Valletta needed the three points at stake in the first of a series of decisive matches against direct opponents in the relegation battle.

Once again Valletta had to settle for a meagre point, too little to improve their disastrous position in the table.

Gzira wanted at least a point from this game and they reached their goal to remain five points clear of their oppo‐ nents.

Valletta were fresh from an encouraging performance against Hamrun whilst Gzira suffered a defeat at the hands of neighbours Sliema in their last outing.

The match offered very little apart from the two spectacular goals scored.

Valletta took an early lead with their first attempt at goal, with gzira equalising twenty minutes later.

In the second half Gzira with the wind behind their backs took control of the game and Valletta defended for long stretches, but the game never really took off and was boring at times.

On sixteen minutes Valletta took the lead when Brandon Paiber scored a beauty direct from a freekick.

Valletta had another chance on the half hour when Paiber passed to Azzopardi who crossed towards the returning Falcone who was denied by Zarkov,

On 36 minutes Gzira drew level with a slick move with Brooklyn Borg passing towards Aldama who squared towards Spence who fired home from close range.

In the second half Gzira went close when from a corner action, Conceicao’s header was saved by Guarnone with the ball hit‐ ting the crossbar and bouncing back on the field of play.

In a quick break Valletta had a good opportunity but Zarkov blocked Paiber’s grounder.

In the final moment of the game Valletta had the upper hand in search of a desperate winner, but the closest they got was through Falcone who had his effort well saved by Zarkov.