), R. Fenech, I. Ntow
Gzira: J. Haber, F. Barbosa, G. Conti (A. Cohen 72), N. Muscat (J. Corbolan 82), Z. Scerri, R. Soares, C. Gatt Baldacchino ,H. Kone, A. Oyama, M. Davis, J. De Assis
Referee: F. Zammit
Asst refs: D. Sultana, C. Francalanza
4th official: M. Spiteri
Scorers: H. Kone 8, 75, F. Falcone pen 83, A. Cohen 90
Yellow cards: G. Conti 12, Z. Scerri 29, J. De Assis 56, O. Carniello 62, H. Kone 72
BOV Player of the Match: H. Kone
TMI Top 3: H. Kone, M. Davis, R. Briffa
Attendance: 1,367
Gzira United joined Sirens temporarily in second place as they overcame a struggling Birkirkara side 3-1.
Man of the Match Hamed Kone was the hero for the Maroons as he scored the first two goals. Falcone pulled one back for the Stripes from a penalty late in the match. But there was still time for veteran Andrew Cohen to score a third goal for Gzira a few seconds from the end.
The match was entertaining and hard fought, but Gzira deserved their win for showing the better ideas and creating much more than their opponents.
The first half was equally shared with Gzira having a better start during which they also took the lead which they kept somewhat comfortably till the end of the period.
Birkirkara failed to make a strong reaction after suffering the goal and goalie Haber was never really tested. When they started moving forward, their conclusions were somewhat poor and never really threatened Haber's posts.
In actual fact, it was Gzira who had more chances to increase their lead and it had to be goalie Hogg to deny them on at least two occasions with good saves.
In the second half, Birkirkara showed more determination in their play as they laid siege on the Gzira fort in an effort to get an equaliser.
They tried hard but lacked ideas and again failed to test goalie Haber seriously at least once. Their only real shot was the penalty by Falcone through which they pulled one back. But it was too late for them to save at least a point.
Moreover, the Gzira defence was solid as a rock as they never gave their opponents a clear sight of goal especially within their area.
Instead it was the Maroons who added a second goal which practically assured them of their victory although it was confirmed in the dying moments with that third goal scored by Cohen.
Gzira threatened first on 6 minutes through Martin Davis who advanced in the Stripes area only to be thwarted by goalie Hogg.
It was the prelude to the opening goal as Hamed Kone made the most of a failed defensive clearance by Isaac Ntow and advanced to hit a fine inswinger which left Andrew Hogg staring.
The Maroons were again close on 15 minutes when De Assis would have done better to serve Davis in the area rather than trying a lob from the angle after going round Hogg.
At the other end, soon after, it was Alba who missed a good chance for an equaliser, as he fired badly and wide from an ideal position.
Birkirkara struggled to get into their stride but in the 26th minute it was Ryan Fenech who tried his luck from well outside the area, but his effort went wide.
Moments later, Prado had a good run from midfield, but his shot from the edge of the area was well saved by Haber.
In the 32nd minute, as the Stripes insisted in attack, a fine move between Falcone and Prado ended with the latter's shot again well saved by Haber. The latter was soon in action again collecting the ball from a dangerous Prado cross.
Three minutes later, from an Alba inviting cross, Maurizio Vella's header went over the bar.
At the other end, Hogg came to the Stripes rescue as he saved an Oyama shot.
And in the 44th minute, Hogg again saved his side as he blocked a very dangerous incursion by Conti who was set by Zachary Scerri in the Birkirkara area.
In the 56th minute, Jefferson De Assis was through but Hogg rushed out of his charge to block. The Gzira striker protested hotly and was shown a yellow card for his pains.
In the 61st minute, Birkirkara missed a good chance to level matters. From a Falcone cross, Cain Attard, up with his forwards, missed a sitter as he hit wildly out from three metres.
Gzira added a second goal on 75 minutes when Oyama advanced on the left flank to cross for Kone to hit first time past a helpless Hogg.
Birkirkara were given a lifeline on the 83rd minute, when Barbosa floored Falcone in the area and were awarded a penalty from which Falcone made no mistake.
In the final moments, substitute Cohen advanced unhindered in the Birkirkara area to dribble round Hogg and place the ball at the back of the net.