Hamed Kone was the hero for Gzira United as they registered a third win on the trot, defeating Birkirkara 3-1 at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday. A win which enabled the Maroons to extend their unbeaten record while joining Sirens in second place, four points behind leaders Birkirkara.
For the Stripes, who were coming from a narrow win over Hibernians, this was another setback as this was the third defeat this season – the first since the appointment of Andre Paus as their coach – which leaves them third from bottom on six points.
Gzira took the lead on the 8th minute thanks to a great volley by Hamed Kone which gave Andrew Hogg no chance.
Hamed Kone doubled the score on the 72nd hitting the ball home off an inviting cross by Arthur Henrique.
Federico Falcone converted a penalty to pull one back for Birkirkara five minutes from time after the Argentine striker was brought down inside the area.
However five minutes in added time, substitute Andrew Cohen sealed the issue with a third goal for the Maroons when he advanced all alone into the area and rounded the goalkeeper before placing the ball at the back of the net.
B’KARA Andrew Hogg, Enrico Pepe, Maurizio Vella (76′ Matthew Guillaumier), Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone, Cain Attard, Caio Henrique Prado, Oscar Matias Carniello, Miguel Angel Alba (64′ Michael Mifsud), Ryan Fenech.
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Johann Bezzina, Kurt Zammit, Gianluca Bugeja, Terence Agius.
Coach: Andre Paus
Asst. Coach: Jonathan Holland
Goalkeepers Coach: Sean CiniGZIRA Justin Haber, Fernando Barbosa, Gianmarco Conti (72′ Andrew Cohen), Nikolai Muscat (82′ Juan Carlos Corbalan), Zachary Scerri, Rodolfo Soares, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Hamed Kone, Arthur Henrique Oyama, Martin Davis, Jefferson de Assis.
Subs not used: Jurgen Borg, Luca Brincat, Christian Sammut, Sacha Borg, Romario Camilleri.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco
Goalkeepers Coach: Domenic EllulReferee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Christopher Francalanza
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Conti, Scerri, Jefferson, Carniello, Kone, Guillaumier, Mifsud
BOV Player of the Match: Hamed KoneAttendance: 1,367