Maroons back to winning ways

Mosta 0 Gzira United 2

4/11/22, Centenary Stadium

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Gzira United returned back to winning ways with a merited win over Mosta, after their first defeat of the season last week. With this victory, Gzira ensured to remain alone in second place following Match Day 10, irrespective of the results achieved by the other title challengers.

Today’s match started off with Gzira taking an early lead which they managed to administer throughout the match and then sealed the victory with a late goal. In between both goals, Mosta slightly took the upper hand in possession play, but Gzira were always effective in their counter attacks, with their Brazilian strikers Maia and Jefferson proving once more to be lethal in front of goal. Mosta also had a flurry of freekicks especially in the second half, but these were well defended by the Gzira defense without any real danger. But overall Gzira dictated play and deserved the victory.

The first chance of the match led to the first goal. In the 5th minute a strong freekick from nearly half-way of the pitch by Gzira’s Bohrer, was partially saved by Mosta’s keeper Akpan, and the rebound from the onrushing Maia was easily tapped in to give Gzira the lead. In the 10th minute Gzira missed the opportunity to double the score with Jefferson shooting wide from within the penalty area.

Mosta’s first chances of the match came in the 19th minute when Ememe shot wide from a tight angle and in the 23rd minute a long range shot by Failla sailed wide over the post.

In the 37th minute another long range freekick by Gzira’s Bohrer just missed the target, with Mosta’s keeper slightly caught out. In the 45th minute Gzira closed the half with a Kolega shot well saved by Mosta’s Akpan.

The second half started, when in the 49th minute, a long shot by Gzira’s Kolega hit the post with Jefferson putting in the rebound. However, this goal was ruled out for offside.

 

In the 64th minute a corner by Mosta flew past the Gzira goal line with no one of their forwards intercepting and this was followed in the 71st minute with a Mosta appeal for a penalty being turned down, after a suspected hand ball in Gzira’s penalty area.

In the 73rd minute Gzira practically closed the match and sealed victory with a second goal. An assist by Kolega from the left flank of the pitch found Jefferson hovering outside the edge of Mosta’s penalty area. Jefferson controlled the ball and drove past a hard shot to rattle the goal net, to the right of Mosta’s Akpan outstretched dive. In the 76th minute Jefferson had another opportunity to continue increasing the score, but his first time shot from in front of Mosta’s goal, flew just past the upright.

In the final minutes of the match, including an extra 3 minutes of additional time, Mosta tried to salvage at least a consolation goal but an attempt by Failla flew over the cross bar. Gzira controlled play in the last part and held on to a well-earned victory, with their thoughts now turning to focus on next week’s clash with title challengers Birkirkara.

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Claude Cuschieri

Club Editor