Gzira United held by Senglea Athletic

A last-minute penalty converted by Terence Vella enabled Senglea Athletic to hold joint-leaders Gzira United in a 1-1 draw at the Centenary Stadium on Friday.

A first positive result for Steve D’Amato’s side after three successive defeats while for leaders Gzira, this draw meant that they have won just one out of the last four matches and risk losing the top spot to Valletta on Saturday.

Both sides were unable to field their best formation due to the absence of the suspended Souleymane Diamoutene and Samba Tounkara for Gzira and Ivan Edgardo Paz for Senglea apart from several other Senglea players on the casualty list.

Following a goalless first half, the Maroons forged ahead on the 49th minute when off a cross by Amadou Samb, Ndubuisi Emmanuel Okoye headed home from close range.

Gzira could have doubled the score on the 68th minute when they were awarded a penalty but Amadou Samb’s effort was neutralised by Cetrangolo.

Senglea notched the equaliser on the 90th minute when Antonio Terraciano was brought down inside the area by Clifford Gatt Baldacchino with Terence Vella converting from the penalty spot.

SENGLEA Giulio Cetrangolo, Randall Vella, Jurgen Farrugia (61′ Ryan Dalli), Antonio Terraciano, Sergio Osagho Uyi, Gonzalo Nicolas Virano (76′ Mattia Del Negro), Hubert Vella, Gonzalo Nicolas Leyton, Terence Vella, Matias Garcia, Miguel Escobar.
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Jonathan Bondin, Peter Paul Sammut, Beppe Muscat, Ian Azzopardi.
Coach: Steve D’Amato

GZIRA Justin Haber, Gary Muir, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Sem Kemana Ogolong, Sacha Borg, Moises Avila Perez, Roderick Briffa, Andrew Cohen, Juan Corbalan (87′ Nikolai Muscat), Ndubuisi Emmanuel Okoye, Amadou Samb (79′ Zachary Scerri).
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Andre White, Christian Sammut, Karl Pulo, Samuel Timmy Ogundare.
Coach: Darren Abdilla

Referee Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Ryan Aquilina
Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Borg, Avila Perez, R. Vella, Samb, Okoye, Dalli
BOV Player of the Match: Giulio Cetrangolo