Gzira’s european run came to an abrupt end yesterday at Ta’ Qali as the Maroons were heavily beaten 4-0 by Austrian side Wolfsberger who thus qualify for the Play-Off stage.
It was a sad ending to Gzira’s impressive european run this season, a defeat which came after a series of five positive results by the Maroons. But Darren Abdilla’s side, which yesterday finished the match with nine players, should look back with pride at what was achieved by the Maroons this season.
From the very first whistle Wolfsberger took the upper hand with Zarkov tested inside the first minute.
Wolfsberger continued to push for an early goal and obtained it on 12 minutes when Rocher and Ballo did some good work on the left before passing towards
Tai Baribo who beat Zarkov from close range.
The Austrians maintained their forcing on the Gzira for and Luke Tabone came to Gzira’s rescue when he blocked off the goal line a Rocher effort.
On 32 minutes Wolfsberger doubled their lead when defender Baumgartner fired a low drive from the edge of the area with the ball finishing in the corner of the net.
Things got worse for Gzira six minutes into the second half when Zachary Scerri received a second booking.
Three minutes Wolfsberger put the issue beyond any doubt when Bohrer Mentz floored Baribo inside the penalty area and from the penalty spot Rocher made no mistake.
On 65 minutes Jefferson de
Assis received a second booking for a foul on Baumgartner and the match was a mission impossible task for the Maroons.
However they bravely resisted till the 84th minute before suffering the fourth and final goal from substitute Boakye.
Gzira U: Darien RadelicZarkov, Gabriel Bohrer Mentz, Luke Tabone (46’ Thiago Espindola), Nikolai Muscat (70’ Brooklyn Borg), Zachary Scerri, Marcelo Dias, Luis Carlos Riascos Torres (70’ Jackson Mendoza), Toni Kolega (70’ Andrew Borg), Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte (46’ Clive Gauci), Marko Cosic, Jefferson de Assis.
Wolfsberger: Hendrik Bonmann, Konstantin Kerschbaumer (70’ Augustine Boakye), Simon Pieslinger, Tai Baribo, Mario Leitgeb (67’ Ervin Omi), Thorsten Rocher (61’ Nicolas Vergos), Dominik Baumgartner, Raphael Schifferl, Michael Novak, Thierno Ballo (46’ Matthaus Taferner), Adis Jasic.
Referee: Nicholas Walsh (Scotland)
Photo Domenic Aquilina