Maroons beat Lija by odd goal in five

Gzira United survived a comeback by Lija Athletic as they went on to beat them 3-2 at the Centenary Stadium on Monday. A win which puts Darren Abdilla’s side in second place, on level points with Valletta, one point behind leaders Balzan.

The Maroons had a perfect start taking the lead on the 9th minute thanks to Ndubuisi Emmanuel Okoye. Three minutes later, Gary Muir doubled the score.

Erjon Beu converted a penalty for Lija to reduce the gap on the 17th minute. On the half-hour, Raphael Kooh Sohna levelled matters.

However on the 63rd minute, Andrew Cohen notched the winner to hand Gzira the three points.

GZIRA Justin Haber, Roderick Briffa, Andrew Cohen, Ndubuisi Emmanuel Okoye, Amadou Samb (90+2′ Luca Brincat), Antonio de Quieroz Macedo Neto, Souleymane Diamoutene, Zachary Scerri, Sacha Borg, Nicky Muscat, Gary Muir (79′ Samuel Timmy Ogundare).
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Christian Sammut, Andre White, Sem Kemana Ogolong, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
Coach: Darren Abdilla

LIJA Luke Bonnici, Predrag Babic, Patrick Borg (60′ Nigel Spiteri), Daniel Scerri (90′ Gabriel Borg), Leon Muscat, Leejoe Schembri, Raphael Kooh Sohna, Aiden Galea, Carl Cassar (38′ Aaron Sammut), Erjon Beu, Djamel Leeflang.
Subs not used: Jonathan Martinelli, Dylan Agius, Jack Desmond, Adrian Caruana.
Coach: Joseph Galea

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, William Debattista
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia
Yellow Cards: Briffa, Samb, S. Borg, D. Scerri, Schembri, Tony, Cohen