Two goals in the final fifteen minutes enabled Gzira United to register their first win in the BOV Premier League as they beat Balzan 2-0 at the National Stadium on Sunday.
It was the first win for Giovanni Tedesco’s side after four draws in the first four matches. Four matches in which they had scored just one goal and conceded one.
Balzan, on the other hand, suffer the third defeat in five matches, leaving them joint-third from bottom together with Gudja United and Mosta.
Gzira went close to taking the lead on teh 34th minute when Amadou Samb, served by Jefferson de Assis, had a goal-bound shot cleared off the goal line by Augustine Loof. Twelve minutes in the second half, Aleksandar Kosoric came to the rescue blocking a Martin Davis effort on the goal line.
The Maroons finally managed to break the deadlock on the 75th minute when off a cross by Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Jefferson de Assis’ header hit the woodwork and substitute Andrew Cohen placed the ball at the back of the net off the rebound.
Four minutes from time, Gzira sealed the issue with a second goal when off a swift counter attack, Jefferson de Assis beat goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
GZIRA Justin Haber, Fernando Barbosa, Gianmarco Conti, Nikolai Muscat, Rodolfo Soares, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Sacha Borg, Amadou Samb (89′ Luca Brincat), Arthur Henrique Oyama (68′ Andrew Cohen), Martin Davis, Jefferson de Assis.
Subs not used: Jurgen Borg, Juan Carlos Corbalan, Matthaeus Attard, Christian Sammut, Romario Camilleri.
Coach: Giovanni TedescoBALZAN Kristijan Naumovski, Augustine Loof, Aleksandar Kosoric, Nenad Sljivic, Steve Pisani, Michael Johnson, Paul Fenech, Alfred Effiong, Ivan Bozovic, Stefan Dimic (73′ Ryan Scicluna), Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte.
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Marcus Grima, Kyle Sciberras Balbi, Steve Bezzina, Zachary Karl Grech, Zak Grech.
Coach: Jacques Scerri
Asst. Coach: Andrea PisanuReferee: Matthew DeGabriele
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Duncan Sultana
Fourth Official: Alex Johnson
Yellow Cards: Gatt Baldacchino, Sljivic, Fenech
BOV Player of the Match: Jefferson de AssisAttendance: