Hamrun S. 0
Gzira Utd. 3
Hamrun S: M. Bartolo, A. Capitelli, A. Scicluna (C.Borg 66'), J. Dodo Soares, C. Failla (M.Tabone 81'), M. Gauci , N. Leone, C. Cutajar (C. Galea 78'), D. Borg, K. Micallef, M. Cinquini
Gzira Utd: J. Haber, G. Conti, N. Muscat, Z. Scerri, R. Soares, A. Cohen (M. Davis 61'), J. Corbalan, H. Kone (L. Brincat 84'), S. Borg, A. Samb, W. Domoraud (C. Sammut 87')
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Asst refs: Jurgen Spiteri, Theodore Zammit
4th official: Alan Mario Sant
Yellow Cards: Corbalan, Cinquini, Borg, Soares, Scicluna
Scorers: Kone 17', Davis 68', Domoraud 82'
BOV Player of the Match: Hamed Kone (Gzira United)
TMI Top 3 : 1. H. Kone 2. W. Domoraud 3. C. Failla
A dominant Gzira United gained three valuable points, starting the second round with a bang. They defeated Hamrun Spartans in the last match of the fourteenth day of the BOV Premier League.
Hamrun Spartans lacked cohesion, a team who has parted with the likes of Triston Caruana, Ryan Darmanin, Wilfred Domoraud, Bradley Schembri and Marco Criaco amongst others.
Neither side could afford to drop points from this tricky encounter. Ħamrun Spartans, in seventh place faced Gżira United whose win has now put them just three points shy off leaders Floriana.
The Maroons were coming from a 2-0 defeat against Hibernians just before the Christmas break. Gzira had to do without Brazilian striker Jefferson De Assis who has left Gżira United to join a club in the United Arab Emirates while Brazilian Fernando Barbosa was suspended.
Wilfried Domoraud made his debut for Giovanni Tedesco's team against his former club whereas Andrew Cohen made his return for the Maroons after missing their last match. Though Soufiane Lagzir was expected to return for Hamrun Spartans he was left on the bench.
In the first round match the Spartans held Gżira to a goalless draw.
On 18 minutes Gzira took the lead when Hamed Kone headed against the bar with the ball falling over the line and beating goalkeeper Bartolo.
Hamrun could have drew level ten minutes from the break when following a mishap in the Maroons defence, Ailton Jorge Soares came face to face with goalkeeper Haber but the latter blocked his effort.
Just a minute later on the other end Bartolo was on the alert to save a Cohen headed effort. Five minutes from the break Hamed Kone sent a free kick just over the bar. And in the 42nd minute Domoraud blasted over the bar when well positioned and thus missed the chance to double the score.
On the change of ends Hamrun were unlucky when in the 49th minute they hit the crossbar from a Failla freekick. The Maroons replied through Domoraud whose shot was turned into a corner by Bartolo.
Gzira were now piling on the pressure and in the 57th minute Samb had his shot cleared off the line by Darren Borg. And on the hour mark Nikolai Muscat headed goalwards but just missed the target.
Gzira doubled their lead in the 68th minute through substitute Martin Davis who after receiving from Kone fired a low shot which found the net.
And to make matters worse for Hamrun the issue was sealed eight minutes from the end. A cross from the left flank by player of the match Hamed Kone found ex-Hamrun striker Wilfried Domoraud who headed into the net.