Birkirkara kept on the winning touch when in a direct encounter against Gzira United they grabbed three important points which virtually sealed a European spot for them.

On the other hand the Maroons downfall continues as for them this was their fourth consecutive defeat.

Gzira were the first team to venture forward and on fifteen minutes off a Steve Pisani free kick a headed effort by Gabriel Mentz ended over the bar.

And on the half hour following a mistake by Attard in came Pisani whose shot was saved by Sylla with the ball hitting the woodwork in the process.

The Stripes took the lead just past the half hour when off a corner Oswaldo Iorio was on the far post whose pass found Alessandro Coppola and the latters low drive found the net.   

The first half ended with Birkirkara on the offensive and Cabrera piled the pressure on the opposing rearguard with Zibo taking control of the ball but firing over from the edge of the area.

The first moments of the second half saw both teams exchanging matters in the middle of the park until the 72nd minute. This was when the Stripes doubled their lead. It was a swift counter break by Birkirkara with Paul Mbong finding Cabrera who after making his way past Marcelo Dias found the corner of the net.

Gzira were now a dejected lot and it was no surprise when three minutes later Birkirkara sealed the issue, the goal coming through a Matteo Fedel free-kick.

Gzira scored their consolation goal just before the final whistle when Nikolai Muscat controlled a Jackson Mendoza cross before slotting the ball past the opposing goalkeeper.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina