Birkirkara and Gzira United figured out in a 1-1 draw in a match which was suspended midway through the second half due to heavy rainfall that hit the Centenary Stadium.

A result which left Gzira in second place with Birkirkara falling into fourth place who have now been overtaken by Hibernians.

The first chance came Birkirkara's way when on 8 minutes Paul Mbong though well placed shot tamely and wide off the mark.

Two minutes late the Maroons took the lead. The Stripes rearguard showed signs of panic with goalkeeper Nava and Pepe fumbling and there was Maxuell Maia who placed the ball into an empty net. For Maia this was his sixth seasonal goal.

On 15 minutes Gzira went near to increase their lead when a Gabriel Bohrer free kick from a distance hitting the woodwork.

Birkirkara levelled matter in the 20th minute. Paul Mbong took control of the ball in the midfield area and after making his way towards the opposing area rifled a beauty of a shot which found the corner of the net with goalkeeper Zarkov completely beaten.

On 33 minutes Birkirkara had a great chance to take the lead for the first time when Tulimieri found De Paixao Alves but his headed effort just missed out.

On the hour mark goalkeeper Amara Sylla who had come in for Nava made a good save denying Steve Pisani a certain goal.

But int he 64th minute referee Malcolm Spiteri suspended the match due to the heavy rainfall which made playing practicality impossible.

The match resumed after nearly an hour and this made the match lose a lot of rhythm.

Few minutes after the resumption Sylla blocked on Jefferson de Assis. And on the other end, in the final minutes Ribeiro who had come in for Mbong was unlucky to see his shot cleared off the line.

Another match, that between Zebbug and Hamrun, was abandoned with Zebbug leading 2-1, also because of heavy rainfall.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina