Gzira            0
Vallettta      1

 

Gizira

J. Haber

D. Xuereb

R. Soares

F. Barbosa

J. Corbalan

Z. Scerri

N. Muscat (A. Cohen 76’)

G. Conti

M. Criaco

M. Davis (R. Darmanin 84’)

A. Samb (H. Kone 28’)

 

Valletta

H. Bonello

E. Pena Beltre

S. Borg

R. Camilleri

J. Borg

R. Muscat (K. Tulimieri 77’)

T. Caruana

S. Dimech (M. Alba 52’)

M. Piciollo

M. Fontanella

B. Kaljevic (D. Faupala 81’)

 

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri

Asst refs: Duncan Sultana, Mitchell Scerri

4th official: T. farrugia Cann

Yellow card: M. Davis 11’, F. Barbosa 66’, Z. Scerri 92’ (G), M. Piciollo 28’, K. Tulimieri 84’ (V)

Scorer: Steve Borg 80’

TMI Top 3: 1. M. Piciollo  2. R. Soares  3. S. Borg

BOV Player of the match: Matteo Piciollo (Valletta)

 

Champions Valletta are back in the reckoning as they beat Gzira United 1-0 thanks to a Steve Borg late header to keep the pace with neighbours and arch-rivals Floriana who had earlier crushed Tarxien.

After the 1-4 drubbing against Birkirkara, Valletta restored their lost pride with an overall polished display and deserved victory against one of the title contenders.

It was not an easy week for the champions after the debacle against the Stripes.

Coach Darren Abdilla was dismissed and Giovanni Tedesco immediately roped in for the rest of the season.

For Tedesco it was a very positive debut as he took some sweet revenge against the team he guided till a few weeks ago, when he was forced to leave the Maroons.

For Gzira now under the guidance of Paul Zammit this was arguably their last chance to join the title race.

With seven games to go till the end of the season and with a six-point gap from Floriana and Valletta, their title aspirations were practically washed away yesterday with Steve Borg's header.

Gzira were the better team in the early stages, having more possession of the ball.

However the champions after taking some time to settle down, started to play better and created several scoring opportunities.

Conti made the first attempt on eleven minutes and Valletta replied with efforts from piciollo and a Kaljevic header.

Just before the break a Nikolai Muscat dipper was well saved by Bonello.

At the start of the second period Valletta missed two glorious scoring opportunities with Fontanella and Piciollo the culprits.

On 79 minutes Haber made a great save to stop an Alba freekick and from the resultant corner Steve Borg headed home.

Gzira had nothing to offer at this stage and Valletta could have sealed the issue in the dying minutes when Alba, well served by Pena Beltre had his shot blocked by the upright with Haber beaten.