Gzira keep the pace with leaders

Gzira United kept the pace with the two joint-leaders as they defeated Senglea Athletic 3-1 at the Hibernians Stadium on Saturday. A second consecutive win for the Maroons who now lie four points ahead of Sliema Wanderers and five ahead of Birkirkara.

On the other hand, this back-to-back defeat for Senglea leaves them third from bottom – one point behind St. Andrews and two behind Tarxien and just four ahead of Qormi.

Haruna Garba put Gzira ahead on the 15th minute when he beat El Mehdi Sidqy on the run before hitting low past Senglea goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.

Senglea, however, equalised on the 45th minute thanks to Augusto Rene Caseres who slotted the ball past Justin Haber followng an inviting cross by Arian Mrsulja.

The Maroons regained the lead two minutes in the second half as substitute Justin Mengolo who dribbled Mrsulja before hitting the ball home.

Haruna Garba sealed the issue with a third goal on the 77th minute, beating Farrugia when served by a cross by Mengolo.

GZIRA Justin Haber, Nikolai Msucat, Zachary Scerri, Rodolfo Soares (46′ Gianmarco Conti), Andrew Cohen (90′ Moad Lamlum), Juan Carlos Corbalan, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Roderick Briffa (31′ Justin Junior Mengolo), Myles Beerman, Haruna Garba.
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Sofian Domoraud, Jaron Schembri, Amadou Samb.
Coach: Jesmond Zerafa

SENGLEA Matthew Farrugia, El Mehdi Sidqy (64′ Gary Camilleri), Zachary Cassar (77′ Karl Cutajar), Leighton Grech, Gonzalo Julian Leyton, Romulo Silva Santos, Diego Venancio, Matias Nicolas Garcia, Augusto Rene Caseres, Arian Mrsulja, Christian Sammut (85′ Larson Mallia).
Subs not used: Zach Valletta, Matthew Bartolo, Luke Scorfna, Bradley Schembri.
Coach: Vincenzo Potenza
Asst. Coach: Darren Anton Vella

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Dusan Petrovic
Fourth Official: Darryl Agius
Yellow Cards: Scerri, Leyton
BOV Player of the Match: Haruna Garba

Attendance: 455