Gzira, Birkirkara share spoils in 1-1 draw

Gzira United and Birkirkara earned a point each in a 1-1 draw at the National Stadium on Sunday.

The Maroons remain third and now lie on the 35-point mark, two ahead of Hamrun, four ahead of Sliema and Balzan and five ahead of Birkirkara.

For Gzira, now under the guidance of coach Jesmond Zerafa, this was the seventh draw in ten matches. Birkirkara, on the other hand, obtain a second consecutive draw.

Birkirkara took the lead on nine minutes in the second half when Johann Bezzina’s conclusion from the right was blocked by a defender; Luke Montebello took the rebound and beat Haber with a rising shot. 

The Maroons equalised five minutes later when Juan Corbolan’s cross from the right was met by Justin Mengolo who slotted past Naumovski from close range. 

GZIRA Justin Haber, Zach Scerri (68’ Nikolai Muscat), Rodolfo Soares, Juan Corbalan (80’ Sofian Domoraud), Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Roderick Briffa, Gianmarco Conti, Sacha Borg, Justin Mengolo, Haruna Garba.
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Moad Lamlum, Andrew Cohen, Jaron Schembri, Myles Beerman.
Coach: Jesmond Zerafa

B’KARA Kristijan Naumovski, Danilo Chapoval, Matthew Guillaumier (62’ Jorge Pereira da Silva), Mislav Andjelkovic, Luke Montebello, Johann Bezzina, Kurt Zammit (74’ Clayton Failla), Eduardo Ferreira dos Santos, Nikola Vukanac, Terence Agius, Thiago de Souza (17’ Cain Attard).
Subs not used: Amara Sylla, Neil Friggieri, Gianluca Bugeja, Alessio Azzopardi.
Coach: Mark Buttigieg
Asst. Coach: John Arne Riise

Referee: Stefan Pace
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, William Debattista
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Yellow Cards: Ferreira, Soares, Guillaumier, Mengolo
BOV Player of the Match: Justin Mengolo

Attendance: 648