Leaders Gzira held by Pietà

Leaders Gzira United were held in a 1-1 draw by Pietà Hotspurs at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Saturday.

Although the Maroons remain unbeaten, this second draw could allow Hibernians and Valletta to narrow the gap to just two points. The Hotspurs, on the other hand, register a second impressive result in a row following last week’s 2-1 win over Floriana.

Gzira coach Darren Abdilla named an unchanged side following the win over Balzan. On the other hand, Ramon Zammit made one change as he replaced Travis Bartolo with Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa.

The game seemed heading for a draw but it was Pietà who managed to break the deadlock five minutes from time when Paul Chimezie, served by Jan Busuttil, rounded Anthony Curmi before placing the ball at the back of the net.

Gzira could have equalised on the 89th when they were awarded a penalty after Nicky Vella brought Amadou Samb down inside the area. However Amadou Samb’s effort from the penalty spot was neutralised by Vella.

The Maroons still managed to level matters on the 93rd minute with a fine volley by Jorge Pereira da Silva, deflected by a defender.

PIETÀ Nicky Vella, Antonio Orlando Macedo Neto, Ose Tanaka, Christian Grech, Dylan Agius, Neil Pace Cocks (79’ Shunsuke Nakamura), Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa, Jan Busuttil, Ishaya Irimiya Jalo, Paul Chimezie, Gabriel Mensah (78’ Christian Degabriele).
Subs not used: Jacob Chircop St John, Sveni Bartolo, Quincy Bregman, Ayrton Mizzi, Nicholas Pisani.
Coach: Ramon Zammit

GZIRA Anthony Curmi, Fernando Barbosa, Rodolfo Soares, Roderick Briffa, Thomas Veronese, Juan Carlos Corbalan, Nicky Muscat (60’ Andrew Cohen), Zachary Scerri, Edison Bilbao Zarate (72’ Jorge Pereira da Silva), Haruna Garba, Amadou Samb.
Subs not used: Justin Haber, Sacha Borg, Luca Brincat, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Christian Sammut.
Coach: Darren Abdilla

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Ivan Galea
Fourth Official: Darryl Agius
Yellow Cards: Jalo, Pace Cocks, Samb, Tony, Rodolfo Soares, Chimezie, Scerri, Agius
BOV Player of the Match: Roderick Briffa