Gzira United continued with their positive streak when in the first match played on Friday at the Centenary Stadium they beat Tarxien Rainbows by two second half goals.

A win which kept the momentum for the Maroons and instilled more confidence in Darren Abdilla’s squad. They now lie three points adrift of Hamrun Spartans though the latter have a match in hand.

As for Tarxien they remain on 12 points just above Lija Athletic and Senglea. For them his was the tenth defeat of the season. But Winston Muscat’s boys looked organized once again and held strong until Muscat hit the net ten minutes into the second half. Though they tried to control their opponents, they failed miserably on the other end, creating only a few chances.

But it was the Rainbows who thought that they made a dream start when Vito Plut took control of a short clearance by goalkeeper Haber and drove home but the Slovenian attacker was adjudged to be in an offside position.

Gzira were finding it difficult to break down a stubborn Tarxien backline. In fact they tried their luck from long range shots by Mentz and Mendoza but to no avail. And minutes later a volley by man of the match Nikolai Muscat missed the target.

Tarxien responded through a Kyle Gatt effort which caused Haber no particular headache. The final minutes of the first half were all Gzira and on 36 minutes a first time by Ricardo Correa was blocked by Jurgen Borg.

And moments later off a Correa cross the ball was met by Jefferson de Assis but his headed effort ended wide. And on the stroke of half time Correa was once again denied by goalkeeper Borg.

Ten minutes into the second period and Gzira drew first blood. A curling shot by Ricardo Correa was not held by the Tarxien goalkeeper and Jefferson de Assis picked up the rebound crossing into the area with Nikolai Muscat slotting home from close range.

The Maroons could now relax a bit, having taken the lead and Maxuell had his effort palmed away by Borg. Tarxien tried to react and just past the hour they had a Darren Falzon free kick which finished just over the bar.

Once again on the other end with Mentz heading wide. But Gzira left it too late to seal the issue when deep into stoppage time it was Ricardo Correa who scored  his side’s second and his sixth personal goal of the campaign.

Photo Domenic Aquilina